The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down

The Band

About The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down

"The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" is a song written by Robbie Robertson and originally recorded by the Canadian-American roots rock group The Band in 1969 and released on their eponymous second album. Levon Helm provided the lead vocals. The song is a first-person narrative relating the economic and social distress experienced by the protagonist, a poor white Southerner, during the last year of the American Civil War, when George Stoneman was raiding southwest Virginia. The song appeared at number 245 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. Joan Baez recorded a version of the song that became a top-five chart hit in late 1971. 


Year:
1989
3:31
87 

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Virgil Caine is the name, and I served on the Danville train
'Till Stoneman's cavalry came and tore up the tracks again
In the winter of '65, we were hungry, just barely alive
By May the tenth, Richmond had fell, it's a time I remember, oh so well

The night they drove old Dixie down, and the bells were ringing
The night they drove old Dixie down, and the people were singin' they went
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

Back with my wife in Tennessee, when one day she called to me
"Virgil, quick, come see, there goes Robert E Lee"
Now I don't mind choppin' wood, and I don't care if the money's no good
Ya take what ya need and ya leave the rest,
But they should never have taken the very best

The night they drove old Dixie down, and the bells were ringing
The night they drove old Dixie down, and the people were singin' they went
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la,

Like my father before me, I will work the land
Like my brother above me, who took a rebel stand
He was just eighteen, proud and brave, but a Yankee laid him in his grave
I swear by the mud below my feet,
You can't raise a Caine back up when he's in defeat

The night they drove old Dixie down, and the bells were ringing,
The night they drove old Dixie down, and all the people were singin', they went
Na, la, na, la, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na,

The night they drove old Dixie down, and all the bells were ringing,
The night they drove old Dixie down, and the people were singin', they went
Na, la, na, la, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na

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The Band

The Band were a Canadian-American roots rock group that originally consisted of Rick Danko (bass guitar, double bass, fiddle, trombone, vocals), Levon Helm (drums, mandolin, guitar, vocals), Garth Hudson (keyboard instruments, saxophones, trumpet), Richard Manuel (piano, drums, baritone saxophone, vocals) and Robbie Robertson (guitar, vocals). The members of the Band first came together as they joined rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins's backing group, The Hawks, one by one between 1958 and 1963. more »

9 fans

Written by: Robbie Robertson

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Release
"The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" was released by The Band in 1969 as part of their self-titled second studio album.
Music Genre
The song belongs to the genre of Southern rock, roots rock, and Americana. It is considered an epitome of Southern sentimentality.
About The Band
The Band was a popular Canadian-American rock group composed of members Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, Garth Hudson, and Levon Helm.
Notable Lyrics
The song’s lyrics tell a story from the perspective of a Southern civilian ("Virgil Caine") at the end of the Civil War. The song discusses the fall of the Confederate states and its impact on the Southern population.
Inspiration for the Song
Robbie Robertson was reportedly inspired to write the song from studying the American Civil War.
Critical Acclaim
"The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" is considered one of the Band's definitive songs. Due to the impactful lyrics and influential sound, It was named the 245th greatest song of all time by Rolling Stone in 2004.
Song Performance
The song's lead vocalist is Levon Helm, with backing vocals by Rick Danko and Richard Manuel. However, Robbie Robertson, the songwriter, does not sing.
Iconic Cover
The song was famously covered by American singer Joan Baez in 1971. Her version of the song reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 charts – the only version of the song to chart in the United States.
The Song’s Cultural Impact
Despite its roots in the Civil War, the song has been used by political candidates as a rallying cry in modern times. In 2016, it was used by Bernie Sanders in a political ad during his presidential campaign.
Movie Appearance
The song was featured in the film "The Best of Enemies", which further capitalized on the song’s allure and historical resonance.

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