The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
The Band, Bob Dylan
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Virgil Caine is the name, and I served on the Danville train 'Til 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
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
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.
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Music GenreThe song belongs to the genre of Southern rock, roots rock, and Americana. It is considered an epitome of Southern sentimentality.
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About The BandThe Band was a popular Canadian-American rock group composed of members Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, Garth Hudson, and Levon Helm.
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Notable LyricsThe 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.
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Inspiration for the SongRobbie Robertson was reportedly inspired to write the song from studying the American Civil War.
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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.
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Song PerformanceThe song's lead vocalist is Levon Helm, with backing vocals by Rick Danko and Richard Manuel. However, Robbie Robertson, the songwriter, does not sing.
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Iconic CoverThe 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.
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The Song’s Cultural ImpactDespite 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.
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Movie AppearanceThe 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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Citation
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