“The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” is a poignant song by The Band, released in 1969 as part of their second album, “The Band.” The lyrics were written by Robbie Robertson, the band’s picker and primary songwriter, and the song was sung by guitarist Levon Helm, whose Southern sources added authenticity to the delivery.
The song relate the experiences of a invented supporter soldier named Virgil Caine throughout the American Civil War. It bag the sorrow and hardship faced by the Southern states as they experience defeat and revision. The lyrics vividly Strongest the struggles of the South, the destruction of war, and the loss of a way of life.
Although “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” is a work of prose literature, it resonated profoundly with listeners, inspiring empathy for the defeated alliance and prompting throwing back on the complexities of history and singling out. The song’s powerful narration, emotive vocals, and reminiscent instrumentation made it a standout trail on the album and a lasting classic in American music.
Over the years, “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” has been covered by numerous artists and remains a main of The Band’s stock. It continues to be distinguished for its rich narration and its capacity to capture the being of a tumultuous period in American history.
Lyrics
Virgil Kane 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 10th, 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 singing
They went, “Na, na, la, na, na, 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 chopping wood
And I don’t care if the money’s no good
You take what you need
And you 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 all the people were singing
They went, “Na, na, la, na, na, la”
Like my father before me
I will work the land
And like my brother above me
Who took a rebel stand
He was just 18, proud and brave
But a Yankee laid him in his grave
I swear by the mud below my feet
You can’t raise a Kane 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 singing
They went, “Na, na, la, na, na, la”
The night they drove old Dixie down
And all the bells were ringing
The night they drove old Dixie down
And the people were singing
They went, “Na, na, la, na, na, la”