"I Wish I Was In Dixie's Land" was a de facto national anthem of the Confederate States of America (CSA) in the 1860s, adopted during the civil war. It was created by American songwriter Dan Emmett in 1859. The song is about nationalism and patriotism of the American South, and that's what made it so popular in the 19th century.[1][2][3] "Dixie" was used along with "God Save the South" for the Confederacy.
"Dixie" was one of President Abraham Lincoln's favorites. He had played "Dixie" at some of his political rallies and at the announcement of General Robert E. Lee's surrender.[4][5]
There have been adoptions into other languages, including Japanese and Mandarin Chinese.
Lyrics[]
Numerous versions of "Dixie" exist, but the version attributed to Dan Emmett and its variations are the most popular.[6] Some of the versions are listed below.
First verse and chorus[]
I wish I was in the land of cotton, old times there are not forgotten,
Look away, look away, look away, Dixie Land.
In Dixie Land where I was born in, early on a frosty mornin',
Look away, look away, look away, Dixie Land.
Then I wish I was in Dixie, hooray! hooray!
In Dixie Land I'll take my stand to live and die in Dixie,
Away, away, away down South in Dixie,
Away, away, away down South in Dixie.[7][8][9]
Unofficial version[]
Away down South in the land of traitors,
Rattlesnakes and alligators,
Right away, come away, right away, come away.
Where cotton's king and men are chattels,
Union boys will win the battles,
Right away, come away, right away, come away.
Then we'll all go down to Dixie,
Away, away,
Each Dixie boy must understand
That he must mind his Uncle Sam.[9]
Franny Crosby's Union version[]
On! ye patriots to the battle,
Hear Fort Moultrie's cannon rattle!
Then away, then away, then away to the fight!
Go meet those Southern traitors,
With iron will.
And should your courage falter, boys,
Remember Bunker Hill.
Hurrah! Hurrah! The Stars and Stripes forever!
Hurrah! Hurrah! Our Union shall not sever![10]
Albert Pike's version[]
Southrons! hear your country call you!
Up! lest worse than death befall you! …
Hear the Northern thunders mutter! …
Northern flags in South wind flutter; …
Send them back your fierce defiance!
Stamp upon the cursed alliance![11]
See also[]
- The Bonnie Blue Flag
- God Save the South
Notes[]
- 1 I Wish I Were In Dixie
References[]
- ↑ Discography of American Historical Recordings
- ↑ Koenigsberg, Allen (1987). Edison Cylinder Records, 1889-1912. APM Press.
- ↑ List of Famous Columbia Records (1896)
- ↑ Herbert, David (1996). Lincoln. Simon and Schuster. p. 580.
- ↑ Lincoln Called For Dixie (1909-02-07). The New York Times.
- ↑ Warburton. p. 230.
- ↑ Roland. p. 218.
- ↑ Cornelius. p. 31.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Nathan, Hans (1962). Dan Emmett and the Rise of Early Negro Minstrelsy. Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press.
- ↑ Sacks, Howard L.; Sacks, Judith (1993). Way up North in Dixie: A Black Family's Claim to the Confederate Anthem. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press. ISBN 0-252-07160-3. p. 156.
- ↑ Singing the New Nation: How Music Shaped the Confederacy, 1861–1865 (2000). Abel, E. Lawrence. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-0228-7. p. 36.