THE NIGHT THEY DROVE OLD DIXIE DOWN

The Band's original version

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 bave 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"

Page last updated: 12 Apr 2008

Written by Robbie Robertson about the American Civil War, THE NIGHT THEY DROVE OLD DIXIE DOWN was first recorded by The Band in 1969 and released on their self-titled second album on 22 Sep 1969. The above lyrics are for The Band's album's version.

The song is part of the "The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock And Roll" list. It was #245 on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Songs Of All Time".

As far as it's known, Bruce Springsteen covered THE NIGHT THEY DROVE OLD DIXIE DOWN only once. Check out the live 01 Sep 1971 version for more details.