THE NIGHT THEY DROVE OLD DIXIE DOWN Robbie Robertson
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Virgil Cain is my name and I served on the Danville train,
Till Stonewall's cavalry came and tore up the tracks again.
In the winter of sixty-five we were hungry, just barely alive.
By May the tenth Richmond had fell.
It was a time I remember all 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...
"La 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 I'm 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.
(refrain)
Like my father before me, I work the land. And 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 my the mud below my feet, You can't raise the cane back up when it's in the feed.
(refrain)
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(refrain)
-- Roy M. Randall, FG | I have a clue. Inconsequential Systems, Inc. | For $20, you may have one too.
THE NIGHT THEY DROVE OLD DIXIE DOWN (The Band)
Virgil Caine is the name, and I served on the Danville train,
'Til Stoneman's Calvery 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,
(Chorus)
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
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 never should have taken the very best. (Chorus)
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. (Chorus and fade)
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And if you're interested, here is another song from the "Band":
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THE WEIGHT (The Band)
I pulled into Nazareth, was feelin' about half past dead;
I just need some place where I can lay my head.
"Hey, mister, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?"
He just grinned and shook my hand, and "No!", was all he said.
