The 30 or so Greatest Southern Songs (cont.)
1. Dixie
Ohio native Daniel Emmett wrote music for minstrels and plays in the 1800s. Though he wrote countless songs, he is best remembered today for writing “Dixie.” This classic was first performed on-stage in New York City in 1859. At that time the term “Dixie” was not so closely associated with the American South. It is widely accepted that the word “Dixie” gets its origins from The Mason-Dixon Line, the line that divides Maryland and Delaware—signifying the geographical divide from Northern States and Southern States. Others believe, however, that the term “Dixie” was associated to the South due to The Bank of Louisiana’s printing of ten-dollar bills. “Dix” is French for ten, thus the word “Dixie” being used as a term to describe Southern money. Regardless to which theory one subscribes to on the origin of the word, Emmett’s song “Dixie” for the first time made the direct association between the American South and the word, “Dixie.”
There is some debate as to if Emmett was the song’s only writer. Descendents of the Snowden Family, a 19th century black band, have claimed that their ancestors had a hand in writing the song—and there is some loose evidence that Emmett based part of the song on an old black folk tune. Emmett never had a consistent story when talking about the song. He had claimed he wrote the song in a few minutes on one occasion and a few days on another. One account has him writing it on a Sunday afternoon after a flash put the idea in his head. Other accounts have him being motivated by watching out a window at a cold rainy day in the North and wishing he was “way down South in Dixie.” All of these accounts may hold as much folklore as they hold truth.
Often times referred to as “Dixieland,” or “Way Down South In Dixie,” the song’s original title was “I Wish I Was In Dixie’s Land.” The song is credited for creating catch phrases and clichés that would forever be dotted in American vocabulary. Following the breakout of the Civil War, the song would be adapted as the unofficial anthem of the Confederate States of America, prompting both sides of the war to create countless parodies of the song. Upon hearing the news that Gen. Robert E. Lee had surrendered at Appomattox in 1865, in an effort to promote healing President Lincoln ordered his band to play “Dixie.”
Although not intended to be a folk song, “Dixie” has taken on that label over the last century—providing inspiration for countless other songs that have been major hits. One of the most notable adaptations was a composition by Mickey Newberry in 1972. He mixed “Dixie” with two other 19th century songs, “The Battle Hymn Of The Republic,” and a song closely related to black spirituals, “All My Trials.” The result, “American Trilogy,” would go on to define the live performances toward the end of Elvis Presley’s career. Other songs that center on “Dixie’s” strong association of place include “Dixie Chicken,” and “If Heaven Ain’t A Lot like Dixie,” just to name a few. Other pop cultural references consist of the song being whistled or played in cartoons, as well as a riff from the song being converted into a car horn for the popular CBS television series The Dukes Of Hazzard.
If for no other reason Emmett’s masterpiece deserves recognition because it’s a song that sounds awesome whether it’s played fast or slow. You can clap your hands and jump for joy when it’s quick, or a tear will form when you sing the song as a ballad.
“Dixie” has made a significant transition in meaning throughout history. From its origins as a minstrel song that was sympathetic to slavery, to a song that is now an emotional song about friends and family in the South. “Dixie” was an unofficial fight song for many Southern university sports teams. Most have since scrapped the song due to its perceived political incorrectness. A few universities, including the University of Mississippi and The Citadel, have been able to latch on to the sensible understanding that the song’s current meaning of a nostalgic sense of place where family and friends enjoy good humor and lasting memories is widely-embraced. Today, no realistic person actually believes that by singing “Dixie” one is somehow being nostalgic for segregation and slavery. The song “Dixie” is proudly performed at University of Mississippi sporting events along with an adoption of Newberry’s “American Trilogy,” which the Ole Miss “Pride Of The South Band” refers to as, “From Dixie With Love.” The arrangement continues to be the most popular song in the band’s repertoire, sparking warm applause from both home and away fans. In Charleston, S.C., the Regimental Band of The Citadel (cadets from The Citadel fired the first shots of the Civil War on Jan. 9, 1861) performs “Dixie” on select occasions.
Today’s modern interpretation of “Dixie” being a song about the wonderful place in which we live and the wonderful people with whom we share it, along with the fact that the song is credited for creating the association of the word “Dixie” to the geographic region of the American South, makes “Dixie” the Greatest Southern Song!
