A little peace offering to Harry
 

Just in case you decide to have a sing a long at your little tent party
cookout, here's the lyrics and a little history of a song you might want
to include.



Dixie
"Dixie" was written by Daniel Decatur Emmett of Mount Vernon, Ohio, and
premiered in September of 1859 in New York. According to an article by
Mike Petee in the Knox County Observer, Mount Vernon, Ohio, Dan Emmett
learned to play various instruments at a young age, including the banjo,
fife, fiddle and a small drum. He was enlisted in a Minstrel group when
they stopped in Mount Vernon and needed a replacement for a sick player,
beginning a long musical career.

Although best known as the song adopted by the Confederacy, "Dixie" was
also Abraham Lincoln's favorite song, and it was played at his
inauguration. Even though Abe Lincoln loved and supported the song, Dan
Emmett was ostracized in the North for writing a song associated with
the South. In his last performance in Mount Vernon, it is reported that
he cried when he was warmly welcomed and given a standing ovation as
it's writer.It is still considered to be one of the top two or three
songs associated with the history of this country.

One popular theory of the origin of the name Dixie is that the old $10
Lousiana notes were known (by mispronouncing the French names that were
printed on them) as "dixies," and the Louisiana region became known in
slang as Dixie Land. This term was later expanded to include the rest of
the South.

The other competing theory is that "Dixie" comes from the Mason-Dixon
Line. There is a third theory that the title honors a kind farmer in
Manhattan Island by the name of Dixy who was rumored to be connected
with the Underground Railroad; "Dixy's Land" became known as a safe
haven. However, it is unlikely that this could actually be the origin of
the song since Manhattan Island has never been "the land of cotton"; in
addition, Manhattan is clearly not "away down south".

And although the song is credited to Emmett, he had indicated that the
melody was partially inspired by a tune his mother sung to him as a
child; and others believe a similar tune was sung around plantations and
around the Mississippi River for several generations. In the original
version shown for the second line of the first verse below, the words
"cinnamon seed and sandy bottom" were referred to by the soldiers when
they reached an area in Missouri where they found catfish and sassafras
for tea for sale.


THIS SONG SOUNDS BEST WHEN SUNG REALLY LOUD AND WITH GUSTO.

Oh, I wish I was in the land of cotton,
Old times there are not forgotten, {Alt Original: Cinnamon seed and
sandy bottom,]
Look away, look away, look away Dixie Land.

In Dixie Land, where I was born in,
early on one frosty mornin',
Look away, look away, look away Dixie Land.

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

Optional Verses

Ole Missus marry "Will the weaver"
Willum was a gay deceiver
Look away! Look away! Look away!
Dixie Land

But when he put his arm around 'er,
He smiled fierce as a forty pounder,
Look away! Look away! Look away!
Dixie Land


His face was sharp as a butcher's cleaver
But that did not seem to grieve 'er
Look away! Look away! Look away!
Dixie Land

Ole Missus acted the foolish part
And died for a man that broke her heart
Look away! Look away! Look away!
Dixie Land

Now here's a health to the next ole Missus
An' all the gals that want to kiss us;
Look away! Look away! Look away!
Dixie Land

But if you want to drive 'way sorrow
Come and hear this song tomorrow
Look away! Look away! Look away!
Dixie Land

There's buckwheat cakes and Injun batter,
Makes you fat or a little fatter;
Look away! Look away! Look away!
Dixie Land


Then hoe it down and scratch your gravel,
To Dixie's Land I'm bound to travel,
Look away! Look away! Look away!
Dixie Land