The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down Lyrics - Garcialive, Vol. 6: July 5, 1973 - Lion's Share - Jerry Garcia

Virgil Caine is the name and I served on the Danville train 

'Til Stoneman's cavalry came and tore up the tracks again 

In the winter of sixty-five 

We were hungry just barely alive 

By May tenth Richmond had fell 

It was 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 

La la la la la la, la la la la la la la la, la 

Like my father before me I will work the land (note 1) 

And like my brother above me who took a rebel stand 

He was just eighteen, proud and brave 

When a Yankee laid him in his grave 

I swear by the mud below my feet 

You can't raise a Cain 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 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 (note 2) 

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 

You take what you need and you keep the rest 

But they should never have taken the very best 

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