The Night they Drove Ol' Dixie Down (is it ok to still like this, what about play it?)

[prodigitalson]

I hate all things CSA or even slightly evocative of white southern nationalism. But this is a beautiful song (and I actually was introduced to it by the Joan Baez cover.) I don't think it is intended to be pro-confederate, but could be interpreted as such by racists or anti-racist (like myself).

Thoughts, DU musicians?

[Docreed2003]

1. It's more of an anti-war song than it is a pro confederacy song

At least that's how I interpret it and that's pretty much the history of the songwriting between Levon Helm and Robbie Robertson.

[prodigitalson]

2. that's exactly how I have always interpreted it

[Hugh_Lebowski]

3. When you do it this artistically, these qualms don't really matter in my book

It's like taking issue with Mark Twain creating a character called N***** Jim.

You do it well enough, as The Band did here ... I say fuck all that.

[Docreed2003]

5. You ain't wrong brotha

[hlthe2b]

16. Robbie Robertson was Canadian and Levon Helm a very enlightened Southern man...

I find it a really evocative piece that allows one to understand the lingering feelings of the defeated in the South from the perspective of that Southern man (Helm) but appreciated by an outsider, Robertson. NO, I mean none of the "heritage excuses for the confederacy and in favor of racism" (as used to defend the confederate flag and all things related today) but genuine feelings of those vanquished wherever they might exist.

I love the piece and I adored Helm. He was the least racist and genuinely kind man (from all accounts) for a man of his time from Arkansas. The "Muddy Waters" and other black blues influences on The Band were genuinely a reflection of what Helm brought to the group.

This is the version of the song that most illustrates what I mean: (The Band, the Last Waltz)

I certainly won't deny that others who recorded it had nice versions, but if you want to understand the song, it is The Band version you want to listen to/watch.

[prodigitalson]

18. nice post thanks, I agree...and that is way better than the JB versio, which I still love

[Docreed2003]

19. Oh I agree totally hlthe2b

I agree completely with your post. You're preaching to the choir lol

[prodigitalson]

21. "and the people were sangin'!"

I love it!

I'm from Deep East Texas, Behind the Pine Curtain. I have such a love/hate relationship with my own culture!!

[BigmanPigman]

4. I watched The Last Waltz for the 5th time a few days ago.

When I heard this song I decided to Google its meaning since it seemed like a pro-confederacy song. It turns out that Robbie Robertson, who is from Canada like the rest of the band except for Helm, and didn't understand the full history of the confederacy.

"The song has faced criticism for some historical liberties and inaccuracies, but it’s always worked with the listeners, most of whom probably don’t know Civil War history any better than Robertson did, and who just view it as a good story song sung by a guy with a distinctive voice. The song found its greatest commercial success not through The Band, though, but through folksinger Joan Baez, who took the song to number three on the Billboard charts for her highest chart appearance ever. It included a lyric change, as Baez had misheard the original; where Helm sang By May 10th Richmond had fell, Baez sang I took the train to Richmond that fell. But her mis-hearing it gave Robertson a big hit as the writer, no matter what the words were."
https://americansongwriter.com/band-night-drove-old-dixie/

[prodigitalson]

6. I have never watched that

to my shame.

So what did Levon Helm say about it?

[BigmanPigman]

9. This is from The last Waltz...they rock!!!!!!

I have to close my windows when I hear this since it MUST be played at #11 and you can't help but sing along (also on #11, with my horrible voice). My neighbors are happy that I am considerate when I "rock it".

[prodigitalson]

13. I have seen this performance, though not the whole film

really good

[Docreed2003]

17. Here's an answer of sorts about Helm's opinions

Helm’s exact reason for disliking Baez’s version was never confirmed and can only be left up to speculation. Perhaps he took issue with the changed lyrics, the same ones that he helped Robertson perfect. Perhaps he didn’t like that Baez’s version was so popular, potentially overshadowing his original performance. Maybe Helm didn’t actually mind Baez’s version at all. All we know is that Helm had his own reasons for not performing ‘The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down’ after The Last Waltz and took them to his grave when he passed away in 2012.

https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/how-joan-baez-ruined-a-classic-from-the-band-for-levon-helm/?amp

[Hugh_Lebowski]

20. The songs with Van Morrison and the Staple Singers are the highlights but its all good

Definitely worth watching the whole thing if you're a fan of rock and roll. It's WAY up there in the pantheon of great 'live concert/documentary movies', similar to the Woodstock film.

It's not Stop Making Sense, but nothing else is

[Docreed2003]

8. Funny thing is...

Helm disliked the Baez version so much that he stopped playing the song in response.

[prodigitalson]

10. that is really funny

ironically, like I said in the OP, her version was how I discovered it (a Joan Baez greatest hits 8-track in the late 70s)

[stopdiggin]

12. artists! !?!?!? might be a few quirks here and there

[Docreed2003]

15. No doubt artists are quirky

Particularly when it comes to how others treat what they view as their work.

Prince was notoriously quirky when it came to covers and I absolutely adore Chris Cornell's cover of "Nothing Compares to You"

[Irish_Dem]

7. I always just took it as the historical perspective of the average southern soldier.

Who had lost the war he was fighting.
He didn't have money, slaves, or a plantation.

But felt defeated.

[prodigitalson]

11. like a guy who lost a limb in Iraq war, but had no Haliburtan stock, right?

[Irish_Dem]

14. Exactly.

[stopdiggin]

22. well .. exceedingly hard to see Joan as pro-South

(or anything remotely in that direction) - - so I'm going to go with it as anti-war paean. And just flat out great song writing and lyrics.

sorrow, aching loss, regret - - the senselessness that many struggle with in aftermath - -

"you can't raise the cane (Cain) back up when it's in the field .. "

[prodigitalson]

24. yeah, this

[dflprincess]

23. I always enjoyed the Watergate era parody, "The Night They Drove Old Dickie Down"

I just tried to find it and could not & all I can remember is:

"The night they drove old Dickie down
and all the people were cheering
The night they drove old Dickie down
and all the press was jeering
They went Na-na-na-na"

[prodigitalson]

25. bwahahahaha

[spike jones]

26. I have a difficult time listening to that song, I have it on a Baez and a The Band CD's,

but usually skip over it when I play them, and say “Fuck Dixie” when I push the skip button. Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd is another one. The big confederate flag behind the band in their videos bothers me too, but then there is their Oakland 1977 concert doing Free Bird. How can you not watch that?
BTW CSA means Chicken Shit Assholes.
I was raised in Dixie.

[prodigitalson]

27. CSA - chicken shit assholes

love it

[ProfessorGAC]

28. It's Ok To Still Like It

And, this is coming from someone who doesn't like the song. Not one thing about it catches my ear.