Post by Dr. RobertHi,
Singing lyrics as they were written without regard to gender is true
folk-style tradition.
As is not worrying about complete faithfulness to the original
lyrics.
Here's my little write-up on this song, from the vaults:
At first consideration it may seem odd that a half-Mohawk Indian, half-
Jewish
Canadian could have created what is probably the best song ever
written about
the American South. But consider the story within the song, as told
by Virgil
Cain, a non-combatant railroad worker witnessing the scorched-earth
atrocities
of the Civil War from the losing side. Cain watches as the Union
General
George Stoneman destroys the railroad that is his livelihood; watches
as Richmond
falls; mourns the loss of his brother who was "proud and brave/but a
Yankee put
him in his grave". Who better than someone with Robertson's
background could
understand the feelings of persecution and impotent rage felt by
war's
bystanders? The song's central lament -- "You take what you need and
you leave
the rest/but they should never have taken the very best" -- is equally
valid as
an expression of grief from a Native as from a Confederate
perspective.
Adding further resonance is the heartfelt vocal delivery of the song
by Arkansas-bred
Levon Helm, who also provides the loping, ragged beat that perfectly
suits the
song's defeated yet proud theme.
Though never a hit, "Dixie" was the centerpiece and soul of The Band's
self-titled second album, and, along with "The Weight" from the Big
Pink sessions, remains the song most identified with the group. The
song spawned a handful of cover versions, notably Joan Baez'
top-10 version from 1971.
JGM