im a 37 yr old englishman and for some reason im fascinated with the civil war and the whole americana thing. this song sums it all up for me. love it.
With Levon Helm in his final Stages of cancer I dedicate this song written by Robbie Robertson to Him as it was his great voice that made it so popular when it was released in 1969 and later By Joan when it made it to the top 5 with her amazing voice. There will never be another Voice like Levon Helm's. May he live his last days in dignity and praise of his accomplishments in the music he has shared with so many of us.
My great grandfather Alfred Whitfield fought with the 11th Illinois volunteer regiment company B . He was a English men. Fought at Fort Donelson Tennessee
Thanks for the nice compliment! I had ancestors from Ohio and Kentucky in the war as well. Mine all fought for the north though. A fascinating time in our history. Brave men regardless of which side they fought for.
Whoa! Randomly clicked this to listen to (because I love this song) and the first picture that came up is of my cousin Chris!!! Thats awesome. He's been doing Civil War reenactments for YEARS.
One of my all time favorites! I listened to a great interview with Robbie on CBC radio today. I just had to post this video on my facebook page! What a beautiful creation from some part Mohawk kid from Toronto. Great video as well! I loved the reenactment presentation!
This is what this great song is all about. Very enjoyable to watch and thanks for those excellent pictures of a remarkably authentic re-enactment society. Superb all round.
No, again thank you "my brother" I have been seeking a regular "album" version of this song for months on you tube the pictures and the attention to detail? You should get a you tube oscar!! ;)
I am from California and am GLAD we had no part in the Civil War. The North and South should both be ashamed of their legacy, insofar as niether side was able to prevent the greatest tragedy in US History.
how different life must have been for these soldiers...a life without music, a life without knowledge beyond their small town, a life without pretense.
man, the lyrics that hit me the hardest are, "Now I don't mind choppin' wood / and I don't care if the money's no good / You take you need and you leave the rest / but they should never have taken the very best." just captures the sadness and loss of a proud civilization.
I heard Joan Baez's version before I heard this one. I had never listen to this song until I heard The Band's version. This version is much better than Joan's version. When The Band made this song, it was a sad song about the tragedy of the Civil War. When Joan made this song it sounded like a happy folk song.
@1888gp True...the human cost of the Civil War was staggeringly high. So many killed and wounded, and this was 70+ years before the discovery of penicillin. More soldiers died from infection and disease than from being killed in action. Nice shot of Burnside's Bridge at 0:50.
Yeah, the wounds may be unhealed to an extent, but my friend, what I think you may not be understanding is the extreme poverty that came as a result of this war that reached well into my grandparents' generation , and that does not go away over night. My own parents, who were born in the 1930's, were the 1st generation in my family to break out of that poverty. Be careful critisizing what you don't know anything about. This song characterizes well the wretched pain for us on the loosing side.
I like the sound of your reply. I sense a man with a soul who will have to leave many beautiful things behind when your time comes. I hope I will meet men like you when I go where they will send me.
I never get tired of listening to this song. It is truly one of the last works of art. As long as there is a United States of America, this song will endure.
RIP Levon, magnificent voice, magnificent musician. Play your drums in the spirit realms with all the other great artists who have passed on, they'll love to join you in making music again.
From the heart....we are all AMERICANS...This great nation....LETS UNITE...LETS SHOW THE WORLD....WE THE AMERICANS CAN TACKLE ANY JOB... TOGETHER WE THE PEOPLE ...CAN OVERCOME ANYTHING...ANYTIME... ANYWHERE!!! UNITED WE STAND...DIVIDED WE FALL!!!! "WE" HAVE A CHOICE!!!
@MrErdner - I live in Kentucky. Most of the re-enactments / encampments that I attend are in Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and Indiana. Robert E. Lee never made an appearance in the western theater. Look closely though and you'll see "Don Carlos Buell", "U.S. Grant", "Braxton Bragg", and "Patrick Cleburn" Thanks for the editing compliment.
WISH I KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I'VE SAVED THIS TUNE,,, COULDN'T KNOW WHO SANG IT WHEN i WAS YOUNG.. didn't hear who did the tune......... years and years.....
@CoastGuardIDC - The Stars and Bars was the first Confederate National Flag. It consisted of two red stripes, one white stripe, and a blue field of white stars. The flag these re-enactors is carrying was the Regimental Flag of the Sixth Tennessee Infantry. It was the simply the Stars and Bars with their regiments name on the white stripe. The flag that the soldiers are holding near the end of the video as they prepare to advance is the "Southern Cross" flag. Note the cross in the blue field.
History is told by the winners ... Nobodys country is "little" I have respect for all no matter the size look at the Native america nations, so many , so proud
@Norwalkdude - You're quite wrong actually. California was a state and remained loyal to the Union so they were part of "The North" as you call it. Over 17,000 Californians enlisted with most serving in the west. California troops engaged Confederates from Texas on several occasions in New Mexico. Several California companies saw action in Virginia with Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New York regiments. So, welcome to the winning side!!
Did somebody just say something POSITIVE about the Latino Community??? If so, It's about time. I've been to school and to work with them--they aren't lazy, they have an education wish and work ethic that is powerful.
if anyone could recommend me some songs that are just like this one, please do! this song gives me goosebumps. the lyrics, especially the chorus, the melody, the vocals...everything about it is just perfect.
@Paulmancieri67 The original version is in C major, but the RPM on this recording has been slowed down, to where it sounds as though its in B major. I must say, I do like hearing it at a lower pitch!
@CoastGuardIDC Not all conferate forces flew the conferate flag in Battle, sometimes it was the particulare units flag such as the 1st Virginia volunteers and other states regiments.
@GX2Photography I looked this up and half the sites say Stonemans and the other half so much cavalry.Her site refuses to reply to lyrics to songs she did not write.Leading me to believe she sang "So much Calvary came".I played this part over and over and it sounds like "so much cavalry came".Stonemans cavalry tore up the tracks to that part of the rail road many times.This caused supplies from getting through and people were starving.
I am not going to debate the Joan/Band thing. This has just always been my favorite version of the song I feel they put more [passion and soul into it.
Actually, Lee's, Jackson's, and many other Civil War commanders tactics are taught at West Point, VMI, and The Citadel. Jackson's "Left hook out of nowhere" at Chancellorsville is THE classic American battle maneuver. It is studied intently by all West Point and VMI cadets and has been used many times in our history, most recently by Schwarzkopf in the Gulf War.
"The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" Virgil Kane is the name And I served on the Danville train 'Till Stoneman's cavalry came And tore up the tracks again In the winter of '65 We were hungry, just barely alive By May the 10th, Richmond had fell It's 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, "Na, na, la, na, na, la" Back with my wife in Tennessee When one day she called to me "Virgil, quick, come see, There goes Robert E. Lee!" Now, I don't mind chopping wood And I don't care if the money's no good You take what you need And you leave 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 all the people were singing They went, "Na, na, la, na, na, la" Like my father before me I will work the land And like my brother above me Who took a rebel stand He was just 18, proud and brave But a Yankee laid him in his grave I swear by the mud below my feet You can't raise a Kane 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 all the people were singing They went, "Na, na, la, na, na, la" The night they drove old Dixie down And all the bells were ringing The night they drove old Dixie down And the people were singing They went, "Na, na, la, na, na, la"
If you can, take a trip to Virginia to tour all the battlefields and excellent museums there. Walk the grounds. Plenty of good hotels, restaurants around the sites. It will be a good time you won't forget.
They are regarded by most other musicians as one of the greatest bands of all time. The collection of talent as a group of songwriters and musicians was perhaps only matched by the Beatles. They were called "The Band" because they were in such high demand as a session band for recording studios in the 60s that when people wanted the best session group, they simply said they wanted "the band."
@GX2Photography Great, now I feel as ahamed as you should. In my family's defense, in the 1850's we lived in a village in the San Gabriel Valley and we didn't fight thart war nor did we fight the Mexican American war.
@GX2Photography Fair enough. But in all of the re-enactments, was there no gentlemen in a grey general's uniform with a short white beard? I must say that the processing you used was an excellent simulation of Matthew Brady era prints. It looks like you were back there in the 1860's.
My PPL fought on both Sides many from Ohio many from Ky ;( Guess that's why they call it CIVAL WAR I totally love this song and what a classic tribute with the pictures?
I live on Old Campground Rd in our county. I found out last week it is named that because the confederate soldiers camped here. Cool. I love the reenactments, but miss most of them.
Man when I was standing next to that canon at Fort Pulaski and heard this song it sure gave me some ghostly feelings. All time best song, however did you change it because Levon's voice sounds a lil' low.
im a 37 yr old englishman and for some reason im fascinated with the civil war and the whole americana thing. this song sums it all up for me. love it.
Levon Helm had a voice that others would die for. Brother Levon is no longer with us. Bless him wherever he may be.
With Levon Helm in his final Stages of cancer I dedicate this song written by Robbie Robertson to Him as it was his great voice that made it so popular when it was released in 1969 and later By Joan when it made it to the top 5 with her amazing voice. There will never be another Voice like Levon Helm's. May he live his last days in dignity and praise of his accomplishments in the music he has shared with so many of us.
There is something about this song and the history that it portrays, that still tugs at my heart. Everyone who died was an American.
My great grandfather Alfred Whitfield fought with the 11th Illinois volunteer regiment company B . He was a English men. Fought at Fort Donelson Tennessee
I was always amazed that one southern boy talked a bunch of Canadians into souding like this!! Good thinking, guys.
Amen
i've been listening to this since i was a wee child, i'm 19 now and i will never get sick of it.. thanks for the upload
Hello hopefully you have on notifications
Thanks for the nice compliment! I had ancestors from Ohio and Kentucky in the war as well. Mine all fought for the north though. A fascinating time in our history. Brave men regardless of which side they fought for.
Such a motivational song, totally my favorite
Whoa! Randomly clicked this to listen to (because I love this song) and the first picture that came up is of my cousin Chris!!! Thats awesome. He's been doing Civil War reenactments for YEARS.
RIP Levon Helm. Thank you for the beautiful music
One of my all time favorites! I listened to a great interview with Robbie on CBC radio today. I just had to post this video on my facebook page! What a beautiful creation from some part Mohawk kid from Toronto. Great video as well! I loved the reenactment presentation!
sorry to hear about Levon's passing. May he rest in peace. He was a hero.
This is what this great song is all about. Very enjoyable to watch and thanks for those excellent pictures of a remarkably authentic re-enactment society. Superb all round.
heard this song for the first time on the radio the day he past and i've been humming this song ever since.... Rest In Peace Levon.
No, again thank you "my brother" I have been seeking a regular "album" version of this song for months on you tube the pictures and the attention to detail? You should get a you tube oscar!! ;)
I am from California and am GLAD we had no part in the Civil War. The North and South should both be ashamed of their legacy, insofar as niether side was able to prevent the greatest tragedy in US History.
Always loved the Band and this song. Thanks for posting it.
how different life must have been for these soldiers...a life without music, a life without knowledge beyond their small town, a life without pretense.
man, the lyrics that hit me the hardest are, "Now I don't mind choppin' wood / and I don't care if the money's no good / You take you need and you leave the rest / but they should never have taken the very best."
just captures the sadness and loss of a proud civilization.
Great video... Putting this song with these photos was a great idea, and well done -- thanks GX2!
I heard Joan Baez's version before I heard this one. I had never listen to this song until I heard The Band's version. This version is much better than Joan's version.
When The Band made this song, it was a sad song about the tragedy of the Civil War. When Joan made this song it sounded like a happy folk song.
We were fellow countrymen. We still are. And WE will always be.
My buddy is a high school history teacher and I know he will get a kick out of this!!
Amazing band , amazing song . Very sadly Richard , Levon , and Rick no longer with us . But their music will live on !
Those civil war photos are amazing, they give me the chills, you did a beautiful job on this video!
NIce video to a classic song by The Band.
G'day and thanks for sharing your talent. Cheers from Downunder.
Music just doesn't get better than this ..
My dad just said that Levon's voice is perfect for this tune.
tulllguy that it is!
great job! thanks
Really well-presented retrospective: clear photos and great sound! Good job! --The Great American Dollhouse Museum in Danville, KY
Always a great song about the South and the war. A great tribute to Levon as well. R.I.P.
I love this song... THE BAND is the best band of the era.
Classic and wonderful sound.
Best of the renditions on You Tube!
@1888gp
True...the human cost of the Civil War was staggeringly high. So many killed and wounded, and this was 70+ years before the discovery of penicillin. More soldiers died from infection and disease than from being killed in action.
Nice shot of Burnside's Bridge at 0:50.
genius song writing and stellar performances they made-no doubt. Respect
Just remember: 'They should never have taken the very best' a phrase to remember!
Yeah, the wounds may be unhealed to an extent, but my friend, what I think you may not be understanding is the extreme poverty that came as a result of this war that reached well into my grandparents' generation , and that does not go away over night. My own parents, who were born in the 1930's, were the 1st generation in my family to break out of that poverty. Be careful critisizing what you don't know anything about. This song characterizes well the wretched pain for us on the loosing side.
nice job thank you.
Thanks for this - I always thought Joan Baez was the first to record this song - how wrong could I be!
I like the sound of your reply. I sense a man with a soul who will have to leave many beautiful things behind when your time comes. I hope I will meet men like you when I go where they will send me.
still, there are many things schools leave out, the south was not as evil as they would like you to believe
just one word: beautiful!
I never get tired of listening to this song. It is truly one of the last works of art. As long as there is a United States of America, this song will endure.
RIP Levon, magnificent voice, magnificent musician. Play your drums in the spirit realms with all the other great artists who have passed on, they'll love to join you in making music again.
From the heart....we are all AMERICANS...This great nation....LETS UNITE...LETS SHOW THE WORLD....WE THE AMERICANS CAN TACKLE ANY JOB... TOGETHER WE THE PEOPLE ...CAN OVERCOME ANYTHING...ANYTIME... ANYWHERE!!! UNITED WE STAND...DIVIDED WE FALL!!!! "WE" HAVE A CHOICE!!!
People still vote Democrat and hate this country. I'm afraid it's over
Such a beautiful song.
Peter Weller in Firstborn 1984 brought me here
@MrErdner - I live in Kentucky. Most of the re-enactments / encampments that I attend are in Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and Indiana. Robert E. Lee never made an appearance in the western theater. Look closely though and you'll see "Don Carlos Buell", "U.S. Grant", "Braxton Bragg", and "Patrick Cleburn" Thanks for the editing compliment.
beautiful song
I to am from kentucky I take great pride in the southern cause. The south is coming agine. Great video love it
R.I.P. Mr. Levon... Not many knew the man... But ALL loved the voice!
WISH I KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I'VE SAVED THIS TUNE,,, COULDN'T KNOW WHO SANG IT WHEN i WAS YOUNG.. didn't hear who did the tune......... years and years.....
they ARE DESTOYING HISTORY JOIN ME
Thay been destroyed it from the begging now people are seeing it when it's lost
Love it
i love dixie
@CoastGuardIDC - The Stars and Bars was the first Confederate National Flag. It consisted of two red stripes, one white stripe, and a blue field of white stars. The flag these re-enactors is carrying was the Regimental Flag of the Sixth Tennessee Infantry. It was the simply the Stars and Bars with their regiments name on the white stripe. The flag that the soldiers are holding near the end of the video as they prepare to advance is the "Southern Cross" flag. Note the cross in the blue field.
listened to this song in history class today ^^
this song brings tears to my eyes sometimes.
one of my all time fav songs
History is told by the winners ...
Nobodys country is "little" I have respect for all no matter the size look at the Native america nations, so many , so proud
@Norwalkdude - You're quite wrong actually. California was a state and remained loyal to the Union so they were part of "The North" as you call it. Over 17,000 Californians enlisted with most serving in the west. California troops engaged Confederates from Texas on several occasions in New Mexico. Several California companies saw action in Virginia with Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New York regiments. So, welcome to the winning side!!
[possible 3 known Australians in Konfederate army. Some Australians were crewmen on the ship- Shennadoah that served in the Pacific ocean.''
i was a union reenactor at perryville about 8 yrs ago was a blast we actually camped on the real site love this song love this band
It's okay for men to cry to this song.
I'm crying right now
This is a great song no matter who sings it.
@mjsipg No it's Levon. This is the studio version from the Band (album)
This song was written by Levon Robbie wrote the music and took credit for everything that is a well known fact.
The spirit lives
Did somebody just say something POSITIVE about the Latino Community??? If so, It's about time. I've been to school and to work with them--they aren't lazy, they have an education wish and work ethic that is powerful.
if anyone could recommend me some songs that are just like this one, please do!
this song gives me goosebumps. the lyrics, especially the chorus, the melody, the vocals...everything about it is just perfect.
9 year old comment hello
iClapMaster FN oh hai reply
rathees u do u wanna join my militia
@Paulmancieri67
The original version is in C major, but the RPM on this recording has been slowed down, to where it sounds as though its in B major. I must say, I do like hearing it at a lower pitch!
@CoastGuardIDC Not all conferate forces flew the conferate flag in Battle, sometimes it was the particulare units flag such as the 1st Virginia volunteers and other states regiments.
i like this verson better than the others on here.
@GX2Photography song as she (mis)heard them .She now sings the original lyrics whenever she sings it.
@GX2Photography I looked this up and half the sites say Stonemans and the other half so much cavalry.Her site refuses to reply to lyrics to songs she did not write.Leading me to believe she sang "So much Calvary came".I played this part over and over and it sounds like "so much cavalry came".Stonemans cavalry tore up the tracks to that part of the rail road many times.This caused supplies from getting through and people were starving.
Southerner till i fall. BlueRidge Mountains North Carolina
Wow. Thank you very much!
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. The Flying Burrito Brothers. Ry Cooder.
I am not going to debate the Joan/Band thing. This has just always been my favorite version of the song I feel they put more [passion and soul into it.
woot the band canadas finest
Unfortunately when I think of our country currently, I find myself singing this song.
Because that's the beauty of good things. They are hidden, so that only those that seek may find.
Actually, Lee's, Jackson's, and many other Civil War commanders tactics are taught at West Point, VMI, and The Citadel. Jackson's "Left hook out of nowhere" at Chancellorsville is THE classic American battle maneuver. It is studied intently by all West Point and VMI cadets and has been used many times in our history, most recently by Schwarzkopf in the Gulf War.
North Carolina Southerner till i fall
@sonofipecac Thanx 4 making this point - it's a good one!
EXCELLENT!!!
"The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down"
Virgil Kane is the name
And I served on the Danville train
'Till Stoneman's cavalry came
And tore up the tracks again
In the winter of '65
We were hungry, just barely alive
By May the 10th, Richmond had fell
It's 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, "Na, na, la, na, na, la"
Back with my wife in Tennessee
When one day she called to me
"Virgil, quick, come see,
There goes Robert E. Lee!"
Now, I don't mind chopping wood
And I don't care if the money's no good
You take what you need
And you leave 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 all the people were singing
They went, "Na, na, la, na, na, la"
Like my father before me
I will work the land
And like my brother above me
Who took a rebel stand
He was just 18, proud and brave
But a Yankee laid him in his grave
I swear by the mud below my feet
You can't raise a Kane 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 all the people were singing
They went, "Na, na, la, na, na, la"
The night they drove old Dixie down
And all the bells were ringing
The night they drove old Dixie down
And the people were singing
They went, "Na, na, la, na, na, la"
If you can, take a trip to Virginia to tour all the battlefields and excellent museums there. Walk the grounds. Plenty of good hotels, restaurants around the sites. It will be a good time you won't forget.
They are regarded by most other musicians as one of the greatest bands of all time. The collection of talent as a group of songwriters and musicians was perhaps only matched by the Beatles. They were called "The Band" because they were in such high demand as a session band for recording studios in the 60s that when people wanted the best session group, they simply said they wanted "the band."
@GX2Photography Great, now I feel as ahamed as you should. In my family's defense, in the 1850's we lived in a village in the San Gabriel Valley and we didn't fight thart war nor did we fight the Mexican American war.
Awesome job. =)
Powhatan, VA
@GX2Photography Fair enough. But in all of the re-enactments, was there no gentlemen in a grey general's uniform with a short white beard? I must say that the processing you used was an excellent simulation of Matthew Brady era prints. It looks like you were back there in the 1860's.
My PPL fought on both Sides many from Ohio many from Ky ;( Guess that's why they call it CIVAL WAR I totally love this song and what a classic tribute with the pictures?
Nice pix.I actually know several of the guys in those photos.I may actually be in one.
I live on Old Campground Rd in our county. I found out last week it is named that because the confederate soldiers camped here. Cool. I love the reenactments, but miss most of them.
That is true what you say about more character, well said!
Man when I was standing next to that canon at Fort Pulaski and heard this song it sure gave me some ghostly feelings. All time best song, however did you change it because Levon's voice sounds a lil' low.
maybe my favourite song ever. ill tour the american south some day,
Great vocals :)