LesBlog

The Night They Drove ‘Ol Dixie down is one of the best songs, if not the best song, of all time.

When I was growing up and attending Thomas Jefferson High School in the late 70’s, we listened to The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and The Grateful Dead almost exclusively. There was a little room any other bands save for Lou Reed, Roy Buchanan, Brian Eno, Roxy Music, and a couple others. But I never really appreciated Bob Dylan or ‘The Band’ until much later.

VH1 has played “The Last Waltz” several times lately, which is the Scorcese Rockumentary that documents the end of life on the road for arguably one of the most soulful bands of all time. They made a decision to get out when the getting was good, while they were at the top of their game.

Leave it to Robbie Robertson, a Canadian, yet another transplant, to recognize and articulate the beauty of the Mississipi Delta and The Old South, and to write:

“The Night they drove Old Dixie down…”

Extraordinary! I remember my Dad had a copy of “The Band” album. It didn’t do anything for me when I was 15. It sure does now.

Essentially, it captures the feelings of an entire population, The Old South, with just a few words and a few moments of music. It does more to express the pride, determination, and love of the land… than any history book I’ve ever read. I know these feelings first hand because I live in Atlanta for several years, from 5th to 8th grade (1972-1975).

The song literally brings history to life. And that’s why it’s one of the best songs of all time.