[Dixielandjazz] Kash's question about the song "Dixie"

[G. William Oakley]

I couldn't agree with you more,  Jim.  As you know from our offline communication regarding this wonderful old song I have personal experience with the liberal claptrap that has dogged Dixie. The below comment from the NPR web site referencing their documentary on the tune is quite informative.

"Musician Mike Petee helped this year's crowd at Mount Vernon's Dan Emmett festival imagine how Emmett might have been inspired to write the tune. 

"It's New York City... It's rainy, it's cold," Petee said. "And what minstrels loved to do was tour the north during the summer and in the winter they want to go down south. So he's in the north, it's cold, it's dreary, his thoughts go to Dixie, where he wants to be." 

Beyond the differing theories of its origin and the quarrels over its symbolism, it's clear to Vanderbilt University music historian Dale Cockrell why it became so popular and enduring. 

"The song's music is of undeniable infectious quality," Cockrell says. "It's anthem-like. It's in 4/4 so it's a kind of propulsive march-like dance rhythm. One can hardly help but be affected just by the musical quality of it." 

A lot of people still wish they could hear "Dixie." But it's rarely sung in public anymore. 

One way latter-day performers try to make it acceptable is to combine it with other tunes that acknowledge its complex history. Jazz singer Rene Marie combined it with Billie Holliday's "Strange Fruit" -- a vivid depiction of a lynching. Elvis Presley's American trilogy mixes "Dixie" with "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and the spiritual "All My Trials." 

Howard Sacks believes "Dixie" retains a quintessential American quality: 

"What it tells us is that black, white, male female, southern, northern, slave, free, urban rural -- these aren't separate realms," Sacks says. "The story of the American experience is the story of movement between these realms. 

"Understanding the creation and re-creation of "Dixie" is that story encapsulated in the words and music of a single song." 

Best Regards
Bill



  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: JimDBB at aol.com 
  To: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com 
  Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2003 10:28 AM
  Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Kash's question about the song "Dixie"


  In a message dated 1/25/03 5:31:20 AM Central Standard Time, Bobolink7736 at aol.com writes:



    .

         As regards the playing of "Dixie,"  I think Elvis got it right and did 
    it the only way
    a White group can perform it without having their integrity questioned.  I 
    love what he
    did.  That medley sends me into deep, deep emotion, longing for a day when we
    can all be free of all our trials, especially those arising from racial 
    prejudice.  I weep
    every time I hear this recording, just as I do each time I hear Dr. King's "I 
    Have a Dream" speech.     


     You see, Bob, what I was trying to say was that all of this racial crap was tacked on to "Dixie."  It was never there in the original intent of the song.  To say that "Elvis got it right and his is the only way a 'White' can perform it without having integrity questioned" is ludicrous.  It is just a sentimental song.  Anybody can sing it or play it.  And should as it is very deep Americana.  

     As fo King's "I Have a Dream" speech, nobody can use it now without paying the KIng family.  They have every utterance of his copyrighted and are raking in big fees.

      Jim Beebe 


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