80th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, "Dixies' Land" lyrics (original and Union parody)

Dixie's Land was the unofficial anthem of the Confederacy, and arguably its' most popular song. This is ironic because Daniel Decatur Emmett (1815-1904) was a Yankee who wrote it for a black-face minstrel show. The song was an instant hit when first performed on September 12, 1859, in New York City. 'Dixie' (as it was commonly called) arrived in the Southern states just as they were voting for secession. It became very popular there and was soon associated with the new Confederacy. In yet another irony, the song was a favorite of President Abraham Lincoln.

Dixie's Land was the basis for numerous parodies by soldiers, North and South. Union Dixie was one such parody. While it used Emmett's music, the author of the lyrics is anonymous. It was one of many unsuccessful Northern attempts to 'recapture' the song which, even today, is associated with the Confederacy.

"Dixie's Land"

"Union Dixie"

"Wish I was in de land ob cotton,
Old times dar am not forgotten,
Look away! Look away!
Look away! Dixie Land.
Dixie Land whar I was born in,
Early on one frosty mornin',
Look away! Look away!
Look away! Dixie Land."

Chorus
"Den I wish I was in Dixie,
Hooray! Hooray!
In Dixie Land I'll take my stand,
To lib and die in Dixie,
Away, Away,
Away down south in Dixie,
Away, Away,
Away down south in Dixie."

"Ole missus marry "Will de weaber,"
Willium was a gay deceaber;
Look away! Look away!
Look away! Dixie Land.
But when he put his arm around 'er,
He smiled as fierce as a forty pounder,
Look away! Look away!
Look away! Dixie Land."
(Chorus)

"His face was sharp as a butcher's cleaber,
But dat did not seem to greab 'er;
Look away! Look away!
Look away! Dixie Land.
Ole missus acted de foolish part,
And died for a man dat broke her heart,
Look away! Look away!
Look away! Dixie Land."
(Chorus)

"Now here's a health to the next old Missus,
An' all de gals dat wants to kiss us;
Look away! Look away!
Look away! Dixie Land.
But if you want to drive 'way sorrow,
Come and hear dis song tomorrow,
Look away! Look away!
Look away! Dixie Land."
(Chorus)

"Dar's buckwheat cakes and Injun batter,
Makes you fat or a little fatter;
Look away! Look away!
Look away! Dixie Land.
Den hoe it down an' scratch your grabble,
For Dixie's Land I'm bound to trabble,
Look away! Look away!
Look away! Dixie Land."
(Chorus)

"Away down South in the land of traitors,
Rattlesnakes and alligators,
Right away! Come away!
Right away! Come away!
Where cotton's king and men are chattels,
Union boys will win the battles,
Right away! Come away!
Right away! Come away."

Chorus
"Then we'll all go down to Dixie,
Away! Away!
Each Dixie boy must understand,
That he must mind his Uncle Sam,
Away, Away,
And we'll all go down to Dixie,
Away, Away,
And we'll all go down to Dixie."

"I wish I was in Baltimore,
I'd make Secession traitors roar,
Right away! Come away!
Right away! Come away!
We'll put the traitors all to rout,
I'll bet my boots we'll whip them out,
Right away! Come away!
Right away! Come away."
(Chorus)

"Oh, may our Stars and Stripes still wave,
Forever o'er the free and brave,
Right away! Come away!
Right away! Come away!
And let our motto ever be--
"For Union and for Liberty!"
Right away! Come away!
Right away! Come away."
(Chorus)