“I Wish I Was in Dixie’s Land”
“Anyway, we’re talking more out of Indian Territory than we took in.” — “I don’t know what,” Ma said, and Pa answered, “Why, there’s the mule!” Then Ma laughed, and Pa and the fiddle sang again… — Little House on the Prairie, Chapter 26, “Going Out”
The night before Pa went east to find work… He took his fiddle out of its box. He played for a long time in the twilight, while Laura and Mary sat close to him and Ma rocked Carrie near by… — On the Banks of Plum Creek, Chapter 26, “Grasshopper Eggs”
This Confederate song was written before the Civil War by a Northerner, Daniel Decatur Emmett (1815-1904). Written for the Bryant Minstrels in 1860, it was first played in New York. “Dixie” could refer to the area south of the Mason-Dixon Line, but is generally believed to refer to the worthless ten dollar bills issued in New Orleans, called “dixies” because of the word “dix” (French word for 10) on them. “I Wish I Was in Dixie’s Land” was published in 1860 by Firth, Pond, & Company in New York. Emmett wrote that the song was written in 1859 as a “walk round” called “Dixies Land”.
Daniel Decatur Emmett was born in 1815 in Mount Vernon, Ohio, and ran away from home at a young age to play fife in the army. Another Little House song, “Old Dan Tucker”, was written by him at age 17. In 1843, Emmett formed the Virginia Minstrels; he later joined the Bryant Minstrels as composer and singer.
“I Wish I Was in Dixie’s Land” became a hit in the south and was played at the inauguration of Jefferson Davis as President of the Confederacy in 1861. From then on, it was played at almost every political function in the South. Although it was never officially adopted as the song of the Confederacy, it was certainly its most patriotic song and unofficial national anthem. Even President Abraham Lincoln called the songs one of the best tunes he had ever heard. As a Union supporter, Emmett once wrote that had he known the impact of “Dixie” in the South, he never would have written it!
1. I wish I was in the land ob cotton,
Old time dar am not forgotten;
Look away! Look away!
Look away! Dixie Land.
In 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,
Horray! Horray!
In Dixie Land, I’ll took my stand,
To lib and die in Dixie.
Away, away, away down south in Dixie,
Away, away, away down south in Dixie.
2. Old Missus marry “Will-de-weaber,”
William 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.
3. 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.
Old Missus acted de foolish part,
And died for a man dat broke her heart,
Look away! Look away!
Look away! Dixie Land.
4. Now here’s a health to the next old Missus,
And all de gals dat want to kiss us;
Look away! Look away!
Look away! Dixie Land.
But if you want to drive ‘way sorrow,
Come and hear dis song to-morrow,
Look away! Look away!
Look away! Dixie Land.
5. Dar’s buckwheat cakes and ingen’ batter,
Makes you fat or a little fatter;
Look away! Look away!
Look away! Dixie Land.
Den hoe it down an scratch your grabble,
To Dixie’s land I’m bound to trabble,
Look away! Look away!
Look away! Dixie Land.
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Click on the above images to view a copy of original sheet music of “I Wish I Was in Dixie’s Land.”
“I Wish I Was in Dixie’s Land” (LHP 26; BPC 26)