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Dixie War Song

From Wikisource
Dixie War Song (1861)
by Henry Throop Stanton

"The War Song of Dixie" or "Dixie War Song" is a version of Dixie's Land written by Wikipedia:en::Henry Thompson Stanton; it was a popular morale booster for the Confederate army. An 1862 publication was titled Awake in Dixie.[1] Silber and Silverman give the author, clearly in error or due to a typo, as H. S. Stanton, Esq., and write "his song never caught on".[2]

4432926Dixie War Song1861Henry Throop Stanton

This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.

Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse

Hear ye not the sounds of battle,
Sabres' clash and muskets' rattle?
To Arms! to Arms, to Arms in Dixie!
Hostile footsteps on our border,
Hostile columns tread in order;
To Arms! to Arms, to Arms in Dixie!
(Chorus)
Oh, fly to arms in Dixie!
To Arms! to Arms!
From Dixie's land we'll rout the band[1][2]
That comes to conquer Dixie,
To Arms! To Arms!
and rout the foe from Dixie!
To Arms! To Arms!
and rout the foe from Dixie!
See the red smoke hanging o'er us!
Hear the cannon's booming chorus!
To Arms! to Arms, to Arms in Dixie!
See our steady columns forming,
Hear the shouting! hear the storming!
To Arms! to Arms, to Arms in Dixie!
Gird you loins with sword and sabre,
Give your lives to Freedom's labor!
To Arms! to Arms, to Arms in Dixie!
What though every hearth be saddened?
What though all the land be reddened?
To Arms! to Arms, to Arms in Dixie!
Shall this boasting, mad invader
Trample Dixie and degrade her?
To Arms! to Arms, to Arms in Dixie!
By our fathers proud example!
Southern soil they shall not trample!
To Arms! to Arms, to Arms in Dixie!
Southrons, meet them on the border!
Charge them into wild disorder!
To Arms! to Arms, to Arms in Dixie!
Hew the Vandals down before you!
Till the last inch they restore you!
To Arms! to Arms, to Arms in Dixie!
Through the echoing hills resounding,
Hear the Southern bugles sounding!
To Arms! to Arms, to Arms in Dixie!
Arouse from every hill and valley,
List the bugle! Rally! rally!
To Arms! to Arms, to Arms in Dixie!
The next confederate version of Dixie, called "Everybody's Dixie", was written by General Albert Pike. It was the most popular Civil War version of Dixie
Southrons, hear your country call you,
Up, lest worse than death befall you!
To arms! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
Lo! all the beacon-fires are lighted,
Let all hearts be now united!
To arms! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
(Chorus)
Advance the flag of Dixie!
Hurrah! Hurrah!
In Dixie's land we take our stand,
And live or die for Dixie!
To arms! To arms!
And conquer peace for Dixie!
To arms! To arms!
And conquer peace for Dixie!
Hear the Northern thunders mutter!
Northern flags in South winds flutter!
To arms! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
Send them back your fierce defiance!
Stamp upon the cursed alliance!
To arms! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
Fear no danger! Shun no labor!
Lift up rifle, pike, and sabre!
To arms! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
Shoulder pressing close to shoulder,
Let the odds make each heart bolder!
To arms! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
How the South's great heart rejoices
At your cannon's ringing voices!
To arms! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
For faith betrayed and pledges broken,
Wrongs inflicted, insults spoken,
To arms! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
Strong as lions, swift as eagles,
Back to their kennels hunt these beagles!
To arms! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
Cut the unequal bonds asunder!
Let them hence each other plunder!
To arms! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
Swear upon your country's altar
Never to submit or falter
To arms! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
Till the spoilers are defeated,
Till the Lord's work is completed!
To arms! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
Halt not till our Federation
Secures among earth's powers its station!
To arms! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
Then at peace and crowned with glory,
Hear your children tell the story!
To arms! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
If the loved ones weep in sadness,
Victory soon shall bring them gladness
To arms! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
Exultant pride soon vanish sorrow;
Smiles chase tears away to-morrow!
To arms! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
  1. 1.0 1.1 Awake in Dixie: air – "Dixie's Land". By H.T.S. [Winches]ter, Va., Feb. 24, 1862. Song sheet; words only. 1 broadside; 28 x 12 cm
  2. 2.0 2.1 Irwin Silber, ‎Jerry Silverman: Songs of the Civil War (1995), page 51