Analysis: The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down

The Song of History: “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”

The song “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” is a political account and cultural manifesto of the final days of the Civil War in America. It is a story told from the view of a deprived white farmer in Tennessee. Although he has witnessed firsthand by soldiers from the Union and lost his sibling to the war, he soldiers on and lives through the “beautiful sadness” of the Southern states that inspired the creation of the song. The song is the most precise indication that American Civil War is a historic event that will forever emphasize the need to fiercely resist universal consensus concerning its causal factors as well as consequences. The war will therefore reside, and repose in the in annals of American history and culture as a mythical national epic. The lyrics of the song further aver that America is indeed incapable of thoroughly shaking off this event from its defensive shell of romance, …show more content…
In other words, the political and cultural characterization of the artifact seems to downplay the elements that were indeed at stake during the War. While concurring with the theme of the song that countless lives were lost at the time to save the Union, the nation was disseminated before being reassembled albeit delicately. The song is appropriate in as far understanding the Civil War on the part of future generations is concerned, but it appears to ignore the worth of what the country gained from the Civil War: the emancipation of slaves. From the narrative provided by the song, it is notable that it does not focus on slavery and classic American race relations. Despite its emotional appeal, the song seems to inspire a sense of political and cultural ambivalence, and it is thus apparent that centuries from now, it will still be as challenging and murky as