I Still Sing Dixie

There is more than one side to every story

I Still Sing Dixie

My daddy walked me down the battle lines

In the fields of old Virginny

Showed me the house where Stonewall died

In the summer heat of ‘70

He said they gave their lives for something

People today don’t understand

Something more than slaves and cotton

A love that’s bred inside this land

 

So I still sing Dixie

For the men who fought and died

For their struggle and their sacrifice

With a heart that’s filled with honest pride

I still sing Dixie

Not because my heart is full of hate

I know that if we don’t remember them

We will make their same mistakes

 

I learned about the hell they lived in

How they fought when they could barely stand

How they fell to hunger and disease

Before the bullets left their hands

They did not die for a rich man’s cause

Not the ones whose name I bear

They fought to choose their rightful laws

I could see them standing there

 

They dressed in gray

They left their homes

They marched through blood and fog

They fought in rain

They slept in mud

Ate food not fit for dogs

 

They sang songs of faith and family

With brothers on the other side

Nothing is ever fair in love and war

And it was for both they died

 

So I still sing Dixie

I raise my voice to the welcome sky

For the men who left their families

For their grieving mothers’ cry

Yes, I still sing Dixie

Not because my heart is full of hate

I know that if we don’t remember them

Pretty soon it’s going to be

Too late

 

-Zoe Richardson 

Author's Note

It was the War of Northern Aggression, y'know.

Reviews

[Bhuyanshi Talukdar]

This poem is a heartfelt tribute to the soldiers who fought and died in the Civil War, and to the speaker's own family history and heritage. The use of vivid sensory details, such as the "summer heat of '70" and the soldiers who "marched through blood and fog," creates a sense of immediacy and intimacy that draws the reader into the speaker's experience.

The lines "They did not die for a rich man's cause / Not the ones whose name I bear / They fought to choose their rightful laws / I could see them standing there" are particularly striking, highlighting the sense of sacrifice and dedication that drove many soldiers to fight in the war.

The final lines of the poem, which assert that "if we don't remember them / Pretty soon it's going to be / Too late," are a poignant reminder of the ongoing legacy of the Civil War and the importance of remembering and honoring those who fought and died in it.

Overall, this is a beautifully crafted and deeply moving poem that pays tribute to the soldiers who fought and died in the Civil War, while also acknowledging the complex and often controversial nature of their cause.

[Zoe Richardson]

It is controversial. It was controversial 150 years ago. It is important we remember history, learn from it, and carry it with us. If we try to deny, or revise, that history, we are doomed to repeat it. I wrote this to say that I honor those who fought, because their deaths mean something. Thank you so much for your very insightful review. I love they way you analyze and reflect.

[Vol]

Yes, to our shame, we owned slaves, and that is a horror of our past we wish we had not done. Sometimes I think that all out modern concentration on racism against African-Americans and hispanics is just a distraction from our GENOCIDE of the American-Indians. No one wants to speak to that because Washington is still actively involved with that.
Vol

[Zoe Richardson]

That is a very interesting take on current events. Personally, I think every day Americans, when they reflect on the founding of our nation, feel deeply sorrowful that so many Native Americans died due to ignorance and greed. Greed on the part of politicians, ignorance on the part of early settlers. And yet, so many of us are proud to have Native American ancestors. My great-great-grandmother was either a Cherokee or a Seminole, depending who is recounting the family geneology. Here is my take on wrongs done in the past to different races and ethnicities: For thousands of years, countries thrived on conquest. War, subjugation, and acquiring lands and territories was the benchmark for measuring the success of a nation. England was very, very good at this. It was onl the rise of Western views on freedom, independence, and self-governance that brought and end to this push for colonialism, and like all great ideas, it took time to filter down to all peoples and nations. Sometimes, freedom and independence was a good thing. America became the first country ever to break for its colonial chains and establish an independent government. America was the first to establish self-rule and it took for the radical concept of freedom for all to be wholly adopted. But on the whole, America has been a light for oppressed people. Sometimes, throwing off the chains of colonialism did not work out. Africa has been in constant turmoil. Sometimes, it takes many years to address all the harm done by the rulers and rebels of the past. That does not make them wholly evil. America has been the hope and dream of the world, a place of hope and peace for those needing refuge. Now, we also need to address the needs of indigenous citizens, to cherish their culture, heritage, history, and contribution to our nation. As I mentioned, so many of us share ancestors from one tribe or another. I believe it is important when dealing with the issues that still linger from past wrongs to look at all the things we have in common, the things we share and enjoy, rather than the things that drive us apart. Music, food, sports, faith, love of family, all of these things are unifying factors. They give us dignity and hope!

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

AmaaaZing write !!! I think this is one of the best war poems I’ve read on this site !
Thanks

[Julian]

I wanted to leave a heart emoji for this, to a fellow Alabamian but when I try=

[Zoe Richardson]

I don't think Writer's Cafe has grasped the emoji concept. Which is okay. I prefer your words! We Alabamians have to stick together!

[Vol]

Zoe,
I understand your loyalty, I feel it, too. I've lived in every southern state except South Carolina, Louisianna and Alabama, but "home " is Memphis, Tn, "The Heart of Dixie." It is a great shame that a good arrangement "Dixie" is hard to find on youtube. When done right, you can see the mist lying across a meadow, hear the slam of a screen door, and smell the cornbread and beans in a hot kitchen. sigh
Vol

[Zoe Richardson]

Ah yes! I grew up with that smell. I was born in Alabama, and it is home, but I have lived in Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee. I spent 20 years in Chattanooga and my children were born there. I also spent 13 years in Rockford, IL and when I got back to Alabama, I kissed the red clay and swore I would never go above the Mason Dixon Line again. We may be crazy around here, but those people are insane! I am proud of my ancestry and heritage, and I am not ashamed of our history. We have overcome racism, prejudice, and poverty and grown richer and stronger as a people. My ancestors were willing to fight and die for what they believed was right., even if their cause was wrong. That is what I honor and remember.

[Vol]

Old prejudices die hard, especially in today's confrontational world. But I have never encountered such deep, unreasoning racism as I did up north... we in the south have overcome far better than they.
And we have grand traditions...

[Chris Shaw]

I didn’t know much about your civil war but i have read all the comments here and feel I understand a little better. I know for sure that when our land was threatened in ww2 we fought for it and I agree with that. Same as Ukraine. I enjoyed your poem Zoe and it’s important you do sing Dixie. It’s history, it should be remembered and that helps build better futures. Thank you for posting and I wish you a very happy new year.

Chris

[Zoe Richardson]

Chris, you summed it up beautifully! That is exactly the point. History, and those who fought for what they believed to be true, deserve to be honored for their sacrifice. We should all be willing to make such sacrifices willingly, even if history shows that some of our reasons or causes were misguided. I truly appreciate you taking the time to read this and make such an excellent summation!

[John the Baptist]

I find myself rather contemptuously amused at those who belittle the Confederates on the slavery issue when they reside in states which maintain ongoing trade relationships with India, China and Nigeria, nations which contain around half of the enslaved people in the world today. They may hate slavery, but not the bucks it bestows.

[Zoe Richardson]

Foolishly, they buy into the story that slavery is the reason for all the ills in our society. They ignore the fact that slavery exists still, all over the world, and the US is one of the few countries that outlaws it. Thank you for stopping by and contributing your thoughts. I truly do appreciate it.

[Gee]

North versus South but very one sided in the Norths favour I believe.
You sing loud and proud, let your voices continue to be heard

[Zoe Richardson]

The South had the military genius. The North had the resources. We were fierce and won most of the battles. But we were an agricultural economy and had no industry to support the war effort. They wore us down and wore us out and then ground us under the boot heel of Reconstruction. It sowed generations of distrust and resentment. I'm a keen student of history, and not just my own. There are so many lessons to be learned! Thank you for your kind comments. I hope to see you here often!

[light and ashes]

I neither agree or disagree with your stance, but I respect this.

[Zoe Richardson]

I just appreciate you reading it. Poetry is a snapshot of emotions, a capturing of feelings and memory in words. Much like an artist would capture a moment or scene in the medium of their choice. I wanted to honor those who fought for what they believed in. Whether I believe in it or not is immaterial.

[Pete]

so telling. seeking to preserve a way of life. have to admire folks who will die before relent. well said ... :)

[Zoe Richardson]

Thank you. It is important to honor people who fought for what they believed in. It is the same spirit that keeps us free today. I am so glad you chose to drop by and share your thoughts. Please don't be a stranger!

[Fabian G. Franklin]

If someone threatens to take your land and uproot your family from ancestral homes, if they threaten your lives and livelihoods and those of your children and you will NOT fight, then I'd call you a spiritless and worthless coward. That was the position every southerner found themselves in during the war between the states. Very few southerners owned slaves...only the very wealthy or rich plantation owners could afford slaves for that matter. I have studied the Civil War extensively and intensely reading over thirty books by various authors both living and dead on the subject. But it seems very few people today even comprehend the social dynamics which precipitated the conflict. Their oversimplification is one born of ignorance and feelings self-righteous indignation and vindication; certainly NOT one born of actual historical facts.

[Zoe Richardson]

I, too, have read and studied extensively. It was a deeply complex conflict, not the simplified version we hear about today. And it was about government overreach, not slavery. It destroyed an entire economy and plunged millions into poverty. They teach none of this in school. It breaks my heart. Thank you for your kind words and support!

[Fabian G. Franklin]

My pleasure. Our state was the very last to secede because we kept hoping for an alternative to open conflict but when states on every side have chosen sides, it leaves you very little option. Many of our "soldiers" were just children who would never live to grow up.

[Zoe Richardson]

The conflict was much murkier in the Appalachians. We are an independent minded people, and often choose not to go along with the majority. Some communities did not want secession. Some "seceded' from the state that seceded. Neighbors feuded with neighbors and family members. In Alabama, Winston County is still a free state and doesn't have to follow all state laws. I have tried to explain to Northern folk that Reconstruction, not the war itself,is the reason for so much enmity between South and North. They just look at me like I'm speaking Swahili because they don't learn about the War in school.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I understand completely. I'm reminded of the words from "Good Old Rebel" "I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn." Hoyt Axton recorded a very nice acapella version of the song. I've played it on guitar...it has a marching beat to it akin to some of the tunes by Steve Earle.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

Oh, one of the best books I read on the Civil War was "Mary Chestnut's Civil War" which is an eyewitness diary account by a southern socialite or the era. Bruce Catton's Illustrated Civil War is also a great book on the subject. "Andersonville" by Mackinlay Kantor was horrific fiction but it detailed imagined life inside the Confederate Civil War POW camp. It won a Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1956.

[Zoe Richardson]

I love "Good Ole Rebel." It is the summation of Southern grit and courage.