The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
View chords used in this chart
Introd.: C
Am C F Dm
Virgil Caine is the name, and I served on the Danville train
Am C F Dm
'Til Stoneman's Calvery came and tore up the tracks again
Am F C Dm
In the winter of '65, We were hungry, just barely alive
Am F C Dm D
By May the tenth, Richmond had fell, it's a time I remember, oh so well
Refrain
C F7M C F7M
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, and the bells were ringing
C F7M C F7M
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, and the people were singin'. They went
C Am G4 F4 F
La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La
C Am C F Dm
Back with my wife in Tennessee, When one day she called to me
Am C F Dm
"Virgil, quick, come see, there goes Robert E. Lee"
Am F C Dm
Now I don't mind choppin' wood, and I don't care if the money's no good
Am F
Ya take what ya need and ya leave the rest
C Dm D
But they never should have taken the very best
Refrain
C F7M C F7M
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, and all the bells were ringing
C F7M C F7M
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, and all the people were singin'. They went
C Am G4 F4 F
La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La
Am C F Dm
Like my father before me, I will work the land
Am C F Dm
Like my brother above me, who took a rebel stand
Am F C Dm
He was just eighteen, proud and brave, But a Yankee laid him in his grave
Am F
I swear by the mud below my feet
C Dm D
You can't raise a Caine back up when he's in defeat
Refrain
C F7M C F7M
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, and all the bells were ringing
C F7M C F7M
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, and all the people were singin'. They went
C Am G4 F4 F
La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La
Refrain
C F7M C F7M
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, and all the bells were ringing
C F7M C F7M
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, and all the people were singin'. They went
C Am G4 F4 F
La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La
C F7M C F7M
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, and the bells were ringing
C F7M C F7M
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, and the people were singin'. They went
C Am G4 F4 F
La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La
How to play The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is C. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.