A Damned Yankee Wrote “Dixie”

Most of us know the song or anthem of the South, “Dixie.” What if I told you this song was written by a damned Yankee? Well it was.  On a rainy Sunday night, composer Daniel Decatur Emmett wrote “Dixie,” for Bryant’s Minstrels. Bryant Minstrels was a “blackfaced” minstrel which was popular at that time. Once Bryant wrote the song it became a hit and soon other minstrel shows used it too.

How did it become the South’s anthem? On the inauguration of Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederate States, “Dixie” was played, and he must’ve liked the tune so much because it became the marching song for the Confederate army. This tune spread like wildfire across the south and soon everyone was whistling “Dixie.”

The damned Yankee, Emmett, was aghast because he was a staunch Union supporter. He is quoted as saying, “If I’d known to what use they were going to put my song, I’ll be damned if I’d have written it!” Hum…a damned Yankee he truly was.

I think Lincoln may have had a beef with this because the day after Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox, a band outside the White House was asked to play the famous “Dixie.” And Lincoln is quoted as saying, “I have always thought Dixie one of the best tunes I ever heard.” He continues, “Our adversaries over the way attempted to appropriate it, but we have fairly captured it.”  The song continued its popularity for quite a while, in fact, at age 80 Emmett made a farewell tour and sang the song to standing ovations all across the country.

Source, The Greatest Stories Never Told

19th century, Black History