Many attempts were made to make Dixie 'respectable'. One of the more popular versions was written by Gen. Albert Pike. His alternate version of Dixie is more of a martial style. Although fitting during the war, it never really caught on and is not even known by most people today.
It is certain that different words would have been written and Dixie made the National Anthem had the Confederacy lasted. It is not unusual that the Confederacy never made Dixie the National Anthem. The United States did not have a National Anthem at the time of the War Between the States either. Official anthems came later in history.
The Bonnie Blue Flag would have given Dixie a fairly strong challenge during the 1860s. A 'second national anthem', the Bonnie Blue Flag was the first song that spoke of Southern Rights, the Southern Nation and the Southern Cause. It is a very catchy tune and is often played as a prelude to Dixie.
Both songs are symbols of the South and popular anthems for what it means to be Southern.
Dixie
I wish I was in the land of cotton,
Chorus:
Old Missus marry Will de Weaber,
Chorus
Dars buckwheat cakes an' ingen batter,
Chorus
by Dan Emmett
Press to play, then sing along!
old times there are not forgotten,
Look away, look away, look away, Dixie land.
In Dixie land where I was born in,
early on a frosty mornin',
Look away, look away, look away, Dixie land.
Then I wish I was in Dixie, hooray! Hooray!
In Dixie land I'll take my stand, to live and die in Dixie,
Away, away, away down south in Dixie,
Away, away, away down south in Dixie.
Will-yum was a gay deceaber,
Look away, look away, look away, Dixie land.
But when he put his arm around her,
smiled as fierce as a forty pounder.
Look away, look away, look away, Dixie land.
makes you fat or a little fatter,
Look away, look away, look away, Dixie land.
Den hoe it down and scratch your grabble
to Dixie's land I'm bound to travel,
Look away, look away, look away Dixie land.
Alternate Version of DIXIE
Southrons, hear your country call you,
Advance the flag of Dixie! Hurrah! Hurrah!
Hear the Northern thunders mutter!
Chorus
Fear no danger! Shun no labor!
Chorus
How the South's great heart rejoices
Chorus
Strong as lions, swift as eagles,
Chorus
Swear upon your country's altar
Chorus
Halt not till our Federation
Chorus
If the loved ones weep in sadness,
Chorus:
by General Albert Pike, CSA
Press to play, then sing along!
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!
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
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!
Lift up rifle, pike, and saber!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
The Bonnie Blue Flag
We are a band of brothers
CHORUS: Hurrah! Hurrah!
As long as the Union
CHORUS
First gallant South Carolina
CHORUS
Ye men of valor, gather round
CHORUS
And here's to old Virginia-
CHORUS
Then cheer, boys, cheer;
CHORUS
Then here's to our Confederacy,
CHORUS
By Harry MacCarthy
Press to play - wait through intro before singing along!
And native to the soil,
Fighting for the property
We gained by honest toil;
And when our rights were threatened,
The cry rose near and far
"Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag
That bears a single star!"
For Southern rights hurrah!
Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag
That bears a single star.
Was faithful to her trust,
Like friends and like brothers
Both kind were we and just;
But now, when Northern treachery
Attempts our rights to mar,
We hoist on high the Bonnie Blue Flag
That bears a single star.
Nobly made the stand,
Then came Alabama,
Who took her by the hand.
Next quickly Mississippi,
Georgia and Florida
All raised on high the Bonnie Blue Flag
That bears a single star.
The banner of the right;
Texas and fair Louisiana
Join us in the fight.
Davis, our loved president,
And Stephens statesman are;
Now rally round the Bonnie Blue Flag
That bears a single star.
The Old Dominion State;
Who with the young Confederacy
At length has linked her fate;
Impelled by her example,
Now other states prepare
To hoist on high the Bonnie Blue Flag
That bears a single star.
Raise the joyous shout,
For Arkansas and North Carolina
Now have both gone out;
And let another rousing cheer
For Tennessee be given,
The single star of the Bonnie Blue Flag
Has grown to be eleven.
Strong are we and brave;
Like patriots of old we'll fight
Our heritage to save.
And rather than submit to shame,
To die we would prefer;
So cheer for the Bonnie Blue Flag
That bears a single star.