Dixie (cançó)
 Partitura que data dels anys 1900 mostrant quatre homes amb la cara maquillada de negre (en anglès: «Four Men in Blackface») cantant la cançó  | |
| Forma musical | cançó |
|---|---|
| Àudio | |
| Compositor | Daniel Decatur Emmett |
| Lletra de | Daniel Decatur Emmett |
| Llengua | anglès |
| |
Dixie, també coneguda sota les denominacions d'I Wish I Was in Dixie o Dixie's Land, és una cançó popular estatunidenca. Va ser composta originalment per un cantant d'Ohio, Daniel Decatur Emmett, sota el nom de Dixie's Land[1] i va ser editada per primer cop per Phillip P. Werlein a Nova Orleans el 1859.[2] La paraula Dixie és el nom donat al Sud dels Estats Units.
La cançó conta la història d'un esclau negre alliberat, sospirant per la plantació del seu naixement, i es va fer molt popular sota el nom de Dixie, sent ràpidament identificada amb la imatge nostàlgica i la ideologia dels estats del sud. Va ser l'himne oficiós dels soldats confederats (sudistes), el contrapunt del «The Battle Hymn of the Republic» (Himne de Batalla de la República) dels soldats del Nord durant la Guerra de Secessió.[1]
La tornada i el primer vers són encara ben coneguts d'una gran part del Sud dels Estats Units. Se senten molt rarament els versos addicionals.
Lletres
[modifica]
I wish I was in the land of cotton,
Old times there are not forgotten;
Look away! Look away! Look away, Dixie's Land!
In Dixie's Land where I was born in,
Early on one frosty morning,
Look away! Look away! Look away, Dixie's Land!
(Tornada)
Then I wish I was in Dixie! Hooray! Hooray!
In Dixie's 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!
Old Missus married "Will the Weaver";
William was a gay deceiver!
Look away! Look away! Look away, Dixie's Land!
But when he put his arm around her,
Smiled as fierce as a forty-pounder!
Look away! Look away! Look away, Dixie's Land!
Tornada
His face was sharp as a butcher's cleaver;
But that did not seem to grieve her!
Look away! Look away! Look away, Dixie's Land!
Old Missus acted the foolish part
And died for a man that broke her heart!
Look away! Look away! Look away, Dixie's Land!
Tornada
Now here's a health to the next old missus
And all the gals that want to kiss us!
Look away! Look away! Look away, Dixie's Land!
But if you want to drive away sorrow,
Come and hear this song tomorrow!
Look away! Look away! Look away, Dixie's Land!
Tornada
There's buckwheat cakes and Injin batter,
Makes you fat or a little fatter!
Look away! Look away! Look away, Dixie's Land!
Then hoe it down and scratch your gravel,
To Dixie's Land I'm bound to travel!
Look away! Look away! Look away, Dixie's Land!
Tornada
Una altra versió de la cançó, molt més bel·licosa, es va proposar l'abril de 1861 per Albert B. Pikes, però no es va quedar en la memòria popular:[3]
Southrons, hear your country call you!
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!
(Tornada:)
Advance the flag of Dixie!
Hurrah! Hurrah!
For Dixie's Land we take our stand,
And live or die for Dixie!
To arms! To arms! And conquer peace for Dixie!
Hear the Northern thunders mutter!
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!
Tornada
Fear no danger! Shun no labor!
Lift up rifle, pike, and sabre!
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!
Tornada
How the South's great heart rejoices
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!
Tornada
Strong as lions, swift as eagles,
Back to their kennels hunt these beagles!
To arms! To arms! To arms! In Dixie!
Cut the unequal bond asunder!
Let them hence each other plunder!
To arms! To arms! To arms! In Dixie!
Tornada
Swear upon your country's altar
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!
Tornada
Halt not till our Federation
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!
Tornada
If the loved ones weep in sadness,
Victory soon shall bring them gladness.
To arms! To arms! To arms! In Dixie!
Exultant pride soon banish sorrow;
Smiles chase tears away tomorrow.
To arms! To arms! To arms! In Dixie!
Tornada
Referències
[modifica]- ↑ 1,0 1,1 John Spitzer; Ronald G. Walters. «Making Sense of American Popular Song» (pdf) (en anglès). [Consulta: 14 abril 2012].
- ↑ «Dixie» (en anglès). Richmond Dispatch, 11-03-1893. Arxivat de l'original el 2018-06-25. [Consulta: 14 abril 2012].
- ↑ Albert Pike. «Dixie» (en anglès). Lyrics and Love Songs. [Consulta: 14 abril 2012].