[Verse 1]
Virgil Caine is the name and I served on the Danville train
'Til Stoneman's cavalry came and tore up the tracks again
In the winter of '65
We was hungry, just barely alive
By May 10th, Richmond had fell
It was a time I remember oh so well

[Chorus]
The night they drove old Dixie down
And the bells were ringing
The night they drove old Dixie down
And all the people were singing
La, la la la la la, la la la la, la la la la la

[Verse 2]
Back with my wife in Tennessee, one day she called to me
Virgil, quick come see, there goes Robert E. Lee
Now I don't mind choppin' wood
And I don't care if the money's no good
You take what you need and you leave the rest
They should never have taken the very best

[Chorus]
The night they drove old Dixie down
And the bells were ringing
The night they drove old Dixie down
And all the people were singing
La, la la la la la, la la la la, la la la la la
[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 3]
Like my father before me, I'm a peaceful man
Like my brother before me, I took a rebel stand
Just eighteen, proud and brave
When a Yankee laid him in his grave
Swear by the blood floods on my feet
You can't raise a Cain back up when he's in defeat

[Chorus]
The night they drove old Dixie down
Oh, the bells were ringing
The night they drove old Dixie down
All the people were singing
La, la la la la la, la la la la, la la la la la

[Outro]
The night they drove old Dixie down
Oh, the bells were ringing
The night they drove old Dixie down
All the people were singing
La, la la la la la, la la la la, la la la la la