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The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down

Chords

4.81,187 votes

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

1/7

Tempo 80 BPMVol

Sound:

Position

Step 1 / 7Position: 1

1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO openSpace = play/pause

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
          The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down – The Band
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Written by: Robbie Robertson
From: “The Band” (1969)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Link 1 (to Verse 1]       
  C              Am  
  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  
e|----------------|0
B|1---------------|1
G|0-----------0---|2
D|2-----0-2-3---2-|2
A|3---------------|0
E|----------------|
Link 2 (end of Chorus 1 to Verse 2)
  F      C                          Am  
     1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 0
e --|----0-----------|----------------|0
B --|----1-----------|----------------|1
G --|--0-0-----------|--------------0-|2
D --h2---2-----------|--------0-2-3---|2
A 3-|----3-----------|----------------|0
E --|----------------|----------------|
[Link 3] (end of Chorus 2 to Verse 3)
 F       C     C      F            C                          Am  
     1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  
e --|----0-----0-----|1-------|----0-----------|----------------|0
B --|----1-----1-----|1-------|----1-----------|----------------|1
G --|--0-0-----0-----|2-------|--0-0-----------|------------0---|2
D --h2---2-----2-----|3-------h2---2-----------|------0-2-3-----|2
A 3-|----3-----3-----|3-----3-|----3-----------|----------------|0
E --|----------------|1-------|----------------|----------------|
[Link 4] (end of Chorus 3 to Chorus 4)
  F      C            G/B     Bb       F/A   Ddim/Ab    C/G    D/F#    C/G  
     1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 
e --|----0-----------|----------------|----------------|----------------|0
B --|----1-----------|0---0---3---3---|1---1---6---6---|1---1---3---3---|1
G --|--0-0-----------|0---0---3---3---|2---2---7---7---|0---0---2---2---|0
D --h2---2-----------|0---0---3---3---|3---3---6---6---|2---2---0---0---|2
A 3-|----3-----------|2-------1-------|0---------------|----------------|x
E --|----------------|----------------|--------6-------|3-------2-------|3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHORDS
         E-A-D-G-B-e
C/G      3-x-2-0-1-0
C/E      0-x-2-0-1-0
Am/E     0-x-2-2-1-0
D/F#     2-x-0-2-3-2
F     (t)1-3-3-2-1-0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Intro]
|      C|
 (Link 1)
[Verse 1]
  AmVirgil C/GCaine is the name, and I Fserved on the C/EDanville Dmtrain
 Am'Til Stoneman's C/Gcavalry came and Ftore up the C/Etracks aDmgain
 Am/EIn the winter of 'F65, We were C/Ghungry, just Dmbarely alive
 Am/EBy May the tenth, FRichmond had fell, it's a C/Gtime I reDmmember, oh so D/F#well
[Chorus 1]
The C/Gnight they Fmaj7drove Old Dixie C/Gdown, and the Fmaj7bells were ringing
The C/Gnight they Fmaj7drove Old Dixie C/Gdown, and the Fmaj7people were singin' 
                       C/G              Am             Gsus4                 F|       C|  %  |
They went:  Naah, na, na, naah, na, na  Na, na, na, na, naah, na, na, na, na    [Link 2)
[Verse 2]
  AmBack with my wife in C/GTennessee, when Fone day she C/Ecalled to Dmme
  Am"Virgil, C/Gquick, come see, Fthere goes the C/ERobert E. DmLee!"
  Am/ENow I don't mind Fchoppin' wood, and I C/Gdon't care if the Dmmoney's no good
Ya Am/Etake what ya need and ya Fleave the rest
But they should C/Gnever have Dmtaken the very D/F#best
[Chorus 2]
The C/Gnight they drFmaj7ove Old Dixie C/Gdown, and the Fmaj7bells were ringing
The C/Gnight they Fmaj7drove Old Dixie C/Gdown, and the Fmaj7people were singin'
They went:  C/GNaah, na, na, Amnaah, na, na  
                                               2/4
               Gsus4                  F|     C   C|  F|    C|  N.C.  |
Na, na, na, na, na, naah, na, na, na       (Link 3)
[Verse 3]
  AmLike my father beC/Gfore me, FI will C/Ework the Dmland
  AmLike my brother aC/Gbove me, Fwho took a C/Erebel Dmstand
He was Am/Ejust eighteen, Fproud and brave, but a CYankee laid him Dmin his grave
  Am/EI swear by the mud beFlow my feet
You can't Craise a Caine back Dmup when he's in deD/F#feat
[Chorus 3]
The C/Gnight they Fmaj7drove Old Dixie C/Gdown, and the Fmaj7bells were ringing
The C/Gnight they Fmaj7drove Old Dixie C/Gdown, and the Fmaj7people were singin'  
They went:  C/GNaah, na, na, Amnaah, na, na  
           Gsus4                   F|      C|  G/B   Bb|  F/A   Ddim/Ab|  C/G   D/F#|
Na, na, na, na, naah, na, na, na        (Link 4)
[Chorus 4] (fade out)
The C/Gnight they Fmaj7drove Old Dixie C/Gdown, and the Fmaj7bells were ringing,
The C/Gnight they Fmaj7drove Old Dixie C/Gdown, and the Fmaj7people were singin'.  
                       C/G              Am             Gsus4                 F|       C|  %  |
They went:  Naah, na, na, naah, na, na  Na, na, na, na, naah, na, na, na    [Link 2)

All chords in this song (14)

The story behind the song

This song tells a first-person story of a poor white Southerner grappling with the economic and social upheaval of the American Civil War's final year. It paints a picture of distress and hardship through the eyes of someone living through that difficult period. Written by Robbie Robertson, it was originally recorded by The Band for their 1969 album. The song captures a feeling of looking back on a lost way of life, even as the world around changes dramatically.

AI-written from these sources:The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down — Wikipedia ↗The Band — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

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The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down

by The Band

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

C/G

C/E

Am/E

D/F#

Fmaj7

Gsus4

G/B

F/A

Ddim/Ab

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down – The Band

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Written by: Robbie Robertson

From: “The Band” (1969)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Link 1 (to Verse 1]

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

e|----------------|0

B|1---------------|1

G|0-----------0---|2

D|2-----0-2-3---2-|2

A|3---------------|0

E|----------------|

Link 2 (end of Chorus 1 to Verse 2)

F C

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 0

e --|----0-----------|----------------|0

B --|----1-----------|----------------|1

G --|--0-0-----------|--------------0-|2

D --h2---2-----------|--------0-2-3---|2

A 3-|----3-----------|----------------|0

E --|----------------|----------------|

[Link 3] (end of Chorus 2 to Verse 3)

F C C F C

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

e --|----0-----0-----|1-------|----0-----------|----------------|0

B --|----1-----1-----|1-------|----1-----------|----------------|1

G --|--0-0-----0-----|2-------|--0-0-----------|------------0---|2

D --h2---2-----2-----|3-------h2---2-----------|------0-2-3-----|2

A 3-|----3-----3-----|3-----3-|----3-----------|----------------|0

E --|----------------|1-------|----------------|----------------|

[Link 4] (end of Chorus 3 to Chorus 4)

C/G

F C G/B Bb F/A Ddim/Ab C/G D/F#

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

e --|----0-----------|----------------|----------------|----------------|0

B --|----1-----------|0---0---3---3---|1---1---6---6---|1---1---3---3---|1

G --|--0-0-----------|0---0---3---3---|2---2---7---7---|0---0---2---2---|0

D --h2---2-----------|0---0---3---3---|3---3---6---6---|2---2---0---0---|2

A 3-|----3-----------|2-------1-------|0---------------|----------------|x

E --|----------------|----------------|--------6-------|3-------2-------|3

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHORDS

E-A-D-G-B-e

C/G 3-x-2-0-1-0

C/E 0-x-2-0-1-0

Am/E 0-x-2-2-1-0

D/F# 2-x-0-2-3-2

F (t)1-3-3-2-1-0

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Intro]

| |

(Link 1)

[Verse 1]

Am C/G F C/E Dm

Virgil Caine is the name, and I served on the Danville train

Am C/G F C/E Dm

'Til Stoneman's cavalry came and tore up the tracks again

Am/E F C/G Dm

In the winter of '65, We were hungry, just barely alive

Am/E F C/G Dm D/F#

By May the tenth, Richmond had fell, it's a time I remember, oh so well

[Chorus 1]

C/G Fmaj7 C/G Fmaj7

The night they drove Old Dixie down, and the bells were ringing

C/G Fmaj7 C/G Fmaj7

The night they drove Old Dixie down, and the people were singin'

C/G Am Gsus4 F C

| | % |

They went: Naah, na, na, naah, na, na Na, na, na, na, naah, na, na, na, na [Link 2)

[Verse 2]

Am C/G F C/E Dm

Back with my wife in Tennessee, when one day she called to me

Am C/G F C/E Dm

"Virgil, quick, come see, there goes the Robert E. Lee!"

Am/E F C/G Dm

Now I don't mind choppin' wood, and I don't care if the money's no good

Am/E F

Ya take what ya need and ya leave the rest

C/G Dm D/F#

But they should never have taken the very best

[Chorus 2]

C/G Fmaj7 C/G Fmaj7

The night they drove Old Dixie down, and the bells were ringing

C/G Fmaj7 C/G Fmaj7

The night they drove Old Dixie down, and the people were singin'

C/G Am

They went: Naah, na, na, naah, na, na

2/4

Gsus4 F C C F C

| | | | N.C. |

Na, na, na, na, na, naah, na, na, na (Link 3)

[Verse 3]

Am C/G F C/E Dm

Like my father before me, I will work the land

Am C/G F C/E Dm

Like my brother above me, who took a rebel stand

Am/E F C Dm

He was just eighteen, proud and brave, but a Yankee laid him in his grave

Am/E F

I swear by the mud below my feet

C Dm D/F#

You can't raise a Caine back up when he's in defeat

[Chorus 3]

C/G Fmaj7 C/G Fmaj7

The night they drove Old Dixie down, and the bells were ringing

C/G Fmaj7 C/G Fmaj7

The night they drove Old Dixie down, and the people were singin'

C/G Am

They went: Naah, na, na, naah, na, na

Gsus4 F C G/B Bb F/A Ddim/Ab C/G D/F#

| | | | |

Na, na, na, na, naah, na, na, na (Link 4)

[Chorus 4] (fade out)

C/G Fmaj7 C/G Fmaj7

The night they drove Old Dixie down, and the bells were ringing,

C/G Fmaj7 C/G Fmaj7

The night they drove Old Dixie down, and the people were singin'.

C/G Am Gsus4 F C

| | % |

They went: Naah, na, na, naah, na, na Na, na, na, na, naah, na, na, na [Link 2)

About The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down Chords by The Band

Learn how to play The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down by The Band with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down chords”, “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down guitar chords”, or “The Band The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, Am, B, G, D, A.

FAQ — The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down by The Band

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The chords for "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" show the original chord names (including C, Am, B, G, D, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.