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Down Along The Dixie Line Lyrics
Way down in Dixie, oh do they miss me
Down along the Dixie Line
Banjos a' strummin'
Horseflies a' hummin'
Ripe melons on the vine
The gold and the grey
We'd sing "Look away"
Way down along the Dixie Line
I spent my childhood walkin' the wildwood
Down along the Dixie Line
Freight trains a' squallin'
Highballs a' bawlin'
Four engines at a time
I was so happy with Mama and Pappy
Down along the Dixie Line
Can't you hear those drivers wail?
Can't you see those bright rails shine?
Wanna catch that fireball mail
Leave the Northland far behind
A river of whiskey flows down in Dixie
Down along the Dixie Line
They pulled up the tracks now
I can't go back now
Can't hardly keep from cryin'
Oh do they miss me, way down in Dixie?
Down along the Dixie Line
Can't you hear those drivers wail?
Can't you see those bright rails shine?
Wanna catch that fireball mail
Leave that Northland far behind
Down along the Dixie Line
Down along the Dixie Line
Banjos a' strummin'
Horseflies a' hummin'
Ripe melons on the vine
The gold and the grey
We'd sing "Look away"
Way down along the Dixie Line
Down along the Dixie Line
Freight trains a' squallin'
Highballs a' bawlin'
Four engines at a time
I was so happy with Mama and Pappy
Down along the Dixie Line
Can't you see those bright rails shine?
Wanna catch that fireball mail
Leave the Northland far behind
Down along the Dixie Line
They pulled up the tracks now
I can't go back now
Can't hardly keep from cryin'
Oh do they miss me, way down in Dixie?
Down along the Dixie Line
Can't you see those bright rails shine?
Wanna catch that fireball mail
Leave that Northland far behind
Song Info
Submitted by
smallwonderrobot On Jun 28, 2011
More Gillian Welch
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I Dream A Highway
Everything Is Free
The Way It Goes
Hard Times
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'skwalling' is the right word, but it's spelled 'squalling'.
The gold and the gray, (reference to the Confederacy) We'd sing "Look away" (reference to the song "Dixie")
Highballs a'balling (railroad reference, highballs were a signalling device)
Can't you hear those drivers wail? Can't you see those bright rails shine? Wanna catch that fireball mail Leave that Northland far behind
It is "wail", not "way". It is "fireball mail", not "fireball man". This is a reference to both trains and a nod to Gillian's traditional country/bluegrass roots. Fireball mail was a slang term for trains in the South because trains delivered the mail and were powered by coal (little fireballs). Fireball mail (referencing a train) is also the title of an instrumental song that was played by a host of country/bluegrass legends such as Earl Scruggs and Roy Acuff. Also, "wail" and "mail" rhyme, which makes sense in this verse. It might just be me, but I think it is "Northland" not "North Land"
Edit: Leave "the" Northland far behind. I forgot to correct that word.
Edit: Leave "the" Northland far behind. I forgot to correct that word.