It's an old song, but very much timely in 2017, too. There are some good interpretations here, but maybe I can add a bit to them.
Virgil Caine is a railroad engineer--a good job because it's more stable than farming (like his father) and it gets him exempted from conscription. He supports the Confederacy because he lives and works there and because even in the middle of a war, his life looks pretty good. He might even become a railroad conductor some day.
In late March 1865, Union Major General George Stoneman leads a cavalry division through northwestern North Carolina, southern Virginia, and Tennessee, tearing up railroad tracks at every opportunity to cut the lifeline between Virginia and the states further south. It's not in the song, but Virgil is no fool. He knows what his trains have been carrying to Richmond. Realizing that the war is almost over, he packs up his wife and they move to Tennesee Lee's surrender. By May 10th, one month and one day after the surrender, Virgil has given up all hope. Apparently he holds out in Virginia until Jefferson Davis passes through Danville after the surrender, but knowing all is lost, he and his wife move to Tennessee.
Railroads aren't running. and Virgil has to cut wood for his livelihood. His customers, some of whom are probably Union occupation troops, take the best of his wood and they don't pay well. It's not in the song, but all around he sees the economic, social, and political system of the south in ruins. One day, his wife calls to him to point out the steamboat Robert E. Lee on the Mississippi. The Lee was (and might still be) the fastest commercial vessel on the river. The boat, however, was built in Indiana. It's decor is majestic, but it has nothing to do with what Virgil's life is like now.
When Virgil says "Like my father before me, I will work the land," he is expressing his determination to get back something of what he has lost. It would have been much easier if his brother had survived the war to work with him, but as it is, Virgil is alone. "You can't raise a Caine back up when it's in defeat."
What about the chorus? On the night the war ended, bells undoubtedly rang to celebrate the return of peace. "na na na na na na na na na"? That could have been any of a number of syllables. For me, at least, "Na na na" conjures schoolyard taunting: "You can't catch me. Na na-na na na."
@slowhand1 I think it means literaly there is Robert E Lee, with his troops . passing through and were scavanging. Virgil Cain was chopin wood and did not care if the Confederate money that was given after they took supplies from him was worthless by then and told the troops to take what you need but leave the rest but they took the best they had.
@slowhand1 I think it means literaly there is Robert E Lee, with his troops . passing through and were scavanging. Virgil Cain was chopin wood and did not care if the Confederate money that was given after they took supplies from him was worthless by then and told the troops to take what you need but leave the rest but they took the best they had.
It's an old song, but very much timely in 2017, too. There are some good interpretations here, but maybe I can add a bit to them.
Virgil Caine is a railroad engineer--a good job because it's more stable than farming (like his father) and it gets him exempted from conscription. He supports the Confederacy because he lives and works there and because even in the middle of a war, his life looks pretty good. He might even become a railroad conductor some day.
In late March 1865, Union Major General George Stoneman leads a cavalry division through northwestern North Carolina, southern Virginia, and Tennessee, tearing up railroad tracks at every opportunity to cut the lifeline between Virginia and the states further south. It's not in the song, but Virgil is no fool. He knows what his trains have been carrying to Richmond. Realizing that the war is almost over, he packs up his wife and they move to Tennesee Lee's surrender. By May 10th, one month and one day after the surrender, Virgil has given up all hope. Apparently he holds out in Virginia until Jefferson Davis passes through Danville after the surrender, but knowing all is lost, he and his wife move to Tennessee.
Railroads aren't running. and Virgil has to cut wood for his livelihood. His customers, some of whom are probably Union occupation troops, take the best of his wood and they don't pay well. It's not in the song, but all around he sees the economic, social, and political system of the south in ruins. One day, his wife calls to him to point out the steamboat Robert E. Lee on the Mississippi. The Lee was (and might still be) the fastest commercial vessel on the river. The boat, however, was built in Indiana. It's decor is majestic, but it has nothing to do with what Virgil's life is like now.
When Virgil says "Like my father before me, I will work the land," he is expressing his determination to get back something of what he has lost. It would have been much easier if his brother had survived the war to work with him, but as it is, Virgil is alone. "You can't raise a Caine back up when it's in defeat."
What about the chorus? On the night the war ended, bells undoubtedly rang to celebrate the return of peace. "na na na na na na na na na"? That could have been any of a number of syllables. For me, at least, "Na na na" conjures schoolyard taunting: "You can't catch me. Na na-na na na."
@slowhand1
@slowhand1
@slowhand1 That was excellent also. Didn't see it at first.
@slowhand1 That was excellent also. Didn't see it at first.
@slowhand1 I think it means literaly there is Robert E Lee, with his troops . passing through and were scavanging. Virgil Cain was chopin wood and did not care if the Confederate money that was given after they took supplies from him was worthless by then and told the troops to take what you need but leave the rest but they took the best they had.
@slowhand1 I think it means literaly there is Robert E Lee, with his troops . passing through and were scavanging. Virgil Cain was chopin wood and did not care if the Confederate money that was given after they took supplies from him was worthless by then and told the troops to take what you need but leave the rest but they took the best they had.