The Savannah morning news., 1903-11-22
A GIRLS VERSION
oF .GDIxIE" ATTRACTS ATTENTION
AMONG OTHER "DIXIES."
WRITTEN WHILE AT SCHOOL
m ALABAMA BY MISS PORTER, NOW
MRS. 1. M. p. OCKENDON.

chilled by Motion IN Missouri State
Confederate Convention to Change
the WOrds-OriginaI Words Writ
ten by "Dan" Emmett on Rainy
nav in New YOrlx-Miss POrter's
VersiOn Written During the Stir
ring Times of 1861 at GreenvilIe,
AIa.-Gen. Pixies VersiOn-Many
UusuccessfuI Attempts to Give
SON. Northern Origin.
Since the recent State Confederate
Veterans reunion in Missouri, when
motion was made to re-write the
words of Dixie" the old controversy
regarding it's authorship has again
snrung up. With it has come the pub
ucatjon of the various versions.
Of all the versions of the famous old
seng one of the best was written by
Miss Ina Marie Porter, now Mrs. 1. M.
Porter Ockendon of Montgomery, Ala.
At the time when she wrote the words
for the music, Miss Porter was mere
girl attending school in Greenville, Ala.
The stirring times of 1861, when men
we're preparing for war and rushing
off to the front. found an echo in the
heart of Miss Porter. and catching the
music of the famous song of Tan FIN
nett, she wrote the following beauti-
full lines:
"In Dixie cotton loves to grow
With leaf of green and boil OF SOW,
Look away! Look away! Look away!
Dixie Land!
Here waves the golden wheat and
corn
In Dixie Land where 1 was born.
Look away! Look away! Look away!
Dixie Land!
Chorus.
"Then I wish I was in Dixie,
Hooray! Hooray!
For Dixie Land I'll take my stand
To live and die in Dixie Land.
Away! Away! Away down South in
Dixie.
I'm Dixie reddest roses bloom,
The jasmine yields it's rare perfume
Look away! Look awayi Look away
Dixie Land!
And here the sea breeze haunts the
South
With orange blossoms in its mouth,
Look away! Look away! Look away!
Dixie Land!
Chorus.
I'm Dixie Land we love to give
With generous hand, we love to live!
Look away! Look away. Look away!
Dixie Land
With cheerful light and open door,
What matter if the wind does roar?
Look away! Look away! Look away!
Dixie Land!
Chorus.
THE Dixie skies are bonnie blue,
And Southern hearts are warm and
true,
Look away! Look away! Look away
Dixie Land!
Let there be love throughout the
world,
The pure white flag of peace unfurled
Floats away! Floats away! Floats
away! Dixie Land!
Chorus.
In Dixie Land it's sweet to rove
Through piney woods and sweet-gum
grove,
Look away! Look away! Look away!
Dixie Land!
And bark the rebel knocking bird
With sweetest song you ever heard,
Sings away! Sings away! Sings away
Dixie Land!
Chorus.
I'm other lands tits sweet to roam,
But Dixie Land is Home, Sweet
Home
Look away! Look away Look away!
Dixie Land!
And Southern maid with merry song
Loves dear old Dixie, right or wrong,
Look away! Look away! Look away!
Dixie Land!
Chorus.
Then God bless the Land of Dixie.
Hooray! Hooray!
For Dixie Land I'll take my stand,
10 live or die in Dixie Land
Away! Away! Away down South in
Dixie!"
It was of the above version of the
song that Maj. Sidney Herbert. referred
In his letter to the Morning News, when
ne said, speaking of the move to change
the words: IF the words are to be
changed, what could be better than her
dignifed, patriotic, and inspiring
words"
Originally Written by "Dan" EN-
NETT.
The original Dixie" was written by
Dan Emmett, while playing with
MINSTREL troupe in Bryant's New York
Iheater. The music was written when
lhe manager of the theater asked EN-
NETT for another walk-around, and
specified that it be one which the boys
would whistle and all the bands would
pay. The following is Emmett's story
OF now he wrote Dixie
wrote Dixie like everything else
Iold-because it had to be done. 1 was
praying at Bryant's Theater in 1859,
ana on one Saturday night, as l was
FaVlng, Bryant called to me: we have
sot 10 list a new attraction, Dan; give
use one the boys will whistle and the
bands will play
me next day 1t rained in torrents,
ana | was obliged to stay indoors, and
so set to work on the song. At first
th could do nothing. My store of
thoughts suitable to the song desired
Seened exhausted. I went to the win
nov T1w and looked down in the street.
t, ne ram was beating and driving my
oughts back to the time when / trav-
~ ~ with circus. When caught in
rrnclenent weather in the North the
isLoes with the circus were wont to
IN .,1i, they were back in Dixie land
D, ne sentence, I wish I was in
TLAe' Kept repeating itself in my mind.
.kwWw In