[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
A popular song from 1914
Words and music by Irving Berlin
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
Talk about your Arabian nights
I must admit they’re grand
But if you long for wonderful night
Come down to Dixie land
That’s the dearest place of all
Listening to the crickets call
When the evening shadows fall
Down in Dixie land
Chorus
Nighttime down in Dixieland
Darkies strolling hand in hand
Southern melodies floating on the breeze
Let me tell you, it’s grand
For when you hear those darkies harmonize
Tear of gladness fill your eyes
Baritones and basses
Lounging round the places
Dixie land embraces the happiest of races
All you see is smiling faces
When it’s night time in Dixie land
- Through the air float the wonderful tunes
Of mister whippoorwill
On the ground dance the bowlegged coons
They simply can’t keep still
Vet’rans of the civil war
Telling stories by the score
How they fought in sixty four
Down in Dixie land