Discover the story of the song > The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down – Joan Baez

The song is about a man named Virgil Caine, who drove a train that was destroyed during the Civil War. The protagonist, who is not named, and her partner live in Tennessee and are both survivors of the war. She and her partner are proud of their southern heritage, but they are also aware of the tragedy and loss brought by the war. The chorus repeats the phrase "the night they drove old Dixie down" and describes the ringing of bells and people singing.