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A Cross-Classroom Project for Spring 2007
Welcome!
Welcome to our English 103 Cross-Classroom blog project! We will be, in groups from four different English 103 classes, discussing various war poems/lyrics in terms of how they use rhetoric and the messages they convey.
Blog Archive
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2007
(13)
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March
(13)
- Group One: Max B. (19), Staci T. (19), John E. (33...
- Group Two: Megan B. (19), Lily B. (33), Hayley R. ...
- Group Three: Sarah B. (19), Devyn L. (33), Tom C. ...
- Group Four : Nathaniel C. (19), Jan W. (19), Mary ...
- Group Five : Rachel D. (19), Rob P. (19), Justin R...
- Group Six : Elise F. (19), Sarah B. (33), Scott W....
- Group Seven : Scott S. (19), Bryson T. (19), Kirst...
- Group Eight : Lindsey H. (19), Jamia B. (33), Will...
- Group Nine : Valerie N. (19), Mandy Z. (33), Sean ...
- Group Ten : Tonya S. (19), Ashley T. (19), Kenny D...
- Group Eleven : Kate S. (19), Sydney D. (33), Danie...
- Group Twelve : Anna J. (19), Stephen M. (19), Geor...
- Guide for the Rhetoric & War Cross-Classroom Blog
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March
(13)
18 comments:
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down by J. Robbie Robertson (The Band)
Virgil Caine is the name and I served on the Danville train
'Til Stoneman's cavalry came and tore up the tracks again
In the winter of '65, we were hungry, just barely alive
By May the tenth, Richmond had fell, it's a time I remember oh so well
The night they drove Old Dixie down and the bells were ringing
The night they drove Old Dixie down and the people were singin', they went
La-la-la la-la-la, la-la-la la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Back with my wife in Tennessee, when one day she called to me
"Virgil, quick, come see, there goes Robert E. Lee!"
Now I don't mind choppin' wood, and I don't care if the money's no good
Ya take what ya need and ya leave the rest
But they should never have taken the very best
The night they drove old Dixie down and the bells were ringing
The night they drove old Dixie down and all the people were singin', they went
Na-na-na na-na-na, na-na-na na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Like my father before me, I will work the land
And like my brother before me, who took a rebel stand
He was just eighteen, proud and brave
But a Yankee laid him in his grave
I swear by the mud below my feet
You can't raise a Caine back up when he's in defeat
The night they drove old Dixie oown and the bells were ringing
The night they drove old Dixie down and all the people were singin', they went
Na-na-na na-na-na, na-na-na na-na-na, na-na-na-na
The night they drove old Dixie down and all the bells were ringing
The night they drove old Dixie down and the people were singin', they went
Na-na-na na-na-na, na-na-na na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Hello Group 10,
I'd first like to state that this song was painful to my hears to listen to. Anyways, I think that the song in general is about the Yankees coming down and taking the south over (because the north rocks). During the part of the song when he sings about his father and brother. He says that his brother was a rebel and his father was a farmer. In the lyrics after that when it says "But a yankee laid him in his grave", I think that means his brother was killed in battle by a yankee. In that same paragraph I'm not sure what Caine is. I'm not sure if it being capitalized has something to do with its meaning. Another thing I don't know is why he keeps saying the bells were ringing. Why would the people be singing if they were being taken over?
-Kenny D
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down by J. Robbie Robertson
Hello Group 10,
To me this is about a man named Virgil Caine during the civil war. It talks about his family and how things where at this time. He talks about how the Yankees took everything and how they could have left what they didn't need but instead they took everything. I thought that the lyrics "But a yankee laid him in his grave" means that his brother only 18 yrs. old stood up to the yankees and then they killed him. I thought these was a very sad but sweet song cause it talks about families standing up for what they believe in no matter if it comes to losing there life or not.
Hey group,
After reading the lyrics to Mr. Robertson's "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down", a song I am somewhat familliar with, I can see many characteristics that make it a true American song. Virgil Crane was a southern man who fought for what he beleived in because the way his family had always lived was being threatened. His father was a southern farmer and his brother used to be a soldier until he gave his life for what he believed in. Anyone who thinks the South had no buisness doing what they did must consider that it would be completly un American to let somebody take away your rights without a fight. Virgil and his brother were excersizing their right of freedom which was given to them by their ancestors who fought against the British for the same reasons. Luckily the Civil War did not divide the country permanently, however it did bring light to the fact that America is not a country that will allow its government to have complete control over it.
Thanks for your time,
Matt P.
Hey, group!
To me, the song apparently tells of the life of a man named Virgil Caine during the Civil War. After a quick first read, I found the song somewhat depressing since Caine talked about being "barely alive," "they never should have taken the very best," his brother being killed by a Yankee, and not being able to "raise a Caine back up when he's in defeat." I think the phrases "You can't raise a Caine back up when he's in defeat" and the fact that the bells were still ringing "the night they drove Old Dixie down" hints at the poor attitude of Virgil Caine, almost as if through the whole song he and the other people knew they were losing the war and when they experienced defeat they just didn't try to get back up again.
Hey Group!
“The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” is a song about the Civil War and the Northerners coming into the south. This song shows how tolling a war can be on people, especially this man Virgil Caine. This song also states how war completely destroys everything; railroad tracks, land, towns, and lives. Virgil’s family is destroyed because of this war; his brother went to fight for the South and was killed by the Northern soldiers. When the north “drove old Dixie down” it was defeated and was not going to get back up. Although it is apparent that Virgil Caine is very upset that the south was defeated, it is better for our country to be united.
Have a great weekend!
Sarah Bromley
When I first read the lyrics, I knew the song referred to the Civil War, but I thought the story told was more important. After reading Matt P.'s comment, I then tried to read the song as a war song, focusing more on the war aspects of it than on how the mentioned family was affected.
In reference to the comment made by Kenny D. about how the bells were still ringing even if they were being taken over, I think Sarah made a good point that perhaps explains why the bells would still be ringing, even though these people were experiencing defeat. Sarah mentioned that it was better that the country be united, and I think that these people probably knew that was true, and that after constant defeat the end would eventually come, but it would somehow be better and be a relief to them.
In response to Kenny, the word Caine relates to the last name of the man that this song is about. As for the singing and the bells ringing it could be the south mourning there loss, or it could be the northerns rejoicing.
Hey Group 10!
I agree with Tonya with the idea that the bells would be ringing because of the ending of the war and the ultimate victory of the north. There is a paradox between the triumphant ringing of the bells and the sadness that Virgil Caine feels. Although many people were sad that the south lost, I think that they were relieved that the war, and destruction, was over. I also agree with Matt that it is honorable to defend what you believe in. Virgil Caine was defending the way of life that he knew; he was also defending the memory of his father and brother who protected southern ideas.
Have a great one!
Sarah Bromley
Group,
I enjoyed reading everyone's comments in response to the song. I agree with Tonya and Sarah about the people being relieved about the end of the war even when they had been defeated. They had to be tired of war and wanted to restart their lives. This would be a difficult task because the Northern soldiers took many resourses from the South, which needed to repair the destruction of the war. I am not sure who wrote the second comment but I agree with them about the unnecessary pillaging of the South by the Northern forces, Anthony maybe.
Thanks again,
Matt P.
PS. Kenny, the North rocks!!
SIKE
Hello group,
All in all I think this song is a reflextion on the Civil War from a Confederate perspective. It talks about how the Union came from the north and came through the south. The author also talks about how his brother was killed by a yankee. This goes to show you that his family was apart of the rebel forces. The part that mentions like his brother before him he was a rebel so this is clearly a look at the end of the civil war from the confederate perspective. Talk to you guys later
Anthony Whavers
Hi again,
Everyone in this group has helped me understand this song better. Ashley Torres answered my question about Caine. Tonya helped clear up my question about the bells ringing. All of the other interpretations gave me different perspectives on the song, because mine were different for the most part. I agree with what Sarah said, about Caine defending his way of life, and about how the south was relieved about the war ending.
Peace,
Kenny D.
Hey guys again,
It seems like everyone has like the same perspective on this song. Everyone seems to think that this song kind of is hurtful to listen to. It talks about the rebelion and the South VS. the North and it brings back some of our history where the country was not to bright in certain areas. I wish some History could be rewritten but it doesn't work that way. Some aspects of our History are not so good and we need to learn from them.
Anthony Whavers
Hi Group!
Well I thought this was a very interesting song to listen(read) about. I think that all of us pretty much got the same idea of what the song was about. I agree with Anthony that our history could be unwritten but it doesn't always work out that way and that we all should be able to learn more about our history and what really happened.
Thanks so much,
Ashley
Hey group!
I agree with Ashley...I think we all got the general idea of what was going on in this song. I enjoyed this assignment and hearing, well reading I guess, everyone's thoughts and opinions. I found another song written by Stephen Foster during the Civil War time called "Bring My Brother Back to Me" that has similarities in how the narrator wants his brother to come home, elaborating on one of the more tragic aspects of war.
Hello Group,
Since we all have the same ideas about what this song means, I found a song that is from the Civil War. It is called the Battle Hymn of the Republic by Julia Ward Howe. It kind of ties in religious views with the war. Well, it's been fun posting on this blog discussion with you all.
Bye,
Kenny D.
Hey group,
When Anthony said that the war tore families apart it made me realize that the war tore an entire nation apart. This is an obvious fact but something really had to be wrong for a country to declare war on itself. However everything seemed to work itself out in the long run. Today the US is united and stronger than ever. I also agree with Tonya when she said that this song emphasises the tragic aspects of war. I thing that it is important to realize that alot of people died in this war from both sides and we should not forget what they fought for. If we did then they all would have fought, suffered, and died for nothing.
Its been great,
Matt
Hey Guys!
I believe that we all understand this song pretty well. We all agree that Virgil Caine is leading a sad life where he tries to defend what he has grown up with, however, he is ultimately defeated. It is obvious that we are reading the Southern perspective of the war, which is biased against the North. I agree with Anthony that all of our country’s history is not great, there are some things that we would like to forget, but that is what makes our country. I also agree with Tonya that this song is very tragic, it emphasizes the sad reality of war. Matt makes a good point to remind everyone that both sides lost a lot of soldiers who were also brothers, fathers, and sons, this means that everyone suffered as a result of war.
Hope you had a great weekend
Sarah Bromley
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