Let the Band Play Dixie

LET THE BAND PLAY DIXIE 1982

I learned this excellent song at the Kerrville Folk Festival from one of its writers, the great folksinger/songwriter Bob Gibson (the other writer being Dave North). It tells the true story of Lincoln breaking the news of Lee’s surrender to “the crowds around the White House” in Washington, DC. In an amazing act of reconciliation, he requested that the military band play the song Dixie. This simple act, in my mind, speaks volumes about the nature of “Lincoln the man”.