Richie Havens - Night they drove old dixie down

[jessupful333]

THE TRUTH DIXIE? UNDERSTANDING. MOST PEOPLE DON.T UNDERSTAND? BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT THAT PEOPLE TRULY GOD BLESS ALL

[jessupful333]

@jessupful333 JUST LIKE SLAVERY> DIXIE? YOU PEOPLE HAVE NO UNDERSTANDING OF HISTORY. YET ALONE YOUR OWN. AMERICA.PLEASE.

[jessupful333]

NO OTHER BETTER ~!

[66ajlong]

ugh. way to drain the drama out of the song Richie...and please, tune yr axe.

[Inetjoker]

I was called for for calling this a classic American folk song.. I knew it was just a good song about about people getting along.... song....

[jking1737]

I agree with the beauty of having Ritchie Havens sing this song, and the beauty of how he sings it. Most ironic thing for ya'll is that he sung a song in the Music of the Civil War (Ken Burns' music from his series) that was written by a solider in the all-black 54th Mass. Inf. (The same outfit portrayed in "Glory", basically that soldier had the same views as Denzel in the movie.) Amazing how Richie empathizes in music with both a black Yank private and a Reb private (who didn't own slaves)

[GrothendiecksWish]

Incredible cover

[cdubuya101]

this guy sounds like Milton from Office Space. His timing totally effs up the whole song.

[frank1330]

I had the pleasure of seeing him perform a couple of years ago. Every time a drive by the concert site, I can hear his voice, and it brings tears to my eyes. His rendition of this sends chills up my spine. Hearing a black man sing this underscores that this is about the horror and tragedy of war. Yes, slavery was an issue,but it was not THE issue. Slavery was doomed. It would have ended anyway. Ritchie's empathy and forgiveness are god-like. What a wonderful artist.

[SuperTravisbickle]

this is my new favourite song and I am not even an American, nevermind from the south. this song makes me want to be though haha

[penumbra85]

This is awesome! Does anyone have the tabs of this version?

[chrisbrho]

great version of this song!

[Lilyichka]

Third version I've heard of this song.

And it's the only one sung like he was there.

[MrCraigary123]

The bands version and this version are the best of all the different versions

[munkiman23]

Very nice! Richie is very cool! Really warm sound too! Great musician!

[teddytrains]

Thank you.

[porkinwitz]

please do not reply to "miracledrug5150" below me..........he's just trolling with his negative comment.

[miracledrug5150]

he didnt do a very good job covering this.

[jameswestonsvault]

this is the best cover of this song. he does wonders with his voice and guitar.  richie havens is great

[SuperMikeyLive]

Someone else should have to teach these kids their history. We're tired of it.

[AviatorRider]

I do agree.

[fordtuff56]

Saw this national treasure play the Highline Ballroom NYC 2008. Fronted by Harry Manx. Two of the world's most talented and gracious muscians. Past 70, he played frenetically, shredding one celluloid pick after another.Booming voice,wow! Laughed ,smiled, bonded with the audience all night long. At the end, that tall ropey old man kicked at least a half-foot over his head, to the delight of the audience. I've paid 10 x that 30$ ticket and never been so pleased or moved by a performance.

[fannydad]

such a great Musician..... i saw Richie live some Years ago in Germany and the Show was incredible.... after the Show, the Instruments and Microphones were away from Stage Richie come back and sing completely alone and unplugged Pink Floyds "Wish you were here" .... One of the best Performances that i have ever seen in the last 30 Years..... and i saw more than 1500 Concerts....

[Jerryjeffelvis]

fuck this one

[delahuntya]

Another super version of a classic by Richie. For those who have not seen this man perform I can't recommend the experience enough. All great singer songwriters can entrawl a crowd, but Richie brings even more to live performances. A live experience I can promice you'll never forget

[2008Wordman]

Richie Havens moves the soul of the listener. What an absolute treasure to America and to the music industry. Ritchie sings with such intevse passion and soul. You Rock Richie.

[pats5win]

Richie Havens is a great musician. A true American classic sung by an american treasure.

[worseto]

Everyone needs to remember this war was all out by the second year of the war.Brother vs brother irish against irish german against german black confederate vs black union .What a horrible and bloody time this was in american history.We cant even think about how bad this was.But patriot songs like this sure are sweet.Richie Havens is great.

[rosesredvioletsblue]

Love, the way Richie does this song! Excellent post!

[jamezdee]

Mr. Havens has my total respect and is a true person and musician. I lover everything he does, especially his thumb fingering style with the guitar. I try to imitate but can't seem to recreate. But much more than that is the songs he's covered and written in that special way that makes you think about the message or contents of the song. Close to Messiah like.

Love Peace and Happines

[harryf200]

So far ... this is, IMO, the best version I've heard thus far - at least in terms of the singing. (The accompaniment ain't so hot.)

[cruithneuladh]

A truly great artist, please please please, go dig out and listen to anything you can get your hands on by this man, you will not regret it. If you can, buy steal or borrow a copy of "Portfolio", a superb album from the early seventies, it is sublime! Turn the lights down, switch off your i-pod , mobile phone, and answering machine, pour yourself a glass of chilled white wine, and ENJOY!

[iamearthbornami]

thankyou~with love and gratitude

[bocephus190]

isnt he black

[mcsaurus]

I've always though Rickie Havens is his own man and a great artist - and now here he is, a black man, and born in Brooklyn at that - showing through this wonderful performance his understanding that you don't have to black to know suffering. It takes great courage for a black person to sing a song sympathetic to the "crackers" who worked the soil and fought to defend the little they had. Richie, you're something else. We met at Mariposa in '68; you were great then and you're great now.

[TEB1952]

@mcsaurus Well said. It would be interesting to know if his ancestors fought along side the southern soldiers. Many black Americans did - a little known fact.

[wobbly585]

@TEB1952 Well said it's not uncommon for people to depend on a version of history which sts well with their viewpoint but falls far short of real history. I'm mixed race so my researching of history is hopefully as it is and not as I would like it to be.

[TEB1952]

@wobbly585 Thank you. It's nice to see there other people interested in facts and truth like me. Peace.

[grt5007]

there is nobody like richie havens, he is one of the greatest

[joepa420]

yah jerry verson rocks,good ol richie does it realy good ,all are good , this song is awesome

[memtown]

Not better than The Band, or Johnny's version, but beautiful still. Thank you for posting this.

[Legginbass]

thank you Richie....

[ilovemetall94]

richie havens is one of those musicians who can bring a tear to your eye no matter what he plays, hes got this aura about him, watching him live is mesmoirizing. his voice does things to your soul man. hes one of the greatest musicians, and even one of the greatest people, to ever walk our earth.

[jelHax]

Check out the Jerry Garcia Band Version... reallllly good

[creeloebelle]

Do I dare say that this is a better version of the song than The Band did?

Played in a more somber mood... as such the song details... not a happy song from Virgil Cane's standpoint...

At any rate, this is and OUTSTANDING version!

[likenob04]

It really adds something to this song to hear it sung in an African American voice. It's about a Confederate soldier... all I can say is Richie has a big heart.

[honeyfred]

Stunning version.

Richie has one of the best, most emotive voices of his and any generation.

[robtjonz]

A voice, a guitar, brilliant.

[conradecek]

Richie played at my summer camp when I was twelve years old. I was too young to fully appreciate it, but I was blown away none the less. An American treasure indeed!

[museumbone]

Dude's an American treasure!

[rr5n]

One of the most underrated musicians of the 20th century. Probably the best cover of this song as well.

[ComeSpalding]

@rr5n glad someone else thinks this. truly great musician.

[bellottibellotti]

I love all the versions. But I just lost my cousin in a motorcycle accident in New Orleans. And this version is the one that most speaks to me now because of its sense of redemtion and simple honesty and compassion from deep in side Richie Haven's immense soul.

"they should have never taken the very best"

Rest in peace Kevin...

[dionysus17]

My condolences..hope this song provided some comfort.

The family I'm staying with just had to bury their dog, named Dixie..I can't imagine losing a cousin though.

[redgeorge76]

feel for you, I lost my brother in 2005 in a motorcycle accident. He was only 28, it's just the hardest thing to go through. RIP Kevin & Craig

[pookashell124]

this is a great cover...i love richie havens

[baronhausenpheffer]

I really, really like this cover by Havens! I think The Band's original is unbeatable in its pathos and beauty, but this is a very respectable cover that does the original justice. That's more than I can say for either Joan Baez or Johnny Cash, god bless 'em...

[niceworkmicrosoft]

He's obviously a genius

[chiangmai700]

Totally awesome!

[ebonybelle1luv]

Beautiful.

[stats224]

I will be honest I really like the Joan Baez version

[chiangmai700]

Joan Baez?? Jesus a woman really cant sing this song !

[GX2Photography]

This song has been covered numerous times and none come close to the original by Levon and The Band.

[rr5n]

Not sure about that. Love the Band's version, but this song is one that seems like it is supposed to be down-trodden, and the way they wrote it sounded almost cheery.

[GX2Photography]

Man, I don't here anything cheery in Levon Helm's voice. I feel like crying when I hear him sing this.

[rr5n]

Wasn't referring to his voice, I was talking about the music.

[joethecrab]

The Band's version does not sound cheery at all. Baez's does, at least to me. Too fast and upbeat. Judas Priest!, playing it on Fing Sesame Street for Christ's sake!.

[janiecarrasco]

very nice.

[madtownstu]

second that- classy cover. Id call it an "original cover". great take

[bay500]

A close, close second to the original. No one covers a tune like Havens.

[MuddyManu1]

This is great and yes this man is blessed

[opannefrank]

God, I love Richie Havens.

[mindfodder]

Awesome.

[jwsljs]

One of the best versions around