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Content Warning: This song depicts racist ideas and language of the time and may be offensive or upsetting to listeners. |
15 You’ll Find Ol’ Dixieland in France
BERT:
DAY WAS WHEN OL’ DIXIELAND
WAS SWARMIN’ WITH THE COONS,
SINGIN’ DIXIE TUNES,
PLAYIN’ BONES AND SPOONS.
THAT WAS WHEN OL’ DIXIELAND
WAS CAREFREE AND WAS GAY.
NOW IT AIN’T THAT WAY,
EVER SINCE THAT DAY.
WHEN WOODROW WILSON CALL UP THE TROOPS,
WE WAS ONE OF THE FIRSTEST GROUPS
TO SAY “DO OR DIE!”
THAT’S THE REASON WHY
YOU’LL FIND OL’ DIXIELAND IN FRANCE.
BY SHIP OR SKY,
WE JUMP AT THE CHANCE,
AND THAT’S WHY
YOU’LL FIND OL’ DIXIELAND IN FRANCE.
YOU’LL FIND OL’ DIXIELAND IN FRANCE.
INSTEAD OF PICKIN’ MELONS OFF THE VINE,
THEY ALL DIGGIN’ TRENCHES AT THE LINE.
YOU’LL FIND OL’ DIXIELAND IN FRANCE.
IF YOU VISIT ALABAM’,
THEY ALL SERVIN’ UNCLE SAM.
AIN’T NO COON IN SIGHT,
‘CAUSE THEY WENT OUT TO FIGHT!
AND ALEXANDER’S RAGTIME BAND
PLAYS NO MO’ IN DIXIELAND.
BID THEIR MAMMIES GOODBYE,
LEFT TO KILL OFF EACH SPY!
AND THAT’S WHY
YOU’LL FIND OL’ DIXIELAND IN FRANCE.
OVER THERE, OVER THERE.
BY SHIP OR SKY —
ON THE LAND, ON THE SEA, IN THE AIR —
WE JUMP AT THE CHANCE!
AND THAT’S WHY
YOU’LL FIND OL’ DIXIELAND IN FRANCE.
YOU’LL FIND OL’ DIXIELAND IN FRANCE.
INSTEAD OF PICKIN’ MELONS OFF THE VINE,
YOU’LL FIND ‘EM PICKIN’ GERMANS OFF THE RHINE!
YOU’LL FIND OL’ DIXIELAND,
YOU’LL FIND OL’ DIXIELAND,
YOU’LL FIND OL’ DIXIELAND IN FRANCE!
(Note: The title, concept, and the lines “Instead of pickin’ melons off the vine” and “pickin’ Germans off the Rhine” originate from this 1918 song by George W. Meyer and Grant Clarke.)
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