IN DEAR OLD DIXIE I LONG TO BE
(George Thomas Stoddard,   1907)


When the evening shadows lengthen and the sun has gone to rest 
And the stars begin to shed their tiny rays 
Then my thoughts turn back to Dixie to the land I love best 
And I seem to see the scenes of other days 
I can see my dear old mother standing in the cottage door 
Thro' her snow white hair the Southern breezes blow 
But 'tis just a dream of boyhood of the days gone long before 
In Dixie where the cotton blossoms grow

How often thro' the wildwood with my sweetheart by my side
We have stroll'd together whisp'ring words of love 
For 'twas there that gentle Annie promised me she'd be my bride 
While the silv'ry moon shone tho' the trees above 
But those happy days have long since fled and I am sad and lone 
My heart is sad and tears be dim my eyes 
Now I want to lie in Southland when my sands of life are run 
In Dixie where my gentle Annie lies

My dear old Dixie so dear to me 
My dear old Southland I long to see 
The birds sing sweeter in every tree 
In dear old Dixie I long to be.