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Phish.netDixie Cannonball
Dixie Cannonball has not been seen in 563 Phish shows.
It was last played: 2009-12-30.
It was played at 0.05% of live shows.
It has been performed live 1 time(s).
Music/Lyrics: Red Foley/Vaughn Horton/Gene Autry
Original Artist: Gene Autry
Vocals: Mike
Debut: 2009-12-30
Historian: Kazimierz O. Wrzeszczynski
“Well shut my mouth I’m headin’ South” proclaims this little country folk ditty, first made famous by Gene Autry and later also recorded by Hank Williams. Performed late in Gene Autry’s career (circa 1946/47), "Dixie Cannonball" is a bouncy joyful train song about that good old classic theme of heading south on a train to see your sweetheart. Mike was familiar with the song having played it at least once, exactly four years prior to the Phish debut on 12/30/05 in St. Petersburg, FL during a holiday show of the GRaB Trio (a.k.a. the Benevento/Russo Duo featuring Mike Gordon).
Watch Dixie Cannonball on YouTube Hank Williams, "Dixie Cannonball"
Phish debuted this song on the third night of the Miami 2009 New Years Eve run, perhaps in tribute to their southern Florida stay or as a possible foreshadowing of the New Year's Eve gag the next night, which featured drummer Fishman being shot out of a cannon (or was he?) in a New Year's Eve Times Square-esque cannonball. Similar in style to "The Old Home Place" (a song also suggesting a tribute to Virginia on 12/5/09), the band performs "Dixie Cannonball" with an ease and familiarity as if playing it for years. In some manner they have – understandable since this basic country/folk template has been in their catalog for most of their career. The quick country-style piano and guitar solos and a very nice vocal rendition by Mike suggest that "Dixie Cannonball" may provide a refreshing new addition to the band's bluegrass/country repertoire.
Watch Dixie Cannonball on YouTube Phish, "Dixie Cannonball" – 12/30/09, Miami, FL
Lyrics:
© Gene Autry's Western Music Publishing Co. (ASCAP)
I'm a-headin' back to Dixie, that's where I long to be
Where the cotton grows and the Swanee flows that's home sweet home to me
Where they meet you and they greet you with a great big "how you all?"
Well shut my mouth, I'm a-headin' south on the Dixie Cannonball
On the Dixie Cannonball, on the Dixie Cannonball
Just listen to the whistle, it'll thrill you one and all
And I know there's someone waitin' with a great big "how you all?"
Well, shut my mouth I'm a-headin' south on the Dixie Cannonball
When I cross them smokey mountain I'll be countin' every mile
When the whistle blows I'll be on my toes and I'll shuffle down the aisle
And I know I'll not be lonesome when I see them treetops tall
I'm coming through on the big choo-choo on the Dixie Cannonball
On the Dixie Cannonball, on the Dixie Cannonball
Just listen to the whistle, it'll thrill you one and all
And I know there's someone waitin' with a great big "how you all?"
Well, shut my mouth I'm a-headin' south on the Dixie Cannonball
Yes, I'm goin' back to Dixie, that's the place I long to be
Where the cotton grows and the Swanee flows that's home sweet home to me
Where they meet you and they greet you with the sweetest how you all
Well, shut my mouth I'm a-headin' south on the Dixie Cannonball
On the Dixie Cannonball, on the Dixie Cannonball
Just listen to the whistle, it'll thrill you one and all
And I know there's someone waitin' with a great big "how you all?"
Well, shut my mouth I'm a-headin' south on the Dixie Cannonball
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