The Band - The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down

https://youtu.be/jREUrbGGrgM

Brilliant performance by Levon Helm on the drums and being the lead singer. I love this song.

13 points · 13 comments · view on lemmy.world

13 Comments

steakfries@lemmy.one · 4 pts · 3y (3 replies)

Just wanted to say its not often a person plays drums and does lead vocals. I'm not a musician but im sure anyone can see that this is a very impressive live performance. I know that its from a movie but I've never seen the movie. I've been watching this video on youtube for years now and I have a young son and he's just learning to talk and he likes to sing this song with me. I saw in another comment on youtube I think that although is song is written from the perspective of the south, its really about just being a normal guy living in a small town and all of a sudden you're being sent to war, regardless of which side you happen to be on. The lyrics are great. I hope someone enjoys it.

eyolf@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3y (2 replies)

It makes sense that your young son likes it: when it was written, Robbie Robertson had to be quiet so as not to wake up his sleeping daughter. So there may be some kind of father/child thing with this song. Check out the BBC Classic Albums special, where this clip is taken from: https://youtu.be/VusxYu9Uycs?t=75

steakfries@lemmy.one · 1 pts · 3y (1 reply)

That's awesome! Thanks for sharing that.

eyolf@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3y

You're welcome. That whole film is fantastic, including a sequence where Levon talks about singing and drumming at the same time. He claims that it's in fact easier that way...

man_zonder_poespas@feddit.nl · 2 pts · 3y (5 replies)

Absolutely love that song. I've also been listening to The Weight a lot recently, because I've had Van Morrison's Moondance album on repeat lately, and there are so many songa on there that remind me of The Band for some reason.

steakfries@lemmy.one · 1 pts · 3y (4 replies)

The Weight is such a good song, and probably their most well known. I'm gonna check out Van Morrison's Moondance album, I'm getting older and just now really getting into classic rock. I love the video for Sympathy for the Devil as well I've been watching that a bunch lately. Also the Eagles. Whoa.

man_zonder_poespas@feddit.nl · 2 pts · 3y (3 replies)

I've never really given the Stones the time of day, but the same was true about the Beatles a while back and now they're one of my favorites - so maybe it's time to give the Rolling Stones a chance one of these days (that whole rivalry between fans of the two bands is just silly nonsense of course).

steakfries@lemmy.one · 1 pts · 3y (2 replies)

you sound like me haha. love the beatles now. trust me go watch the video for sympathy for the devil and tell me it isnt cool as hell https://youtu.be/Jwtyn-L-2gQ i agree fan rivalry is silly, i can like two things lol. maybe it made sense back when it was fresh and new and i might have been a part of it, but now im just here for good music!

man_zonder_poespas@feddit.nl · 0 pts · 3y (1 reply)

God that vid makes me understand why that song "Moves Like Jagger" was written, dude had stage presence for sure.

steakfries@lemmy.one · 1 pts · 3y

Right! he's unreal, and so skinny, it's no wonder he's still alive after all those years of partying. But yeah the way he moves around is unique for sure.