Stories of Famous Songs, Vol 1

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FAMOUS SONGS
these companies, when " the South" was con-sidered by showmen to be all routes below Mason and Dixon's line. As the cold weather approached, the performers would think of the genial warmth of the section they were headed for, and the exclamation would be, " Well, I wish I was in Dixie!" The remembrance of this gave Emmet the catch line, and the re-mainder of the song is claimed to be original. It was continually used during the struggle be-tween North and South, and the rest of the world wondered as half a great nation took up arms to the sound of "John Brown's soul is marching on," while the other half an-swered by defiantly playing the comic " Dixie's Land."
A sentimental ballad, says the " Tribune," called " Lorena," was an immense favourite in the sixties, and for thirty years previous to the appearance and philosophy of " Old Rosin the Bow" became known to every one. A state of warfare has always proved conducive to song. The flourishing condition of minstrelsy in ages past was due largely to the warlike and adven-turous spirit of the times. During the civil war both sides were prolific in song-making. The South made the first striking hit with Randall's " Maryland, my Maryland." The " Bonnie
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