An American Trilogy
Mickey Newbury
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An American Trilogy Mickey Newbury (words & music by Newbury) Oh I wish I was in the land of cotton Old things they are not forgotten Look away, look away, look away Dixieland Oh I wish I was in Dixie, away, away In Dixieland I take my stand to live and die in Dixie Cause Dixieland, that's where I was born Early Lord one frosty morning Look away, look away, look away Dixieland Glory, glory hallelujah Glory, glory hallelujah Glory, glory hallelujah His truth is marching on So hush little baby Don't you cry You know your daddy's bound to die But all my trials, Lord will soon be over
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Written by: MICKEY NEWBURY
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
7 facts about this song
Composition and History"An American Trilogy" is a medley of three 19th-century songs. These songs include "Dixie," a Blackface minstrel song that came to be the unofficial anthem of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, "Battle Hymn of the Republic," a marching hymn associated with the Union Army, and the post-Civil War song "All My Trials."
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Mickey Newbury ArrangementInterestingly, the song was arranged and first recorded in 1971 by American singer-songwriter Mickey Newbury. He conceived the idea of combining these three songs to provide a musical perspective on the history of American culture and conflict.
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Elvis Presley AdaptationElvis Presley, the "King of Rock 'n' Roll," is well-known for performing the song "An American Trilogy." His version became massively popular and brought greater recognition to the song medley. Its significance increased during his performances in Las Vegas and on tour from 1972 to his last concert in 1977, often eliciting strong sentimental reactions from audiences.
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Presley's AccoladesPresley's version reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972 and was ranked No. 66 in the list of the top 100 songs of the 1970s by the Recording Industry Association of America.
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Impact across Cultures"An American Trilogy" has been covered by numerous artists from around the world. The song resonates profoundly across cultures owing to it being seen as symbolic of American history and traditions.
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Criticisms and ControversyOn a critical note, the song has faced controversy and criticism for including "Dixie," given its origins and association with white southern pride and slavery. Some see the juxtaposition of "Dixie" alongside the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" as an effort to reconcile the opposing sides of the Civil War and highlight the shared struggles in American history.
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Emotional ResonancePresley's performances of the song could often become notably emotional, with the singer becoming visibly moved during performances. This emotionality has often been speculated to be due to Presley's fondness for gospel music and the powerful combination of the three songs.
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Citation
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"An American Trilogy Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 7 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric-lf/160499/Mickey+Newbury/An+American+Trilogy>.
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