Jerry Reed – Are You From Dixie

About The Song

“Are You From Dixie (‘Cause I’m from Dixie Too)” is a song originally written by lyricist Jack Yellen and composer George L. Cobb, first recorded in 1915 by Billy Murray. It is a Vaudeville-era tune celebrating the American South, featuring lyrics in Old South dialect that blend English Cavalier, Scots-Irish backcountry, and African American slang.

Jerry Reed recorded a notable version of the song, released in August 1969 as the only single from his album *Jerry Reed Explores Guitar Country*. Reed’s rendition reached number 11 on the U.S. *Billboard* Hot Country Singles chart, marking it as a successful country hit. The recording was produced by Chet Atkins and released by RCA Records. Reed’s version is recognized for its lively instrumentation and his distinctive guitar playing, which helped bring a modern country flair to the traditional song.

The song’s lyrics express a sense of Southern pride and camaraderie, asking if the listener is from Dixie, a nickname for the Southern United States, and establishing a connection based on shared regional identity. It has been a popular tune among various artists over the decades, with covers by Grandpa Jones, Joe Bennett and the Sparkletones, Roy Clark, Chet Atkins, and others.

“Are You From Dixie” is also part of the cultural tradition at the University of Southern Mississippi, where it is regularly performed by the Pride of Mississippi Marching Band during football games, played after every extra point.

Jerry Reed’s version remains one of the better-known renditions, appreciated for its energetic performance and as an example of Reed’s skill in blending traditional country themes with his unique guitar style. The song continues to be available on streaming platforms and is featured in various country music compilations.

In summary, Jerry Reed’s “Are You From Dixie (‘Cause I’m from Dixie Too)” is a 1969 country single that peaked at number 11 on the Billboard country chart. It is a modern take on a classic Southern anthem originally from 1915, celebrated for its lively instrumentation, regional pride, and Reed’s distinctive guitar work and vocal style.

Video

Lyric

Hello, there, stranger! how do you do?
There’s something I’d like to say to you
Don’t be surprised, you’re recognized!
I’m no detective but I’ve just surmised

You’re from the place where I long to be
Your smiling face seems to say to me
You’re from my own land, my sunny homeland
Tell me can it be?

It was a way back in eighty nine
I crossed the old Mason Dixon line
Gee! but I’ve yearned, longed to return
To all the good old pals I left behind

My home is way down in Alabam’
On a plantation near Birmingham
And one thing’s certain, I’m surely flirtin’
With those southbound trains:

Are you from Dixie? I said from Dixie!
Where the fields of cotton beckon to me
I’m glad to see you, tell me how be you
And the friends I’m longing to see

If you’re from Alabama, Tennessee or Caroline
Any place below the Mason Dixon line
Then you’re from Dixie, hurray for Dixie!
‘Cause I’m from Dixie too!