On the dark side of Chicago
I heard an old lonesome hobo
As he whistle Dixie
It took my mind way back
To mama's dear sweet angel smile
And the tune she sang me as a child
And how my daddy left us long ago
On a lonesome northbound track
Well, he took a nip and I walked over
I laid my hand on a thin old shoulder
And in the moonlight tired old eyes
Stared me right through
So I gave him a brand new twenty
Said, "Friend, this ought to be plenty
To pay for a drink
And a memory trip with you"
I said, "I have a love for Dixie
Cause she's where I long to be
And I'll go home to her someday
Just wait and see
So if you're leaving in the morning
Or someday I'll be joining
So would you save a place for me
In the heart of Dixie"
They say my old man rode the rails
So as this hobo span his tales
My thoughts drifting off
In a dream with a mystery
We drank his wine
Till we got shanghaied
Slept in a box car side by side
Till the morning's light
Struck my face
And awoke me
And on the hobo's arm hanging limb
The sun's flicker gave me a glimpse
Of something
That took me by surprise
Across a heart tattooed in his skin
I saw the name Dixie written in
And it brought a twinkle and a tear
Into my eyes
I thought we'd share a love for Dixie
And she's where we long to be
And I'll go home to her someday
Just wait and see
So if you're leaving in the morning
Well, someday I'll be joining
Lord, save a place for me
In the heart of Dixie
He said, "Well, it's about time for my run
I've got a ride to Montgomery, son"
"Well, sir", I replied
"That's my old stomping ground"
"Yeah", he said, he'd hung out there on the Ripley
Before he left the girl named Dixie
And after years now
His soul is Alabama bound
Well, I told him
I thought I'd known his Dixie
But then she died way back in sixty
They say from loneliness and a broken dream
And as I said that he just slipped away
But left me thinking to this very day
The Dixie's darling
Was the dad I'd never seen
Lord, we shared a love for Dixie
Now he's where she went to be
And I'll go home to them someday
Just wait and see
He left me behind that morning
But when my time comes I'll be joining
Lord, save a place for me
In the heart of Dixie
Lord, save a place for me
In the heart of Dixie