Southern Dixie

By Albert Pike (1809–1891)

SOUTHRONS, hear your country call you!
Up, lest worse than death befall you!
To arms! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
Lo! all the beacon-fires are lighted—
Let all hearts be now united!

  To arms! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
    Advance the flag of Dixie!
    Hurrah! hurrah!
For Dixie’s land we take our stand,
  And live or die for Dixie!
    To arms! To arms!
  And conquer peace for Dixie!
    To arms! To arms!
  And conquer peace for Dixie!

Hear the Northern thunders mutter!
Northern flags in South winds flutter!
Send them back your fierce defiance!
Stamp upon the accursed alliance!

Fear no danger! Shun no labor!
Lift up rifle, pike, and sabre!
Shoulder pressing close to shoulder,
Let the odds make each heart bolder!

How the South’s great heart rejoices
At your cannons’ ringing voices!
For faith betrayed, and pledges broken,
Wrongs inflicted, insults spoken.

Strong as lions, swift as eagles,
Back to their kennels hunt these beagles!
Cut the unequal bonds asunder!
Let them hence each other plunder!

Swear upon your country’s altar
Never to submit or falter,
Till the spoilers are defeated,
Till the Lord’s work is completed.

Halt not till our Federation
Secures among earth’s powers its station!
Then at peace, and crowned with glory,
Hear your children tell the story!

If the loved ones weep in sadness,
Victory soon shall bring them gladness,—
    To arms!
Exultant pride soon banish sorrow,
Smiles chase tears away to-morrow.
  To arms! To arms! To arms, in Dixie!
    Advance the flag of Dixie!
    Hurrah! hurrah!
For Dixie’s land we take our stand,
  And live or die for Dixie!
    To arms! To arms!
  And conquer peace for Dixie!
    To arms! To arms!
  And conquer peace for Dixie!

See also Pike's 1868 Lament for Dixie.