The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #169891   Message #4137348
Posted By: Jim Dixon
20-Feb-22 - 10:52 PM
Thread Name: US Highways (fed and state) and songs about them
Subject: Lyr Add: DIXIE HIGHWAY (Gus Kahn, Walter Donaldson
From the sheet music at York University. Other copies are held by Mississippi State University and Indiana University.


DIXIE HIGHWAY
Words by Gus Kahn, music by Walter Donaldson, ©1922.

1. I’ve been working all day long fixing up my car,
Making sure that nothing’s wrong. I’m traveling far,
Way down south where I belong. How surprised they’ll be!
‘Cause I came away by freight, but I’m going home in state.

CHORUS: Down the Dixie Highway
I’ll be wending my way.
I’m just goin’ to fly ‘way home
To my little nest in Dixie.
How I’ll count the hours
Till I see the flowers:
Roses red, violets blue.
Down there they grow forget-me-nots for you.
I’ll bless each rattle in my flivver,
Each little knock.
When I ride beside that Swanee River,
I reckon
All my cares will fly ‘way
When I’m wending my way
Down the Dixie Highway.
I’m going home.

PATTER: My little flivver is a real good friend.
All you have to give her is a twist and a bend.
She isn’t worth a nickel but I bet, by gee,
She’ll bring a million dollars worth of smiles to me.
Needs new tires, front and rear,
The horn won’t speak to the steering gear.
A little lopsided, lamps don’t light,
But outside of that, ev’rything’s all right. [To CHORUS.]

2. Folks all said: “He won’t make good” when I started out.
I determined that I would; now there’ll be no doubt.
When they see that Ford sedan, they’ll know that means wealth.
And I have done mighty fine. Ten more payments and it’s mine!

- - -
The Internet Archive has a vocal recording by Aileen Stanley, on Victor 18935-A (1922) – plus several instrumental arrangements.

The Dixie Highway ran from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to Miami, Florida—see Wikipedia.