I'm sure ther's been some debate on this and even a book about teh black origin (Snowden family) but I though William Shakespeare Hays version of "Dixie" should be included. Both Emmett and Hays published versions in the same year 1860, giving further creedence to the evidence that Dixie was arranged from "minstrel or African American sources.

Benjamin Robert Tubb posted Hays version on his excellent site: Public Domain Music. Tubb commented to me that "Hays' version of "Dixie" may well be more authentic. There are definite similarities. Emmet's version was afterall "arranged" by W. L. Hobbs."

Benjamin Robert Tubb: William Shakespeare Hays was born in Louisville, KY on 19 July 1837 and died there at the age of 70 on 23 July 1907. His parents were Hugh and Martha (Richardson) Hays. He married Belle McCullough in July of 1865. His known children are Mattie Belle Hays (dedicated to, in the song O, Let Me Kiss the Baby, 1867), Susie Hobbs Hays (dedicated to, in the song Kiss Me, Good Night, Mama, 1870) and Samuel Brown Hays (dedicated to, in the song How Much Does the Baby Weigh, 1880).
His most popular songs were Evangeline (1862), The Drummer Boy of Shiloh (1863), We Parted by the River (1866), The Little Old Cabin in the Lane (1871), Molly Darling (1871) [with 3 million copies published], Susan Jane (1871), Oh! Sam (1872), Angels Meet Me at the Cross Roads (1875). Early in de Mornin' (1877), Roll Out! Heave Dat Cotton (1877).
He composed approximately 350 songs. Two sigificant collections, detailed as items 286 (manuscripts) and 813 (prints and photographs), are at The Filson Club Historical Society of Kentucky.

Lyr. Add: DIXIE

To Capt. J. B. O'Bannon, Tywopita, Ky. [Title page:] "Way Down in Dixie" (1860)[Cover page: "Away Down in Dixie's Land"]
As Sung by Hooley's Minstrels, Words by "Jerry Blossom,"
[Cover page: Music by "Dixie, Jr." [Title page: "by Young Dixie"]
[pseud. for William Shakespeare Hays, 1837-1907]
Boston, MA: O. Ditson & Co., Plate No. 1202-5
[Copyrighted by D. P. Faulds & Co., in Kentucky]
Source: os76@UNC-CH

1.
Oh Dixie am de paradise
Whar de raise de cotton and de rice,
Come away
Boy's away boy's away,
Down in Dixie
Whar de Gal's grow tall
And de Babies small,
And some folks dey don't grow at all,
Come away boy's away, boy's away down in Dixie.

CHORUS: Then, come let's go to Dixie,
Yah! ho! yah ho!
We'll sing dis song, de whole night long,
When we go down in Dixie.
Away, away,
We'll all be off for Dixie,
Away away,
We'll soon be off for Dixie.

2. Dar was a girl in Dixie's land,
I ax'd her for her head and hand,
Come away boy's, away boys, away
Down in Dixie,
Then she smiled an' gib me her consent
I got de Gal away we went,
Come away boys, away, boys away down in Dixie.

3. And when she went to bed one night,
She could'nt see for want of light,
Away! boys, away! away down in Dixie,
She lit de lite, as any one mout,
She put it in bed and blowed her sef out,
Away! boys, away! away down in Dixie.

(CHORUS)

4.De boy's down dar dey live on chicken;
And de babies like lasses,--dey want a lickin,
And away! boys, away! away down south in Dixie,
Dar face's am as broad as a farm in de Souf,
Like de Mississippi riber got snag's in de Mouf,
Then away boys, away down south in Dixie.

(CHORUS)

5. Oh, come now boys, since you've heard our story,
To de land of light and glory,
Come away, boys, away! away down south in Dixie,
O! our hearts am gay! we're a happy band,
Good bye! folks now for Dixie's land,
Away! boys, away! away down south in Dixie.

(CHORUS)

Comments?

-Richie