The Civil War continues to be fought throughout the South. Transient malcontents seem eager to chip away at our southern heritage and traditions. Statues of Confederate heroes have been sent into exile, and battle flags have been lowered. In some sections of the Old South, the white flag has been raised in place of the Stars and Bars, but down here in Hays County, there is still an army of Rebels who are fighting for their rights.

The administration of Hays Consolidated Independent School District underhandedly banned “Dixie” as Hays High School’s fight song back in the summer, claiming the song had racial undertones. The shifty school administrators, hunkered behind a willowy board, never expected such fierce resistance from the local community and faced a continuous barrage from determined students, parents and alumni at every school board meeting.

Unfortunately, the Rebels lost the battle of “Dixie” when a suspicious student committee voted to select a new fight song for Hays High School. Like the flag and granite statues of heroic soldiers, the traditional song of the South has been pilfered from proud southerners by scaly scoundrels of northern descent. 

Although this battle has ended, the hornet nest remains, and there is still loud buzzing among the angry denizens. If those displaced discontents toss more rocks, they should be prepared for another attack from the defensive swarm, but for the time being, we should bury the hatchet and tend to our wounds. We should all work together to bring the community back together and live in harmony. And in this spirit of peace, I personally will step forward and offer my humble service as a novice songwriter and submit the lyrics of a joyous, little tune to be considered for the Rebels’ next fight song.  I call this song “Leavin’ Dixie Land”.

Oh, I wish I was in the land of denim,

Old times there are now forbidden.

Took away, took away, took away our Dixie Land!

In Dixie’s Land, where I was born in,

Our heritage was stolen without warnin’.

Took away, took away, took away our Dixie Land!

I wish they weren’t in Dixie, those belly-achers!

In Dixie’s Land I’ll point ‘em north,

to live some place other’n  Dixie.

Go away, go away, go away out of Dixie!

Go away, go away, go away up north of Dixie!

We have Southern pride and we like country livin’.

If ya’ll don’t like it, ya’ll oughta be leavin’.

Look around! Look around! Look around in Dixie Land.

We’re proud of our heritage; you can’t change that.

Don’t bad-mouth our Dixie Land, you old polecat!

Run away! Run away! Run away from Dixie Land.

We offer southern hospitality here in Dixie, Hooray! Hooray!

But if you disrespect Dixie Land, I’ll take my boot

To kick your butt out of Dixie.

Away, away, away down south in Dixie!

There’s Rebel Pride way down south in Dixie!

Dang, if this little ditty doesn’t bring a tear to your eye then you must be one cold-hearted rascal. I poured my heart and soul into writing this, shortly after pouring Jack and Coke into a glass. Now, if this song ruffles some feathers, then I suggest that perhaps those buzzards should migrate back north.  

Clint Younts should probably keep his day job, of sorts. A songwriter? Maybe not.

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