The word "'Dixie'" refers to a privately issued currency from banks in Louisiana. These banks issued ten-dollar notes, labeled "Dix" (French for "ten") on the reverse side. These notes are now highly sought-after for their numismatic value. The notes were known as "Dixies" by English-speaking southerners, and the area around New Orleans and the Cajun-speaking parts of Louisiana came to be known as "Dixieland". Eventually, usage of the term broadened to refer to most of the Southern States. Dictionary of Americanisms on Historical Principles (1951), by Mitford M. Mathews
I Wish I Was In Dixie, written in 1859 by Daniel D. Emmet as a walk-around for Bryant s Minstrel Troupe of New York, attained its widespread popularity, according to one authority, after its appearance in New Orleans in the fall of 1860, when Mrs. John Wood sang it at a performance of John Brougham's burlesque, Pocahontas. It became popular overnight, and within a short time the entire city was humming the tune. A New Orleans publisher, P.P. Werlein, aware of the possibilities of the hit, had the air harmonized and rewritten.Various versions of the song appeared in different parts of the country and Dixie became almost as popular in the North and East as in the South. After the Civil War started it became the war song of the Confederacy. Werlein's version, expressive of the strong Southern feeling on the eve of the war, differs slightly from the modern song.
I wish I was in de land of cotton, Cinnamon seed and sandy bottomlook a-way a-way in Dix-ey."
Dix-ey s land where I was born in early on one frosty morning
look a-way a-way in Dix-ey.
Buckwheat cakes and good strong butter makes my mouf go flit-ter flut-ter
look a-way a-way a-way in Dix-ey.
Here's a health to the good ole Mis-sis or to all the gals dat want to kiss us
look a-way a-way a-way in Dix-ey.
Oh, I wish I was in the land of cotton,
Old times there are not forgotten,
Look away, look away, look away Dixie Land.In Dixie Land, where I was born in,
early on one frosty mornin',
Look away, look away, look away Dixie Land.I wish I was in Dixie, Hooray! Hooray!
In Dixie Land I'll take my stand
to live and die in Dixie.
Away, away, away down south in Dixie.
Away, away, away down south in Dixie