When Robert E Lee surrended the Confederacy Jefferson Davis was upset about it 

He said how dare that man resent an order 

Form the president of the Confederate States of America 

Then somebody told him that General Lee had made the decision himself 

In order to save lives because he felt that the battle comin' up 

Would cost about 20 000 lives on both sides 

And he said 240 000 dead already is enough 

So this song is not about the North or the South but about the bloody brother war 

Brother against brother father against son the war that nobody won 

And for all those lives that were saved I gotta say Dod bless Robert E Lee 

Well the mansion where the General used to live is burning down 

Cottonfields are blue with Sherman's troups 

I overheard a yankee say yesterday Nashville fell 

So I'm on my way to join the fight General Lee might need my help 

But look away look away Dixie I don't want them to see 

What they're doing to my Dixie God bless Robert E Lee 

Sherman's troups burned Atlanta and the flames lit up the sky 

And those of us who survived it are watchin' my Dixie die 

But today at Appamattox General Lee sat down 

And surrended to the yankees and Ulysees S Grant 

So look away look away Dixie... 

I won't ever stop loving you my Dixie till they put me in the ground 

And the last words they probably hear from me are God bless Robert E Lee