By Dave Andrusko
A grateful tip of the hat to Evita Duffy of The Federalist for bringing “Dixie Darlin” to my attention. “This Country Song Shines A Rare Spotlight On The Heartbreak Abortion Causes Fathers” is the headline, “Wilder Blue’s song ‘Dixie Darlin’’ is a beautiful ballad that gives a rare insight into the often-overlooked father’s perspective on abortion” the subhead.
In fact, the song lives up to the praise she lavishes on it. Men and abortion are, unfortunately, three words not often put together. Which is a shame. There really are a lot of guys who don’t attempt to coerce a woman into a more-or-less unwanted abortion. But we don’t hear about them. Songs like this are a small attempt to fill that void.
The narrative for “Dixie Darlin” revolves around a woman and the man who loves her. However, she is a free spirit whose wanderlust makes a commitment out of the question. Indeed, according to Wilder Blue’s main vocalist, Zane Williams, who acts as the song’s narrator and lead singer
Dixie says that horses know her better than people do
Well I’ve known Dixie seven years and I’d have to say it’s true
Once my sweetheart, now the sweetheart of the rodeo
She heard the highway callin’ with the meltin’ of the snow
Early on he sings a pre-chorus refrain repeated in the lyrics:
I tried…
Yes I tried… to change her mind
When her dad died, Dixie came to him and “asked if I would hold her and I held her all that week.” But then she saddles up and is off again.
And then the pre-chorus
I tried…
Yes I tried… to change her mind
Followed by the mournful chorus
Dixie darlin’, did you find what you were after
A greener pasture
A wilder blue…
When I think about the things that really matter
I always wish that I had mattered more to you
Then Dixie calls him to inform him she is “two weeks late and she knew it must be mine.” His response is
I wanted to raise a family, right here in this little town
but
In the end she wasn’t ready to have a kid and settle down.
The ballad ends once again with the pre-chorus
I tried…
Yes I tried… to change her mind
Followed by the chorus
Dixie Darlin’, did you find what you were after
A greener pasture
A wilder blue…
When I think about the things that really matter
I always wish that I had mattered more to you
Evita Duffy writes, “There’s a sense of hopelessness in the upbeat nature of the song’s chorus. Dixie’s lover, like many other fathers, was completely powerless in his partner’s decision to kill their child. All he could do was helplessly sing that he hopes Dixie finds what she’s been after.”
For surely he didn’t.