City of New Orleans

The Highwaymen, Willie Nelson

About City of New Orleans

"City of New Orleans" is a country folk song written by Steve Goodman (and first recorded for Goodman's self-titled 1971 album), describing a train ride from Chicago to New Orleans on the Illinois Central Railroad's City of New Orleans in bittersweet and nostalgic terms. Goodman got the idea while traveling on the Illinois Central line for a visit to his wife's family. The song has been recorded by numerous artists both in the US and Europe, including two major hit versions: first by Arlo Guthrie in 1972, and later by Willie Nelson in 1984. An article in the September 2017 issue of Trains magazine chronicles the writing and recording of the song and includes a biographical sketch of Steve Goodman.  


Year:
2000
4:53
32 
#1

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Riding on the city of New Orleans
Illinois Central, Monday morning rail
Fifteen cars and fifteen restless riders
Three conductors and twenty-five sacks of mail

All along the southbound odyssey
The train pulled out at Kankakee
And rolls along past houses, farms and fields
Passin' trains that have no names
And freight yards full of old black men
And the graveyards of the rusted automobiles

Good morning, America
How are you?
Say don't you know me? I'm your native son
I'm the train they call the city of New Orleans
And I'll be gone five hundred miles when the day is done

Dealin' card games with the old men in the club car
Penny a point ain't no one keepin' score
Pass the paper bag that holds the bottle
Feel the wheels rumblin' 'neath the floor

And the sons of Pullman Porters
And the sons of engineers
Ride their father's magic carpet made of steel
Mothers with their babes asleep
Are rockin' to the gentle beat
And the rhythm of the rail is all they feel

Good morning, America
How are you?
Say don't you know me? I'm your native son
I'm the train they call the city of New Orleans
I'll be gone five hundred miles when the day is done

Nighttime on the city of New Orleans
Changing cars in Memphis, Tennessee
Half way home, we'll be there by morning
Through the Mississippi darkness
Rolling down to the sea

But all the towns and people seem
To fade into a bad dream
And the steel rails still ain't heard the news
The conductor sings his songs again
The passengers will please refrain
This train has got the disappearing railroad blues

Good morning, America
How are you?
Say don't you know me? I'm your native son
I'm the train they call the city of New Orleans
I'll be gone five hundred miles when the day is done

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Willie Nelson

Willie Hugh Nelson (pronounced /wɪli nɛlsən /; born April 30, 1933) is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie (1973), combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger (1975) and Stardust (1978), made Nelson one of the most recognized artists in country music. He was one of the main figures of outlaw country, a subgenre of country music that developed at the end of the 1960s as a reaction to the conservative restrictions of the Nashville sound. Nelson has acted in over 30 films, co-authored several books, and has been involved in activism for the use of biofuels and the legalization of marijuana. more »

17 fans

Written by: Steve Goodman

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


13 facts about this song

Origin and Composition
"City of New Orleans" is a folk song written by Steve Goodman, detailing a train ride from Chicago to New Orleans on the Illinois Central Railroad's City of New Orleans line.
Arlo Guthrie's Cover
Arlo Guthrie, the son of folk music icon Woodie Guthrie, is most famous for performing this song. He recorded his cover in 1972, which helped the track become well-known nationwide.
Chart Performance
Guthrie's rendition of "City of New Orleans" peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Steve Goodman's Performance
Steve Goodman also recorded the song for his self-titled 1971 album. His rendition didn't garner much recognition at the time until Guthrie's rendition started climbing the charts.
Song Inspiration
Steve Goodman got the inspiration for the song from a train ride he took with his wife to visit her grandmother. The couple boarded the Illinois Central line in 1970, which inspired Goodman to write about the people they met and the scenes they saw along the way.
Grammy Awards
Steve Goodman won a posthumous Grammy Award for Best Country Song in 1985 for Willie Nelson's version of "City of New Orleans".
Willie Nelson's Cover
Willie Nelson covered the song for his 1984 album "City of New Orleans". Nelson's rendition reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and also made it to number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Charitable Purpose
Goodman's widow, Nancy, has used the song's copyright royalties to fund the Steve Goodman Leukemia Research Foundation, providing a charitable legacy long after his 1984 death from leukemia.
Cultural Influence
The song has been hailed for its rich depiction of American railroad travel. It has been covered dozens of times in a variety of languages, further proving its cultural significance.
Song Writing
The song is renowned for its vivid imagery and catchy melody, which have helped it endure in popular culture for several decades.
Emotional Connection
Many listeners have a deep emotional connection to the song because it reminds them of the romantic era of cross-country train travel.
President's Fondness
The song was reportedly one of the favorites of former U.S. president Jimmy Carter, who became friends with Goodman during his presidency.
Other Famous Covers
Besides Arlo Guthrie and Willie Nelson, other artists including Johnny Cash, John Denver, and Judy Collins have also covered "City of New Orleans". The collective performances of the song by varied artists across different genres can be credited for its enduring popularity.

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