About the song
Willie Nelson’s “City of New Orleans”: A Song of Trains, Travel, and the American South
“City of New Orleans” is a country folk song written by Steve Goodman and first recorded for his 1971 album of the same name. The song describes a train ride from Chicago to New Orleans on the Illinois Central Railroad’s City of New Orleans in bittersweet and nostalgic terms.
The song has been covered by many artists, including Arlo Guthrie, Johnny Cash, and Joan Baez, but it is Willie Nelson’s version that is best known. Nelson’s recording was released in 1984 and reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. It also won a Grammy Award for Best Country Song in 1985.
Nelson’s version of “City of New Orleans” is a slow, mournful ballad that captures the beauty and sadness of the American South. The song’s lyrics are full of vivid imagery, from the “steel rails” of the train to the “crescent moon” shining over the city of New Orleans.
The song’s narrator is a traveling man who has seen a lot of the world, but he is still drawn to the city of New Orleans. He sings about the city’s unique culture and history, as well as its beauty and charm.
The song’s message is one of hope and resilience. The narrator knows that the city of New Orleans has been through a lot, but he believes that it will always come back stronger. The song is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for a better future.
“City of New Orleans” is a classic American song that has been enjoyed by generations of listeners. It is a song about trains, travel, and the American South, but it is also a song about hope and resilience. Nelson’s version of the song is a masterpiece that captures the beauty and sadness of the human experience.
Some additional information about the song:
- The song was inspired by Goodman’s own experiences riding the City of New Orleans train.
- The song has been used in several films and television shows, including “The Big Easy” and “The Simpsons.”
- The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2009.
Video
Lyrics
“City Of New Orleans”
Ridin’ 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 pulls out of Kankakee
And rolls along past houses farms and fields
Passing trains that have no name and freight yards full of old black men
And the graveyards of the rusted automobilesGood 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 doneDealin’ cards 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
And feel the wheels rumbling ‘neath the floor
And the sons of Pullman porters and the sons of engineers
Ride their fathers’ magic carpet made of steel
Mothers with their babes asleep rockin’ to the gentle beat
And the rhythm of the rails is all they feelGood 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 doneNight time on the City of New Orleans changing cars in Memphis Tennessee
Halfway home we’ll be there by morning
Through the Mississippi darkness rolling down to the sea
And 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 bluesGood 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