10. City of New Orleans

Lyrics & music: Steve Goodman
© Jurisdad Music

Lead vocals & guitar: Mike Agranoff
Bass & harmony vocals: Stuart Markus
Egg & harmony vocals: Hillary Foxsong
Lead guitar & harmony vocals: Gerry McKeveny

Best damn train song ever written! The rarely heard bridge was added by John Denver, and slightly revised by me.

1.
Ridin, on the City of New Orleans
Illinois Central, Monday morning rail.
Sixteen cars and sixteen restless riders.
Three conductors, twenty-five sacks of mail.
And we're off on the southbound oddessy as the train pulls out from Kankakee.
Rolls along past houses, farms, and fields.
Passing towns that have no name, and frieght yards full of old black men
And the graveyards of rusted automobiles.

Ch
Good mornin', America, how are you?
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 500 miles when the day is done.

2.
Dealin' card games with the old man 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 a-rumblin' 'neath the floor.
And the sons of Pullman porters and the sons of engineers
Ride their fathers' magic carpet made of steam.
Mothers with their babes asleep rockin' to the gentle beat,
And the rhythm of the rails is all they dream.

Ch
Good mornin', America, how are you?
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 500 miles when the day is done.

Bridge
But it's twilight on the City of New Orleans.
Talk about your pocket full of friends.
Maybe there won't be another morning'
And no tomorrow waitin' round the bend.

Ch
Singin' good night America, I love you.
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 500 miles when the day is done.

3.
Night time on the City of New Orleans
Changin' cars in Memphis, Tennessee.
Halfway home, and we'll be there by mornin'
Through the Mississippi darkness, rollin' 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 song again.
"The passengers will please refrain..."
This train's got the Disappearing Railroad Blues.

Ch
Good night, America, how are you
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 500 miles when the day is done.

Ch
Good mornin', America, how are you?
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 500 miles when the day is done.