“Scroll down to the end of the article to listen to music.”
Introduction
There’s something magical about trains—something that speaks to the wanderer in all of us. They capture the spirit of adventure, the longing for freedom, and the bittersweet feeling of watching landscapes blur by as life moves forward. “City of New Orleans” is a song that embodies all these emotions and more, brought to life by The Highwaymen’s iconic voices. Originally penned by Steve Goodman, the song became a beloved classic when it was performed by Arlo Guthrie and later covered by the Highwaymen, the ultimate country supergroup featuring Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson. Each of these legends, with their distinct voices and larger-than-life personas, added a unique layer of depth to the song’s story.
A Journey Through America’s Heartland
“City of New Orleans” isn’t just a song—it’s a journey. From the first strum of the guitar, it pulls you in, taking you aboard the famous Illinois Central train line that once ran from Chicago to New Orleans. But more than that, it takes you through the heart and soul of the country, touching on themes of nostalgia, loss, and the passage of time. There’s a haunting beauty in its melody and lyrics—a sense of both pride and melancholy as it chronicles a way of life that’s slowly fading away.
Capturing the Everyday Hero
What makes the Highwaymen’s version of “City of New Orleans” so compelling is the way they inject the song with a deep sense of authenticity. Each of these country music titans had a natural ability to connect with the working-class spirit, and their rendition reflects that connection. As the song tells the tale of the train’s journey through America’s Midwest and South, it’s not just describing a route—it’s painting a picture of the people who built, rode, and relied on the railroad. You can almost see the faces of the conductor, the passengers, and the sleeping families as the train chugs along its track.
The Train as a Metaphor for Time
At its core, “City of New Orleans” is more than just a train song—it’s a poignant metaphor for the passage of time. The train, once a symbol of progress and connectivity, becomes a reminder of how quickly things change. It speaks to the disappearance of the golden age of railroads and, by extension, the fading of an entire era of American life. The lines “Good morning America, how are you?” feel like a wistful check-in with a country that’s both proud and weary, a place where traditions are cherished even as they slip further into memory.
A Song for the Road
Listening to “City of New Orleans” by The Highwaymen is like sitting by a campfire, sharing stories of the past with old friends. There’s something undeniably comforting in its rhythm, like the steady clack of train wheels on steel tracks. And when the chorus swells with voices singing in unison, it feels like a collective sigh, a longing for simpler times. It’s a song that speaks to anyone who’s ever felt the pull of the road, the ache of nostalgia, or the fleeting beauty of a moment in time.
Video
Lyrics
Ridin’ on the City of New Orleans
Illinois Central, Monday mornin’ rail
15 cars and 15 restless riders
Three conductors, 25 sacks of mail
All along the southbound odyssey the train pulls out of Kankakee
Rolls along past houses, farms & fields
Passin’ graves that have no name, freight yards full of old black men
And the graveyards of rusted automobiles
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
Dealin’ 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 grumblin’ neath the floor
And the sons of Pullman porters & 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 feel
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
Night time on the City of New Orleans
Changin’ cars in Memphis, Tennessee
Halfway home, we’ll be there by mornin’
Through the Mississippi darkness rollin’ down to the sea
But all the towns & people seem to fade into a bad dream
And the steel rail still ain’t heard the news
The conductor sings his song again
“The passengers will please refrain,
This train has got the disappearin’ railroad blues
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