Good mornin' America,
how are you?
"The City of New Orleans,"
"Probably the most famous song written by the late Chicago singer and composer Steve Goodman, was a popular hit in 1972 after being recorded by folk singer Arlo Guthrie. Steve Goodman, then unknown, approached Arlo after a concert and asked to play him some songs that Arlo might like to record. Arlo apparently used to get this type of request all the time from all sorts of people. Arlo replied, "I tell you what. Buy me a beer and I'll listen for as long as that beer lasts." Goodman bought him the beer and played him "City." Arlo was blown away by the song and, as we all know, had a big hit with it. He now says that the beer that Goodman bought him was the best beer he ever drank!"
Here is 30 seconds of it :http://music.walmart.com/m/000/99/92/37/95/12/0009992379512.01.01.002.mp3
Ridin' on the City of New Orleans
Illinois Central, Monday mornin' rail
15 cars & 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 morning 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 five hundred miles when the day is done.
[Logo]
Night time on the City of New Orleans
Changin' cars in Memphis, Tennessee
Halfway home, we'll be there by mornin'
Thru the Mississippi darkness rollin' down to the sea
But all the towns and 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 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 five hundred miles when the day is done. |
