City Of New Orleans lyrics by Willie Nelson, 3 meanings. City Of New Orleans explained, official 2024 song lyrics | LyricsMode.com
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Willie Nelson – City Of New Orleans lyrics
Ridin' on the City of New Orleans
Illinois Central, Monday mornin' rail
Fifteen cars and fifteen restless riders
Three conductors and twenty-five sacks of mail
All along the south-bound odyssey
The train pulls 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 grave-yards 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' 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
Feel the wheels grumblin' '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, rockin' to the gentle beat
And the rhythm of the rails 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

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 rails still ain't heard the news
The conductor sings his songs again
The passengers will please refrain
This train has got the disappearin' railroad blues
.

Goodnight 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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Songwriters: Steve Goodman
City Of New Orleans lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

City Of New Orleans meanings

  • U
    + 5
    Unregistered
    The real "railroad", I mean the "long haul railroad for passengers', is passing into the american history books. The cabooses are long gone. The dispatching towers are gone, given way to "bunkers" filled with "controllers" like the union pacific's in omaha. The original seven "majors" have combined to make mega railroad companies. This is a nostalgic song of a wonderful time in history, passenger cars with mixed freignt on their way to wherever - and passing towns that have no name, trainyards filled with old black men, and the graveyards of the rusted automobiles. Arlo guthrie loved them. Many have sung the song. And I guess, I love them too.
    Add your reply
  • b
    + 2
    Burnttwigpardonme
    I feel like trains used to be a type of, almost a culture. People's lives were changed and shapes by the tracks and now that cars and busses and airplanes are more common there are less trains. This culture, just as others and their languages, will fade, melt, or disappear into the mixed 'melting pot ' of the world. I feel like this is telling how we used to act and listen on the train. How the soft movement lulls the little ones asleep, as well as all others.
    Add your reply
  • n
    + 2
    NOLA
    I grew up in south Louisiana with hurricanes so, when Katrina was coming in, my family and friends were deciding whether to stay or go. Just a normal day. Then the levee broke. We had been asking the Federal Government for help with repairing/improving the levees all my life but the South is still the child that rebelled and is only tolerated at occasional family gatherings. I had moved to Europe and watched Bush fly over, glance at the people on the rooftops, and fly away to take care of the oil. I was angry but I didn't cry! Not until I heard this song coming through the window. Then I wailed! I still weep for nola and all those friends that might have been. And then came Rita, which no one remembers, and that's when I lost family. But thank you, Arlo and Willie, for coming after to help and for giving me the freedom to cry.
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    • U
      + 5
      Unregistered
      The real "railroad", I mean the "long haul railroad for passengers', is passing into the american... Read more →
    • b
      + 2
      Burnttwigpardonme
      I feel like trains used to be a type of, almost a culture. People's lives were changed and shapes... Read more →

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