The City of New Orleans
The Train; not the city.
It takes a place like New Orleans to produce a good story like this.
Riding on this train route will bring out the richness of history.
The route alone,... New Orleans to Chicago, two great cities for the destination terminus. Out of The South, up through Missisippii, via the delta into the Mississippii valley, into the heart of midwest farmland.
Historic cities and small towns all along the route; a really great view and feel of America.
This train holds a special place in my heart. After getting out of the Marine Corps in '73, was helping a buddy driving north.
Up early to get a brake drum seal, was in downtown Kankakee, waiting in a parking lot next to the train station-- neat old building-- when the train came in.
Had to go see this and walked over; It was The City of New Orleans train.
It wasn't in the station but a few minutes. Some things you never forget. After the foot traffic -dash- thinned, black conductor yelled "Board !" ... a minute later two blasts on the train horn, and I watched The City of New Orleans pull out from Kankakee, Illinois.
No wonder that train could summon writing a great song / story.
I've ridden other trains -- see other Amtrak posts-- http://stonebeartracks.blogspot.com/2010/12/they-are-sweating-thermopolis-wy-jun-20.html
and still have riding The City of New Orleans on the "to do" list.
The City of New Orleans by Steve Goodman
Riding 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 at Kankakee
Rolls along past houses, farms and fields.
Passin' trains that have no names,
Freight yards full of old black men
And the graveyards of the rusted automobiles.
CHORUS: 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.
Dealin' card games 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 rumblin' 'neath the floor.
And the sons of pullman porters
And the sons of engineers
Ride their father's magic carpets made of steel.
Mothers with their babes asleep,
Are rockin' to the gentle beat
And the rhythm of the rails is all they feel.
CHORUS: 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.
Nighttime on The City of New Orleans,
Changing cars in Memphis, Tennessee.
Half way 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 song again,
The passengers will please refrain
This train's got the disappearing 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.
©1970, 1971 EMI U Catalogue, Inc and Turnpike Tom Music (ASCAP)
and no one sings it better than The Highwaymen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSSPb9hnwM4
or next best ... Ron.. at Thermopolis, Wyoming Living waters. Go to the post " Thermopolis, Wyoming " .
I'm in the Hot Springs pool at Thermopolis, wyoming, ... litterally wading around in the pool.
Thought this would be bush league , like bad dinner theather.. and then Ron puts on a great show.
I'm wading around in the Hot Springs pool while Ron sings Hank Williams songs, some gospel roots songs, Edmond Fitzgerald,... Johnny Cash songs.... some really good stuff...
and Ron is doing really good. And then sings "Good Morning, America" (The City of New Orleans) song. ... A very powerful song in a unique place. I'm glad I got to see this.
This IS a great country!
ITW 45
The City of New Orleans
The Train; not the city.
It takes a place like New Orleans to produce a good story like this.
Riding on this train route will bring out the richness of history.
The route alone,... New Orleans to Chicago, two great cities for the destination terminus. Out of The South, up through Missisippii, via the delta into the Mississippii valley, into the heart of midwest farmland.
Historic cities and small towns all along the route; a really great view and feel of America.
This train holds a special place in my heart. After getting out of the Marine Corps in '73, was helping a buddy driving north.
Up early to get a brake drum seal, was in downtown Kankakee, waiting in a parking lot next to the train station-- neat old building-- when the train came in.
Had to go see this and walked over; It was The City of New Orleans train.
It wasn't in the station but a few minutes. Some things you never forget. After the foot traffic -dash- thinned, black conductor yelled "Board !" ... a minute later two blasts on the train horn, and I watched The City of New Orleans pull out from Kankakee, Illinois.
No wonder that train could summon writing a great song / story.
I've ridden other trains -- see other Amtrak posts-- http://stonebeartracks.blogspot.com/2010/12/they-are-sweating-thermopolis-wy-jun-20.html
and still have riding The City of New Orleans on the "to do" list.
The City of New Orleans by Steve Goodman
Riding 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 at Kankakee
Rolls along past houses, farms and fields.
Passin' trains that have no names,
Freight yards full of old black men
And the graveyards of the rusted automobiles.
CHORUS: 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.
Dealin' card games 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 rumblin' 'neath the floor.
And the sons of pullman porters
And the sons of engineers
Ride their father's magic carpets made of steel.
Mothers with their babes asleep,
Are rockin' to the gentle beat
And the rhythm of the rails is all they feel.
CHORUS: 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.
Nighttime on The City of New Orleans,
Changing cars in Memphis, Tennessee.
Half way 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 song again,
The passengers will please refrain
This train's got the disappearing 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.
©1970, 1971 EMI U Catalogue, Inc and Turnpike Tom Music (ASCAP)
and no one sings it better than The Highwaymen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSSPb9hnwM4
or the next best, Ron at Thermopolis, Wyoming Living waters. Go to the post " Thermopolis, Wyoming " .
I'm in the Hot Springs pool at Thermopolis, wyoming, ... wading around in the pool.
Thought this would be bush league , like bad dinner theather.. and then Ron puts on a great show.
I'm wading around in the Hot Springs pool while Ron sings Hank Williams songs, some gospel roots songs, Edmond Fitzgerald,... Johnny Cash songs.... some really good stuff...
and Ron is doing really good. And then sings "Good Morning, America" (The City of New Orleans) song. ... A very powerful song in a unique place. I'm glad I got to see this.
This IS a great country!
