R idin' on the City of New Orlean s
I llinois Central M onday mornin' rail
T here's 15 cars a nd 15 restless r iders
3 conductors and 25 sacks of mai l
A ll along a southbound oddyssey a nd the train pulls out of Kankakee
A nd rolls along past the houses farms and f ields
P assin' towns that have no name a nd freightyards full of old grey men
T he graveyards of th e rusted automobile s
S ingin' good mornin' Am erica how are yo u?
Sayin' d on't you know me? I'm your native son
I'm th e train the y cal l the City of New Orleans
I'll be gone 50 0 mile s when the day is done .
I was playin' cards w ith the old men in the club ca r.
P enny a point ai n?t no one keepin' sco re
P ass the paper ba g that holds that bott le.
I can hear the wheels r umblin' thru the f loor.
A nd the sons of Pullman Porters a nd the sons of engineers
R ide their father's magic carpet made of st eel
A nd their days are full of restless a nd their dreams are full of mem'ries
A nd the echos of the f reight train whistle?s c lear
S ingin' good mornin' Am erica how are yo u?
Sayin' d on't you know me? I'm your native son
I'm th e train the y cal l the City of New Orleans
I'll be gone 50 0 mile s when the day is done .
A nd its twilight on the City of New O rleans.
T alk about your po cket full of friend s
H alf way home and we'l l be there by mo rnin'
W ith no tomorrow w aiting ?round the b end
S ingin' good night' Ame rica how are you ?
Sayin' d on't you know me? I'm your native son
I'm th e train the y cal l the City of New Orleans
I'll be gone 50 0 mile s when the day is done .
S ingin' good mornin' Am erica how are yo u?
Sayin' d on't you know me? I'm your native son
I'm th e train the y cal l the City of New Orleans
I'll be gone 50 0 mile s when the day is done .
