Arlo Guthrie - City of New Orleans

I am black I had a sister that liked country western songs. when I was a teen this song came out my sister which was a older teen used to sing this song to me and dance this little country dance after a while she had me singing the song I never could do the dance but she convinced me how great the song the city of New Orleans is. She is no longer on this t plain but iI still see her singing and dancing her little made up country dance and it always makes me smile. Thank u Arlo gutherie

The 'City of New Orleans' should be America's National Folk Song.

I'm a heavy metal drummer but this is what makes me cry.

Written by Steve Goodman from Chicago, who wrote many great songs and often performed with John Prine. Steve was a wonderful soul and performer. Arlo changed a couple of words and gave it a memorable arrangement and the song became a classic piece of American folklore that the world can relate to. Written by Steve in 1970, Arlo Guthrie recorded it in 1972. Steve died of leukemia on September 20, 1984 at age 36. He is worth listening to. Any version of this song is good. It is a testament to good songs...they stand the test of time.

When I was 20 this song touched me, but I did not know why; now that I am 70, I know.

I love the fact that this song really feels like riding a train. The rhythm is perfect.

Mississippi boy here, in 1984 I got lost as an exchange student in the mountains of Austria, (missed a train), finally got in touch with the family I was staying with, the father finally made to me after several hours, while riding back to the hotel that he owned this song came on the car radio, he turned it up, that 19 year old me right then and there was changed forever in ways I’ll never be able to explain, thx Arlo and Steve!

This makes me nostalgic for an era I never experienced.

This song means a lot to me. I was going through a rough stretch. I didn't know what was going to happen in the future. I was not where I should have been at that stage of my life. One morning as I was waking up, this song began on my clock radio. There was something about it that told me things were going to be okay. I still remember that morning over 30 years ago. And yes, things worked out just fine.

My Grandpa Jim is dying and his memory is so far gone he no longer recognizes my voice on the phone. But the image if him and grandma Dee singing along to this while driving to Soap Lake WA in their old red Chevy will be forever etched into my memory; A bright and sunny day when the dragonflies were everywhere. No matter what this song will forever remind me of him

Spoke to my 87 year old father today and he told me this was his favorite song. Listening now I am just in tears.

One of the best folk songs ever.

My Dad was a signal maintainer on the Great Northern. He worked the Northern Route through Libby, Havre, Whitefish and Summit back in the 40s when the locomotives were still steam. Grandpa was a brakeman and oiler at the yard in Trenton ND.

I'm 60 now but remember an English class in the mid 70's where a very young teacher went over this song line by line. She thought the song was so wll written she didn't want us to miss out on its nuances.

I took the “City of New Orleans” out of Chicago and never realized I was on it until I stopped at Jackson Mississippi! That was a while!! back! long ago! Loved it! wonderful! ride..

I live in England and have not experienced the magic of this for real but it gives me a real insight not only into the vastness of the US but also look back in time to the 'good old days' that you all, and Arlo, speak of. A beautiful song.

Stunningly beautiful lyrics. God bless Steve Goodman.

My parents were born and raised in NOLA and this was one of my mom’s favorite songs. Now that they’re gone, this song is so bittersweet.

I'm 71 from Louisiana. Love this song.

My dad sang this to me as a lullaby. Sometimes I just have to come back and listen to it and remember the pictures that played in my head as a little kid drifting off to sleep.