How Steve Goodman Crafted City Of New Orleans And Its Roots
City of New Orleans Origin Story
Steve Goodman wrote the folk classic "City of New Orleans" in early 1970 during a train ride from Chicago to southern Illinois on the real Illinois Central City of New Orleans train, capturing its fading glory in vivid, nostalgic lyrics after jotting notes on passing scenery while his wife Nancy slept. This origin directly ties to the song's evocative imagery of rural America, with Goodman blending direct observations into verses that mourned the decline of passenger rail service amid Amtrak's looming changes. By February 1970, shortly after his marriage, Goodman had composed the bulk of the track, which he refined upon hearing rumors of the train's discontinuation.
Historical Train Context
The actual City of New Orleans train, operated by Illinois Central since 1947, covered 926 miles from Chicago to New Orleans in about 19 hours, symbolizing mid-20th-century rail travel's slow, scenic charm before automotive and air dominance reduced ridership by 85% between 1945 and 1970. Goodman's 1970 journey stopped short in Mattoon, Illinois, yet he extended lyrics imaginatively to New Orleans, fabricating the third verse since "I couldn't write a song about a train that went 900 miles... and stop in Mattoon because I was getting off," as he later recounted. This blend of fact and artistry propelled the song's authenticity, with the train's name restored in 1981 after a decade as the less glamorous "Illini Express."
Steve Goodman's Life and Inspiration
Born July 25, 1948, in Chicago, Steve Goodman penned the song amid personal turmoil, having been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 1969 at age 21, a battle he fought for 15 years until his death on September 20, 1984, at age 36. The track emerged from a family visit to Nancy's 90-something grandmother in a southern Illinois retirement home, where Goodman, inspired by the monotonous yet poignant landscape, scribbled lyrics in 45 minutes: "I looked out of the window and wrote down everything I saw," he told interviewer John Tobler in 1976. Despite his illness, Goodman's optimistic spirit infused the chorus-"Good morning America, how are ya?"-echoing his vital outlook.
- Marriage to Nancy in February 1970 sparked the fateful train trip.
- Leukemia diagnosis in 1969; remission for 13 years via chemotherapy.
- Song as one of his first compositions, around his fifth or sixth ever written.
- Performed it first at Chicago's Quiet Knight club for Arlo Guthrie over a beer.
- Recorded on his self-titled 1971 debut album for Buddah Records.
Key Lyrics Breakdown
Goodman's lyrics meticulously log the journey: "Riding on the City of New Orleans / Illinois Central Monday morning rail / There are fifteen cars and fifteen restless riders," opening with precise details from his notepad. Verses paint freight yards, rusted autos, and nameless towns, culminating in "nineteen hundred graves" for forgotten rail lines, a metaphor amplifying the era's 45% drop in U.S. passenger trains from 1960-1971. The fabricated Deep South extension added poetic reach, turning personal notes into a universal elegy.
"We're all out on a southbound odyssey... Passin' towns that have no name, freight yards full of old black men / And the graveyards of rusted automobiles." - Steve Goodman, capturing raw Americana.
Recording and Chart History
Goodman debuted "City of New Orleans" on his 1971 album, but Arlo Guthrie's 1972 cover on Hobo's Lullaby rocketed it to No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100, selling over 1 million copies amid folk revival fervor. Guthrie, son of Woody Guthrie, heard it live at the Quiet Knight after Goodman bought him a beer, instantly adding it to his setlist and amplifying its reach to 5 million radio plays by 1975. Willie Nelson's 1984 version topped Billboard Country charts for two weeks, earning Goodman a posthumous Grammy for Best Country Song at the 27th Grammys, with 4 million units sold lifetime across covers.
| Artist | Year | Album | Peak Chart | Sales/Streams (Est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Goodman | 1971 | Steve Goodman | N/A | 50,000 units |
| Arlo Guthrie | 1972 | Hobo's Lullaby | No. 18 Hot 100 | 1M+ copies |
| Willie Nelson | 1984 | City of New Orleans | No. 1 Country (2 wks) | 4M total series |
| John Denver | 1971 | Aerie | N/A | 500,000 |
- Goodman records original in 1971; minimal commercial traction initially.
- Guthrie covers in 1972, hits Top 20 pop, introduces to mass audience. 3. Nelson's 1984 hit revives it, wins Goodman Grammy posthumously.
- Over 20 major covers by 1985, including Johnny Cash, Judy Collins.
- Amtrak discontinues daytime City of New Orleans in 1971; night version persists.
Cultural Impact and Legacy
"City of New Orleans" influenced ABC's Good Morning America premiere in 1975, borrowing its chorus amid 10 million weekly viewers, while inspiring 1970s rail advocacy that saved routes amid 50% national service cuts. Covered by 30+ artists including Chet Atkins and Joe Dassin by 1985, it amassed 50 million streams on Spotify by 2026, cementing Goodman's status despite only 11 albums in his lifetime. The song's endurance mirrors Goodman's leukemia fight-diagnosed pre-writing, he performed it until weeks before death, embodying resilience.
- Inspired TV show naming; cultural catchphrase status.
- Posthumous Grammy boosted folk-country crossover.
- Rail preservation: Song cited in 1971 Amtrak hearings.
- Goodman's 1984 death same year as Nelson's hit.
Goodman's masterpiece, born from a single ride, endures as rail poetry, with Nelson's version alone generating $2 million in royalties by 1990 for his estate. Its stats-over 100 million lifetime airplays-underscore a songwriter's window-scribbled notes reshaping American music.
Helpful tips and tricks for How Steve Goodman Crafted City Of New Orleans And Its Roots
Who Wrote City of New Orleans?
Steve Goodman solely authored the song in 1970, with no co-writers; his widow received royalties post-1984, funding leukemia research per his wishes.
Is the Train Still Running?
Yes, Amtrak's City of New Orleans operates daily as an overnight service from Chicago to New Orleans, averaging 1,200 passengers weekly in 2025 despite a 20% ridership dip post-COVID.
Why Did Goodman Write It?
Goodman crafted it as "straight reportage" from his train window notes, spurred by news of the route's potential axing, evolving into an elegy for vanishing rail culture.
Full Lyrics Origin Details?
Lyrics sprang from real sights-Kankakee departure, Mattoon farms-but extended fictionally southward; full text first appeared on Goodman's 1971 album liner notes.
How Did Arlo Guthrie Get Involved?
Goodman played it for Arlo Guthrie at Chicago's Quiet Knight in 1971; after one beer, Guthrie recorded it, turning obscurity into a hit.
Did the Song Save the Train?
Indirectly yes-publicity from Guthrie/Nelson versions pressured Amtrak to retain a City of New Orleans iteration, running 50+ years post-song.