Standard (EADGBE)

Ridin' on the City of New Orleans

Illinois Central Monday mornin' rail

There's 15 cars, and 15 restless riders

3 conductors and 25 sacks of mail

All along a southbound oddyssey, and the train pulls out of Kankakee

And rolls along past the houses, farms and fields

Passin' trains that have no name, and freightyards full of old black men

The graveyards of the rusted automobiles

Chorus

Good mornin' America, how are you?

 Sayin' 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 500 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 that bottle.

Hear the wheels rumblin' ‘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 are rockin’ to the gentle beat

And the rhythm of the rails is all they feel.

Chorus

Good mornin' America, how are you?

 Sayin' 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 500 miles when the day is done.

Nighttime on the City of New Orleans.

Changin’ cars in Memphis, Tennessee

Half way home, and we'll be there by mornin'

 Through the Mississippi darkness rollin’ 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 songs again the passengers will please refrain

 This train has got the disappearin’ railroad blues

Chorus

Good mornin' America, how are you?

 Sayin' 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 500 miles when the day is done.