[Verse]
D A D
Ridin' on the City of New Orleans
Bm G D
Illinois Central Monday mornin' rail
D A D
There's 15 cars, and 15 restless riders
Bm A D
3 conductors and 25 sacks of mail
Bm F#m
All along a southbound oddyssey, and the train pulls out of Kankakee
A E
And rolls along past the houses, farms and fields
Bm F#m
Passin' trains that have no name, and freightyards full of old black men
A A7 D
The graveyards of the rusted automobiles
[Chorus]
G A7 D
Good mornin' America, how are you?
Bm G D A7
Sayin' don't you know me?, I'm your native son
D A Bm A E7
I'm the train they call the City of New Orleans
C G A D
I'll be gone 500 miles when the day is done.
[Verse]
D A D
Dealin’ card games with the old men in the club car.
Bm G D
Penny a point, ain’t no one keepin' score
D A D
Pass the paper bag that holds that bottle.
Bm A D
Hear the wheels rumblin' ‘neath the floor.
Bm F#m
And the sons of Pullman Porters, and the sons of engineers
A E
Ride their father's magic carpet made of steel
Bm F#m
Mothers with their babes asleep are rockin’ to the gentle beat
A A7 D
And the rhythm of the rails is all they feel.
[Chorus]
G A7 D
Good mornin' America, how are you?
Bm G D A7
Sayin' don't you know me?, I'm your native son
D A Bm A E7
I'm the train they call the City of New Orleans
C G A D
I'll be gone 500 miles when the day is done.
[Verse]
D A D
Nighttime on the City of New Orleans.
Bm G D
Changin’ cars in Memphis, Tennessee
D A D
Half way home, and we'll be there by mornin'
Bm A D
Through the Mississippi darkness rollin’ down to the sea.
Bm F#m
And all the towns and people seem to fade into a bad dream
A E
And the steel rails still ain't heard the news
Bm F#m
The conductor sings his songs again the passengers will please refrain
A A7 D
This train has got the disappearin’ railroad blues
[Chorus]
G A7 D
Good mornin' America, how are you?
Bm G D A7
Sayin' don't you know me?, I'm your native son
D A Bm A E7
I'm the train they call the City of New Orleans
C G A D
I'll be gone 500 miles when the day is done.