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City of New Orleans (song)

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"City of New Orleans"
Side A of the original US single
Single by Steve Goodman
from the album Steve Goodman
B-side"Would You Like to Learn to Dance?"
Written1970
ReleasedJanuary 1972
Recorded1971
StudioQuadrafonic, Nashville, TN
GenreCountry folk[1]
Length3:52
LabelBuddah
SongwriterSteve Goodman
ProducersKris Kristofferson, Norbert Putnam, Paul Anka (exec.)
Steve Goodman singles chronology
"City of New Orleans"
(1972)		 "Election Year Rag"
(1972)
Audio
"City of New Orleans" (1999 remaster) on YouTube

"City of New Orleans" is a country folk song written by Steve Goodman (and first recorded for Goodman's self-titled 1971 album), describing a train ride from Chicago to New Orleans on the Illinois Central Railroad's City of New Orleans in bittersweet and nostalgic terms.

Goodman got the idea while traveling on the Illinois Central line for a visit to his wife's family. The song has been recorded by numerous artists in the United States, including two major hit versions: first by Arlo Guthrie in 1972, and later by Willie Nelson in 1984. Goodman posthumously won the songwriting Grammy Award for Nelson's version. In Europe, his melody has most often been used with original foreign language lyrics, rather than translations of Goodman's lyrics.

An article in the September 2017 issue of Trains magazine chronicles the writing and recording of the song and includes a biographical sketch of Steve Goodman.[2] In June 2026, CBS News included the song in its list of the 250 essential American songs of the past 250 years.[3]

Arlo Guthrie version

[edit]
"The City of New Orleans"
Side A of the New Zealand single
Single by Arlo Guthrie
from the album Hobo's Lullaby
B-side"Days Are Short"
ReleasedJune 1972
RecordedLate 1971
GenreFolk
Length4:31
LabelReprise
SongwriterSteve Goodman
ProducersLenny Waronker, John Pilla
Arlo Guthrie singles chronology
"Ballad of Tricky Fred"
(1971)		 "The City of New Orleans"
(1972)		 "Ukulele Lady"
(1972)
Audio
"The City of New Orleans" (2004 remaster) on YouTube

While at the bar of the Quiet Knight in Chicago, Goodman saw Arlo Guthrie, and asked to be allowed to play a song for him. Guthrie grudgingly agreed, on the condition that if Goodman bought him a beer, Guthrie would listen to him play for as long as it took to drink the beer.[4] Goodman played "City of New Orleans", which Guthrie liked enough that he asked to record it. The song was a hit for Guthrie on his 1972 album Hobo's Lullaby, reaching Number 4 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart and Number 18 on the Hot 100; it would prove to be Guthrie's only top-40 hit and one of only two he would have on the Hot 100 (the other was a severely shortened and rearranged version of his magnum opus, "Alice's Restaurant", which hit Number 97). In New Zealand, "City of New Orleans" spent two weeks at number one, charting throughout the winter of 1973.[5]

In December 2005, sparked by the news the train was back in service after Hurricane Katrina, the Arlo Guthrie and Friends tour traveled by the train itself in a benefit concert tour to aid musicians who lost everything in the hurricane.[6]

Guthrie's version of "The City of New Orleans" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2017.[7]

Chart performance

[edit]

Willie Nelson version

[edit]
"City of New Orleans"
Side A of the 1984 Canadian single
Single by Willie Nelson
from the album City of New Orleans
B-side"Why Are You Pickin' on Me"
ReleasedJuly 30, 1984
RecordedOctober 1983
GenreCountry
Length4:48
LabelColumbia
SongwriterSteve Goodman
ProducerChips Moman
Willie Nelson singles chronology
"To All the Girls I've Loved Before"
(1984)		 "City of New Orleans"
(1984)		 "Seven Spanish Angels"
(1985)
Audio
"City of New Orleans" on YouTube

Steve Goodman won a posthumous Grammy Award for Best Country Song at the 27th Grammy Awards in 1985 for Willie Nelson's version, which was included as the title track on Nelson's 1984 album City of New Orleans. It reached #1 on both the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in the United States[14] and the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada.[15]

Chart performance

[edit]
Chart (1984) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[16]1
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[17]30
Canadian RPM Country Tracks[15] 1
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks[18] 5

Foreign-language versions

[edit]

French version

[edit]
"Salut les amoureux"
Single by Joe Dassin
from the album Joe
LanguageFrench
English titleHi, lovebirds
B-side"S'aimer sous la pluie"
ReleasedMarch 1973
Recorded1972
GenreChanson
Length4:00
LabelCBS
ComposerSteve Goodman
LyricistsClaude Lemesle, Richelle Dassin
ProducerJacques Plait
Joe Dassin singles chronology
"Le Moustique"
(1973)		 "Salut les amoureux"
(1973)		 "Je t'aime, je t'aime"
(1973)
Audio
"Salut les amoureux" on YouTube
Live video
"Salut les amoureux" (Top à Gérard Lenorman, 1973) on YouTube

Also in 1972, the song was adapted into the French language as "Salut les amoureux" (translation: "Hi, lovebirds") by Claude Lemesle and Richelle Dassin and performed by the latter's brother, American singer Joe Dassin,[19] appearing on his album Joe and released as a single the following year in 1973, backed by another track from the album, "S'aimer sous la pluie" (which Dassin co-wrote with Pierre Delanoë, meaning "Loving each other in the rain").[20] Dassin sings the last line of the chorus a fourth lower than the original on a conventional IV-V-I chord progression. The single was a success, peaking at Number 8 in France[21] and Number 12 in Wallonia (French Belgium),[22] selling over 200,000 copies. It is not a direct translation of the original, addressing the end of a short relationship, of which Lemesle took inspiration from his breakup with fellow French singer Valentine "Vava" Saint-Jean.[23][24]

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1973) Peak
position
France (SNEP)[21] 8
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[22] 12

Dutch version

[edit]
"'t Is weer voorbij die mooie zomer"
Single by Gerard Cox
from the album De Beste Van Gerard Cox
LanguageDutch
English titleThat beautiful summer is over again
B-side"Zullen we ritselen?"
Written1973
ReleasedOctober 1973
Recorded1973
GenrePop
Length4:30
LabelCBS
ComposerSteve Goodman
LyricistGerard Cox
ProducerRuud Jacobs
Gerard Cox singles chronology
"Morgen Word Het Beter"
(1973)		 "'t Is weer voorbij die mooie zomer"
(1973)		 "Die Goeie Ouwe Tijd"
(1973)
Music video
"'t Is weer voorbij die mooie zomer" on YouTube
"Nederland is helemaal oranje"
Single by Wilfred Genee and Johan Derksen
English titleThe Netherlands is completely orange
ReleasedApril 26, 2012
GenrePop, novelty
Length3:35
LabelFBR/NRGY
ComposerSteve Goodman
LyricistFerdi Bolland
ProducerFerdi Bolland
Wilfred Genee and Johan Derksen singles chronology
"Nederland is helemaal oranje"
(2012)		 "Helden"
(2012)
Music video
"Nederland is helemaal oranje" on YouTube

Also in 1973, Dutch singer and CBS Records labelmate Gerard Cox released a Dutch-language cover entitled "'t Is weer voorbij die mooie zomer" (translation: "That beautiful summer is over again") as a single from his greatest hits album De Beste Van Gerard Cox (translation: The Best of Gerard Cox). The single was a Top 10 hit in the Dutchophone markets, reaching Number 1 in the Netherlands[25] and Number 2 in Flanders (Dutch Belgium).[26] The Dutch lyrics are not about a train or a short relationship, but are a look back on the warm days of summer. Cox based his version on the French version, Salut les amoureux by Dassin, which he had heard while on vacation at a nightclub in France.[27] Yet, the Dutch lyrics are again very different from both the English and the French versions. The single's B-side, "Zullen we ritselen?" (translation: "Shall we sort something out?"), composed by Rogier van Otterloo and also featured on the aforementioned compilation, was previously featured on Cox's 1972 album Vrijblijvend... (translation: No-obligation...).[28] Cox's version has also been parodied by Sports journalists Wilfred Genee and Johan Derksen in 2012 as "Nederland is helemaal oranje" (translation: "The Netherlands is completely orange"), a song about the Netherlands national football team written and produced by Ferdi Bolland and recorded specially for that year's UEFA Euro, which was released as a non-album single, peaking at Number 4 on the Single Top 100[29] and selling over 25,000 copies.[30]

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1973–1974) Peak
position
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[25] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[26] 2
Chart (2012) Peak
position
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[29] 4

German version

[edit]
"Wann wird's mal wieder richtig Sommer?"
Single by Rudi Carrell
from the album Rudi Carrell
LanguageGerman
English titleWhen will it finally be a real summer again?
B-side"Heul nicht"
ReleasedMarch 1975
GenrePop
Length4:20
LabelAriola
ComposerSteve Goodman
LyricistThomas Woitkewitsch
ProducerThomas Woitkewitsch
Rudi Carrell singles chronology
"Trimm Dich Und Halte Dich Fit"
(1971)		 "Wann wird's mal wieder richtig Sommer?"
(1975)		 "La la la"
(1975)
Audio
"Wann wird's mal wieder richtig Sommer?" (2026 remaster) on YouTube
Live video
"Wann wird's mal wieder richtig Sommer?" (German TV, 1975) on YouTube
"Wann wird's mal wieder richtig Sommer?"
Single by Creme 21
from the album Creme 21 (30% Mehr)
B-side"Ich kann mich nicht entscheiden"
"Ich will auch mit (in den Übungsraum)"
ReleasedApril 15, 1996
Recorded1995
GenrePop rock
Length3:24
LabelEpic
ComposerSteve Goodman
LyricistThomas Woitkewitsch
ProducerJeo
Creme 21 singles chronology
"Liebe In Den Neunzigern ('96)"
(1996)		 "Wann wird's mal wieder richtig Sommer?"
(1996)		 "Verdammt Lang Her"
(1997)
Music video
"Wann wird's mal wieder richtig Sommer?" on YouTube

In 1975, Dutch singer Rudi Carrell released a German-language cover with lyrics by producer Thomas Woitkewitsch. The lyrics were based on the Dutch version (see above) by Gerard Cox. The lead single off of Carrell's 1975 self-titled album,[31] "Wann wird's mal wieder richtig Sommer?" (translation: "When will it finally be a real summer again?"), stayed on the West German record charts for 14 weeks, peaking at Number 18.[32] This version has since been widely covered in the Germanophone market, spawning a German Top-40 recording by Creme 21 (as a tribute to Carrell) in 1996.[33] Creme 21, a pop rock band from Frankfurt am Main, recorded a version, using Woitkewitsch's German lyrics, appearing on re-issues of the band's 1995 self-titled debut studio album (a.k.a. 30% Mehr, meaning 30% More).[34] The cover spent 12 weeks on the German record charts, peaking at Number 36.[33] It was accompanied by a music video, directed by Andreas Kidess, paying tribute to Carrell, the original performer of the adaptation, who makes a cameo in the video, also featuring footage of old Rudi Carrell shows. Creme 21 also promoted their version with a performance on Die Harald Schmidt Show.

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1975) Peak
position
West Germany (GfK)[32] 18
Chart (1996) Peak
position
Germany (GfK)[35] 36

Other notable versions

[edit]
  • In September 2005, Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band closed their Labor Day weekend performance at Wrigley Field with the song; Buffett referenced the ongoing impact of Hurricane Katrina and dedicated the song to the people of New Orleans and the wider Gulf Coast region.[36] In May 2006, Buffett opened his set with the song at the first New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival following Hurricane Katrina.[37]
  • Former Bro'Sis member Indira Weis covered the German adaptation, Wann wird's mal wieder richtig Sommer? (see above), as her debut solo single, which was released in September 2009, covering the song as a fan of Carrell's and in irony of her experiences that summer, as well as promoting and performing it at that year's Oktoberfest with then-Chancellor Angela Merkel present.[38][39][40] Despite heavy publicity, Weis' version failed to chart.
  • In June 2025, the German version was parodied by punk bands ZSK and Rogers [de] in the anti-AfD single "Sommer ohne Nazis" ("Summer Without Nazis")[41] and was featured on the former's eighth studio album Feuer & Papier (Fire & Paper) later that year.[42][43][44][45]

See also

[edit]
Mentioned in the song

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Harrington, Jim (2015). "Steve Goodman - "City of New Orleans". In Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die. New York: Universe. p. 294.
  2. ↑ Sanders, Craig (September 2017). "Writing of 'City of New Orleans'". Trains. Vol. 77, no. 9. pp. 34–39.
  3. ↑ "Essential American Songbook". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2026-07-02.
  4. ↑ Central, Spotlight (15 November 2016). ""Running Down the Road" Arlo Guthrie LIVE! at The Grunin Center". Medium. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Flavour of New Zealand, 18 December 1972". Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  6. ↑ "Arlo Rides Train He Made Famous - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. December 12, 2005.
  7. ↑ "GRAMMY HALL OF FAME AWARD". www.grammy.com. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  8. ↑ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  9. ↑ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  10. ↑ "Arlo Guthrie Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  11. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 109.
  12. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 131. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  13. ↑ "Top 100 Hits of 1972/Top 100 Songs of 1972". Musicoutfitters.com. Archived from the original on 2017-04-27. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  14. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 245.
  15. 1 2 "RPM" (PDF). p. 12.
  16. ↑ "Willie Nelson Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  17. ↑ "Willie Nelson Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  18. ↑ "RPM" (PDF). p. 11.
  19. ↑ "Track of the Day: 'Salut Les Amoureux' by Joe Dassin". The Atlantic. 2016-10-22. Retrieved 2017-11-30.
  20. ↑ "Joe Dassin - S'aimer sous la pluie - ultratop.be". www.ultratop.be. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  21. 1 2 Hits of the World. Vol. 85. Billboard. p. 69.
  22. 1 2 "Joe Dassin - Salut les amoureux - ultratop.be". www.ultratop.be. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  23. ↑ "Musique : l'histoire de "Salut les amoureux", le tube de Joe Dassin". franceinfo (in French). 2022-02-15. Retrieved 2026-10-03.
  24. ↑ Farina-Vallé, Gilles (2022-08-24). "Joe Dassin - Salut les amoureux, chanson de rupture ou d'espoir ?". Melody TV (in French). Retrieved 2026-10-03.
  25. 1 2 "Dutch Charts - Single Top 100 - dutchcharts.nl". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  26. 1 2 "Ultratop Singles Top 50 - ultratop.be". www.ultratop.be. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  27. ↑ "Het verhaal achter 'T Is Weer Voorbij Die Mooie Zomer'". NPO Radio 5 (in Dutch). Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  28. ↑ Hung, Steffen. "Gerard Cox - Zullen we ritselen?". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  29. 1 2 "Dutch Charts - Single Top 100 - dutchcharts.nl". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  30. ↑ Teunissen, Astrid (2012-06-06). "GOUDEN CD VOOR JOHAN DERKSEN EN WILFRED GENEE". NRGY Music (in Netherlands Dutch). Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  31. ↑ Hung, Steffen. "Rudi Carrell - Rudi Carrell". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  32. 1 2 Hung, Steffen. "Rudi Carrell - Wann wird's mal wieder richtig Sommer?". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  33. 1 2 "Wetter: Wann wird's mal wieder richtig Sommer?". Die Zeit. Hamburg. 2011-08-07. ISSN 0044-2070. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  34. ↑ "germancharts.de - Creme 21 - 30 % mehr". germancharts.de. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  35. ↑ Hung, Steffen. "Creme 21 - Wann wird's mal wieder richtig Sommer". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  36. ↑ Billboard Staff (2005-09-06). "Buffett Winds Down Tour At Wrigley Field". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  37. ↑ writer, KEITH SPERA | Staff (29 January 2021). "Jimmy Buffett's love for New Orleans, Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest and the Saints runs deep". NOLA.com. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  38. ↑ "Indira: Ex-Bro'Sis-Sängerin versucht Comeback mit Wiesn-Hit". unterhaltung.t-online.de (in German). Archived from the original on 2009-08-16. Retrieved 2026-07-29.
  39. ↑ BILD.de. "Indira: Super-Comeback zum Oktoberfest mit Wiesn-Hit - Bild.de". www.bild.de (in German). Archived from the original on 2009-11-24. Retrieved 2026-07-29.
  40. ↑ BILD.de. "Indira - Videoclip zum Wiesenhit auf dem Oktoberfest - Bild.de". www.bild.de (in German). Archived from the original on 2009-11-29. Retrieved 2026-07-29.
  41. ↑ Drilling, Nicola (2025-06-27). "ZSK veröffentlichen neue Single »Sommer ohne Nazis«". VISIONS.de (in German). Retrieved 2026-10-07.
  42. ↑ Tebbe, Frederik. "ZSK: Feuer & Papier (Review)". VISIONS.de (in German). Retrieved 2026-10-07.
  43. ↑ Gerber, Lothar (2025-09-26). "Kritik zu ZSK FEUER & PAPIER". Metal Hammer (in German). Retrieved 2026-10-07.
  44. ↑ Deutschland, Ox Fanzine, Solingen. "Review". www.ox-fanzine.de (in German). Retrieved 2026-10-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  45. ↑ Deutschland, Ox Fanzine, Solingen. "Review". www.ox-fanzine.de (in German). Retrieved 2026-10-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
[edit]
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