Better than I think. How 'bout you?

Words are a reflection of the times.

Uh...

The three conductors slide...

Japan.

Just sayin.

A fine work and a good rendition. The song was written by the late Steve Goodman and he deserves his due:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXGFKpWUOW0&feature=related

for this and much more.

An excellent Friday beginning. Thanks

Daniel,
Spoilsports, nitpcikers and fact preeners will be asked to throw themselves under the train.

Thank you.

Oh, okay.... :(

I'm heading up to the station right now.

I love trains.

My wife had never ridden on a "Real Train" before.

So we booked a Pullman berth and took The City of New Orleans to New Orleans.

I have been on that club car.

Thanks for bringing back some very good memories.

Maybe I'll dig out my City Of New Orleans ball cap and wear it today.

Here's a video of Steve Goodman performing the song live with a special guest.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lgnfk9PXNw

God bless Steve Goodman, and may he rest in peace. He was a great songwriter, a great American, and a great Cubs fan.

I must add this. You can see the rigors of Steve's illness as he gives this old Cubs fan the song that will be sung at my funeral.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xBxZGQ1dJk

Lets get a frosty malt and play two!! It's a great day for baseball.

"City of New Orleans" has always, always felt like an informal national anthem to me. We could do a lot worse. Bravo & RIP, Steve Goodman.

thanks mezzrow. that's a great clip.

Your's too, Suds.

Before I throw myself under the train, sir, I just want to point out the fact that you misspelled nitpickers.

Thank you, American Digest. I'm headed down to NOLA next week and now I wish I was taking the train.

Cheers - Dinah

This has always been a favorite song of mine.

Thanks for the link. It`s such a great song I took the time to listen to several more covers, Willie with Cheryl Crow, Jerry Reed, Chet Atkins, Steve Goodman (2 versions), John Denver and Arlo Guthrie. This version that you linked seemed to me also to be the best.

This is far and away the best version of the song I have heard.

I love train travel. A little bit less when you're woken in the morning, stiff and sore from sleeping in your seat (which is very comfortable for a seat, but still) by the light of the sun coming in from a window where another passenger neglected to draw the blinds, but still love it and will take it over plane travel any time there's time to enjoy the journey.

Took the California Zephyr from Sacramento to Denver and had marvelous conversations the whole way, with a man from Iowa, some Mennonites "seeing the West", and a ten-year-old boy, seeing spectacular scenery the whole way. I know that people find train travel too slow and that's a pity. It's amazing.

Great to see your poignant post that invokes Willie Nelson's version of Steve Goodman's "City of New Orleans." Goodman often doesn't get his due. You might be interested in my 800-page biography, "Steve Goodman: Facing the Music." The book delves deeply into the genesis and effects of "City of New Orleans," and Willie Nelson is a key source among my 1,050 interviewees Arlo Guthrie, who first popularized the song, also is among my interviewees and even contributed the foreword.

You can find out more at my Internet site (below). Amazingly, the book's first printing sold out in just eight months, all 5,000 copies, and a second printing of 5,000 is available now. The second printing includes hundreds of little updates and additions, including 30 more photos for a total of 575. It won a 2008 IPPY (Independent Publishers Association) silver medal for biography.

If you're not already familiar with the book, I hope you find it of interest. 'Nuff said.

Clay Eals
1728 California Ave. S.W. #301
Seattle, WA 98116-1958

(206) 935-7515 home
(206) 484-8008 cell
ceals@comcast.net
http://www.clayeals.com

I mark the release of Madonna's cover of this song as one of the marks of the end of times.

Made my morning. Gnitpique?

We name passenger trains and ships (and sometimes cars). Aircrews used to name their aircraft (WWII noseart, etc.)

No one names a coffeepot.

The naming shows affection for something special.

Correction to the above:

Madonna covered "American Pie" by Don McLean.

My looming senility is also a sign of the end times, too.

Goodman's body of work is little known. However, "City of New Orleans" and "The Dying Cub Fan's Last Request" are probably immortal.

So-so. Something was not impressed.

My looming senility is also a sign of the end times, too. Madonna covered "American Pie" by Don McLean. Correction to the above: