Today’s post was written by Paul.
Hello, Dear Acorns. It’s that time again for our train song series here on BPA. We start out with one of the most elite train songs in terms of chords, lyrics, and melody: “The City of New Orleans.” It even has clever, recurring key change. 🙂
As I understand, Steve Goodman wrote this song, an artist I somehow often confuse with John Prine and Arlo Guthrie. Guthrie was perhaps the first to popularize the song.
It has been covered by many people, including the Country Gentlemen. Appearing with me in the video is my friend Wayde Powell, III, this time on guitar. In one of our earlier train songs, Wayde appeared on banjo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVkeu…).
For this song, we maintained our standing “rule” for the train song series, which is one-take-only. I really have to hand it to Wayde: he knew what we were going to play only a couple of minutes before the camera started rolling. Of course, he had heard this song before, probably many times, but to my knowledge, it’s not something he ever played with a band or anything.
I tried to learn the words the night before and obviously didn’t quite succeed! 🙂 I added an extra F chord that Wayde didn’t expect to be included, but it didn’t throw him for a second. Though I missed a couple of chords (like going to E minor too early a few times late in the song), I don’t think Wayde missed any.
My favorite moments on the guitar are: when he chimes just after “I’m the train they call the City of New Orleans” in the first chorus (1:26); and the notes that he hits on the B string between 3:08 and 3:12. It messes with my mind when I realize that he hit those chiming notes spontaneously. That means that he had to know exactly what the notes are and exactly where to chime them, without searching or practicing. That’s not normal, folks. 🙂 Genius level stuff.
I hope you enjoyed this first train song. It’s truly a great song, even though we didn’t quite know it and just jumped in to see what would happen. As always, I’ll try to upload a different train song every weekend this month. Thanks for watching!
Paul
27 Comments
Angelyn McLain
November 11, 2021 at 8:00 amI enjoyed that song!
Ed Ammons
November 7, 2021 at 7:05 pmDoes Wayde play a dobro or a slide steel. He is making some mighty good train sounds but imagine what he could do with a steel or glass slide on his pinky.
Patricia A Small
November 7, 2021 at 5:34 pmExcellent!
Robert
November 7, 2021 at 3:53 pmPaul and Wayde absolutely shredded it!!!!
Great song played by two great guitar virtuosos.
I look forward to the next train song. I hope you do The Wreck of the Old 97 again. It is my favorite train song because my Pa used to sing it while rocking me – and later his grandkids – to sleep. (I’ll be 80 my next birthday.)
Sara Stewart
November 7, 2021 at 1:21 pmBRAVO!!!!!! ENCORE!!!!!! I hope you can hear the foot stomps & handclaps of appreciation all the way from Alberta, Canada!!! This really brings memories of playing & singing with friends & family during the 1960s & ’70s.
Judy Hays
November 7, 2021 at 12:31 pmYou just can’t beat a good train song! Enjoyed this so much – thank you both.
[email protected]
November 7, 2021 at 11:56 amPaul, you and Wayne really ripped that one. His noting complements yours perfectly and your vocals are always right on the money. Woody, Arlo and that bunch would be applauding as well.
Mary Retaleato
November 7, 2021 at 10:59 amGreat job. I have seen Arlo do this song a few times, always a favorite
Betty C Ledwith
November 7, 2021 at 10:40 amI have in my years heard this song sung by many people. I heard it sung by one of my all time favorite singers in person, Willie Nelson. I thought he sung the best version until I heard this one. Wow! I have to give all of you an A+. I enjoyed this version and sure I will play it over and over. I had not heard this song in a long time and what memories it brought back to me. Thank you so very much for sharing this with all of us.
Vann Helms
November 7, 2021 at 9:51 amIn 1973, I went to a small bar in Miami where Steve Goodman was appearing. Of course, he sang “City of New Orleans” and played his guitar. I’ll never forget that night. Steve passed way too young, but he left us some incredible material.
Kenneth Ryan
November 7, 2021 at 9:45 amGreat job on the song by the both of you!
Tina Huffman
November 7, 2021 at 9:02 amMost excellent!!
Ron Stephens
November 7, 2021 at 8:47 amThis post reminds me of “The City of Burnsides” one of, if not the, last steamboats on the upper Cumberland. It burned and sank at the docks in Burnsides, Ky about 1932. Meantime alongside the hill above town the Southern railroad carried passengers to New Orleans. I saw the end of train passengers on that line about 1960. The old railroad grade is now US 27 and the old town of Burnsides is under Lake Cumberland.
I guess every generation has a comparable experience. I’m glad Goodman caught one such in haunting lyrics. And for those who have not yet lived it, there is a life lesson in there. Live intentionally.
You two did a great job but I confess Paul your knowledge of music and music making goes way over my head.
Kat Swanson
November 7, 2021 at 8:41 amI love this song…it is gonna be in my head all day long!!….and.my head needs that trip….please thank the boys for me….
Nancy Johnson
November 7, 2021 at 8:39 amThank you! I thoroughly enjoyed seeing and hearing this. Well done.
Joseph Mazurek
November 7, 2021 at 8:25 amWonderful song and loved your arrangement. Growing up in Chicago seeing Steve on Lincoln avenue in the windy city. John Prine sometimes preformed with Steve in the Chicagoland area both loved smelt fishing at Montrose avenue horseshoe together. Thanks Guys
Colleen Holmes
November 7, 2021 at 8:15 amThanks Paul. The music got me moving this morning.
Sallie the apple doll lady
November 7, 2021 at 8:11 amYou two were having just too much fun! I envy you being able to play and doing the fancy stuff so easily. What a gift! Thanks for sharing. And it’s nice to know you cover the blips so well that we can’t even detect them. Keep it up!
Denise R
November 7, 2021 at 7:57 amAwesome job!!!! This is such a classic song, one that I’ve heard all my life so it’s older than me!
Dennis M Morgan
November 7, 2021 at 7:54 amThat is one of my favorite songs. When I hear it I want to take a trip somewhere. Paul and his friend did a really good job.
Dennis Morgan
dee
November 7, 2021 at 7:52 amPaul your singing is always beautiful and Wayde showed out on his guitar. It’s a cold 29 degrees this morning in south central PA but the sun is coming out and Miss Cindy was right that was a peppy song to get us moving for this morning.
Donna Brewton
November 7, 2021 at 7:30 amTwo cool dudes in dark specks !!!!
In all my years first time to understand the lyrics. The train had something to say. Your buddy Wayde….. wow ! I think to say he “hit a few good licks” would work.
Thanks for the good music this nippy ‘Sunday morning.
We fell back in time this morning. How does that work ???
Greg Church
November 7, 2021 at 7:26 amMy dad once told me that every little boy had a fascination with trains and that most never out grew . I guess that is the essence of train songs. The train song on the front porch today……. Wow!
donna sue
November 7, 2021 at 7:24 amOne of my all time favorite songs! Paul and Mr. Powell were excellent! I had to watch the video many times before I picked up on some forgotten words in it. I love this song so much, and have listened to it so many times for as long as I can remember, that my brain filled in the blanks automatically where Paul hummed. I honestly never caught them until many views later. I love the spontaneity of the one-take rule for these train songs. The song El Condor Pasa, which you guys did in 2008, was so wonderful that to this day I do not like hearing any other version but your’s, even Simon and Garfunkel’s version does not hold a candle next to your’s. And now, Paul’s version of this song has knocked Willie Nelson off his throne – this is now my favorite! Thank you for another great song post!
Donna. : )
Sheryl A Paul
November 7, 2021 at 6:50 amI completely enjoyed this, one of my favorute songs and you both did it proud!
Martha Justice
November 7, 2021 at 6:49 amSuch talent !
Miss Cindy
November 7, 2021 at 5:32 amWow, that was great! Paul, you said there was a couple of missed spots but I sure could not hear them. Wayde was great and it looked like he was having fun. I give this one an A+ for you both!
Thanks for the peppy song on this cold Sunday morning!