Same here. I'm 58 years old and everything is moving too darn fast for me. I miss the 1970's and 80's when life was simpler. I also get teary when I hear this song and feel nostalgic.
Putting more into the infrastructure of rebuilding and expanding our rail system would be excellent for our country in my opinion. Rail travel does connect people and communities in a way that air travel just can’t.
This song was written by Steve Goodman who died of cancer in his early thirties. Listen to and watch anything and everything you can of him. He was one of the greatest guitarists I ever saw. I was fortunate to hear him in person several times in our hometown Chicago. He used to introduce his playing of this as "I'd like to do a medley of my hit song." "Good Morning America" became the name of a morning news show called "Good Morning America" and this was their theme song.
Arlo’s father was the great Woody Guthrie, lyricist of This Land Is Your Land. The complete personification of folk music. I have to thank you because I had forgotten who sang it.
The "changing cars in Memphis, Tennessee" line is about all Black passengers having to move to the specific segregated "Jim Crow Coach" because it entered the segregated South back in the day....
This was a huge hit back in the 70s. A great storyteller song, about not only a specific train (named "The city of New Orleans") but of the lifestyle and routine of the Railroad system, and it's deep history in the building of this great nation called America. This is Guthrie's best musical accomplishment in my opinion.
You can’t really understand this song fully without knowing it’s genesis in the writer, Steve Goodman, and his life and death, and how he convinced Arlo Guthrie to sing it.
Arlo Guthrie, the singer, is the son of Woody Guthrie, an American singer-songwriter who was a significant figure in American folk music. Woody Guthrie wrote the iconic song, known all over our country by schoolchildren, “This Land Is Your Land”, one among many other great songs of Americana.
..and they removed some lines from "This Land is Your Land" because it upset the rich/oligarchs--the nerve of the common folk thinking they were entitled...
That's fascinating. But the song *this land is your land* is likely one of the first pieces of propaganda that exists, as a piece of history. Because This land was never European Lands. And the land doesn't belong to american people. The land belongs to the people it birthed.. which is people like me... Cree.. known as a native.. to others.
RIP Steve Goodman. He wrote soooooo many wonderful songs. He died of leukemia much too young. Steve said that Arlo's recording of City of New Orleans basically saved his butt financially. His sense of humor couldn't be beat even though he knew he wouldn't live long. Love you Steve and Arlo. Arlo is still with us though he had a serious stroke and had to stop touring.
Fond memories of my youth going accross the country by r ail, including the wonderful City of New Orleans. If you want to see the real America, go by train.
Arlo Guthrie's voice always gives me vibes of Bob Dylan. Great American folk singer. This song written by Steve Goodman in 1971, has been covered by John Denver, Judy Collins, Johnny Cash, Willy Nelson and Canadian singer Roch Voisine. Another great Arlo song, "Coming into Los Angeles". Great reaction Harri. Thanks Harri and Craig. Great trip back. Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
There are quite a few singers who don't have technically great voices, but we enjoy their uniqueness .....Arlo is one of those along with Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, Woodie Guthrie, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, even the infamous Sonny Bono .
Well, he is the son of the legendary Woody Guthrie for crying out loud. And Bob Dylan himself was heavily influenced by this guy's father, even to the point of relocating from his native Hibbing Minnesota to New York to follow Woody as a young folk singer toward the end of Woody's life.
Arlo Guthrie's Alice's Restaurant is played on American Thanksgiving day on some independent radio stations. It's a real treat, but nearly 20 minutes. It's a wonderful and funny story. His father was Woody Guthrie, who may be familiar to you.
Man, I'm standing here with tears running down my face. I haven't sung this song in years, and haven't heard it in many more. Nighttime on a train, rolling across the countryside, the people who are up late, sitting in closed dining cars telling their stories. Some great old memories. Thanks for this. :)
7:07 - As Amtrak was formed, and also airline travel and travel by cars on Interstate highways is dominant, this song is a memorial to all inter-city travel on American railroads.
@@drdr76 I remember, as a kid, my shock at how the toilets worked on a train. When you flushed in those days, a flap opened and the toilet emptied on to the tracks. Hence the sign: Do Not Flush While Train Is In Station.
One of the best songs about life in America ever written (kudos- Steve Goodman), and so well delivered by Arlo. So glad I got to hear him play it live once ! He tells cool stories in between songs too.
A wonderful story, wonderful lyrics, wonderful accompaniment. Woody and Arlo are truly American treasures. Where are today's story-tellers? Thank you Harri, for playing this, and reacting to it. You did good!
Argo Guthrie is a great singer and songwriter in his own right, and the son of one of America's true originals, the folk singer and activist, Woody Guthrie. Painted prominently on the front of Woodie's guitar were the words, “This machine kills fascists.” But this song was indeed written by another, the Chicago area singer-songwriter Steve Goodman. The song is based on an actual trip Goodman and his wife took on the train. He penned the lyrics during the trip, simply recording things as he observed them. The final lines were added later when Goodman heard that the City of New Orleans was scheduled to be discontinued for lack of passengers. Hence “the disappearing railroad blues.” Sadly, Goodman died at age 36, after many years battling leukemia. If you want to hear one of Arlo's own songs, try reacting to Alice's Restaurant, but be prepared for a long, wild and hilarious ride.
Arlo's father Woody Guthrie is legendary. Fortunately, he doesn't seem to have inherited his father's Huntington's Chorea. Woody Guthrie wrote and sang memorable depression-era songs such as "Union Made" and Arlo followed that tradition with songs such as "Alice's Restaurant". Thanks for playing this & your comments.
I'm glad they gave tribute to Steve Goodman. He was a brilliant talent. Arlo Guthrie is the son of Woody Guthrie, who was the godfather of modern protest folk music. The beat started with the tempo of the train wheels. It birthed hundreds of songs.
I see that someone else has mentioned this song was written in 1970 by Steve Goodman (brilliant songwriter, guitarist, singer, and entertainer) who played it for Arlo - who asked to record it.
Arlo is the son of an American folk icon, Woody Guthrie. Arlo grew up around some of the best folk singers of his dad's era including Pete Seeger and the other members of The Weavers. He paid his dues touring for several decades. His voice is so pure that at times you can hear it ring. Woody wrote many of America's most important folk songs in the 30's and 40's. "Do Re Mi", "This Land is Your Land", "Roll On, Columbia, Roll On", and "So Long, It's Been Good to Know Yuh".
Back when The City of New Orleans was still the Illinois Central, the trains were more important to travel. They are still used, but are part of the Amtrak lines and are more corporatized, as well as more expensive. There was something more "romantic" about rail travel back then. I never got to ride the original City of New Orleans, but I did travel with my young daughter many years ago on the Amtrak City of New Orleans. Sang her to sleep with this song more than once. Great reaction.
It's more expensive because they no longer haul mail, and the mail and express baggage contracts where what made passenger service profitable. Very few passenger trains survived on just passenger fares even in the heyday of rail travel.
To my ears, his voice is haunting in this song. Something about it makes my heart ache. Edit: Jesus. Maybe I'm just exhausted but my eyes were misty by the time I got to the end of this one tonight.
Arlo has a way of sneaking up on you. You are there enjoying a rambling tale, just smiling and singing along. All of the sudden you find he has managed to slip a shroud of melancholy over your. The lyric "Good morning America, how are you!" is bright, cheerful, and it is right up front. In the background you hear the clickety-clack of the train and at the end of the refrain he sings, "this train's got the disappearing railroad blues". He is insidious in his greatness. Here's a little Ditty written by Tom Paxton that Arlo made his own. This is from the Double CD "Precious Friend (1982)" that he released with Peter Seeger. "I'm Changing My Name to Chrysler" m.ruclips.net/video/w8uo6cfG4J8/видео.html
Hi Harri, yes an American classis. I'm a Rail Road Engineer and so was my Dad. This song stirs the memories of many involved with the rail ways. Every time I cross the Florida/ Georgia State line (which is a large river) I play this song in the cab.
I read an account that Steve Goodman shared the song with his friend, John Prine, who then took him to talk to Arlo who wasn't sure it was for him. Clearly they were persistent enough. Might also try Coming Into Los Angeles by Arlo. There is a great live version complete with some good storytelling as a set up to the song.
Thanks for bringing this Harri. I'm glad you enjoyed this song as much as I do. I've had the privilege of seeing Arlo in concert several times. Wonderful experiences each time. His music, as always, was fantastic. But, the stories he told between songs were alone worth the price of admission. That includes the story of how Steve Goodman brought this song to him.
Arlo and Pete Seeger used to do annual Thanksgiving weekend concerts at Carnegie Hall in NYC. I went to several and they were both great and the audience would sing along. One time Arlo sang Alice’s Restaurant - a treat I will never forget.
this song is written by the late great Steve Goodman. You should check out his "TURNPIKE TOM" as well as his other stuff. What a loss it was when Steve left this world. 😢
Harri,as noted by many subs here,this was written by Steve Goodman great underrated talent. You should react to his tribute song to his Father: "My Old Man"...it is beautiful.
Oh..and to add to my previous comment.. the "City of New Orleans" was a passenger train that ran from Chicago to New Orleans, through Memphis and many other small cities. Was originally an Illinois Central train, but has since been taken over by Amtrak. Of course I've seen the train at the Kankakee train station many times growing up. So the song definitely has special meaning for me. ;)
Makes me think of home - Memphis. I miss it, and I love this song. Arlo is a great story teller, and this song almost seems like a story as he sings it. Great choice, great reaction.
Steve Goodman was a good friend of Arlo's and wrote a bunch of important songs in the early 70s and teamed up with his buddy John Prine who we lost last spring to Covid-19... (Another Guy you should check out, say "Sam Stone". or "Paradise"). This was a big hit for Arlo back around '73... he just retired from performing due to health reasons, but he always will be remembered for this one and the long 60s anthem "Alice's Restaurant" Steve died young when his Hodskins Disease returned in the early 80s but this was his masterpiece and his friends always talked fondly of the guy... he was a fine guitarist and wrote some very personal tunes, often funny but some like "My Old Man" quite poignant ... go check him out or John Prine... they wrote a big hit that was recorded by another guy over a drunken weekend called "You Never Even Called Me By My Name"... that's another to search out.
The other thing about this song is that it's talking about a train that effectively ran back and forth from just outside of Chicago (where Steve was from) to New Orleans ... and was the place where years before the civil rights movement Black men started making a pretty decent living as Pullman Porters on this and other trains which helped to build the Black Middle Class so in context it's also about that
You really should react to his “Alice’s Restaurant” He did write that one. It is VERY long but we’ll worth the listen. Very funny but also makes a number of political statements, particularly about the draft.
Arlo is soooo under-rated. I saw him a couple of times in Ct. He is an AMAZING story teller, and super funny. Now I want to see him again! Have fun all.
I don't think Arlo has passed. I saw him a few years back to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his legendary "Alice's Restaurant." What a rare treat that was. And, he did this number as well. Thanks for doing this one - I love your channel.
Awesome reaction as always Harri and Arlo Guthrie is alive and living in Florida with his second wife. His first wife passed away in 2012 from liver cancer. He announced in 2020 that he would no longer do any concerts or make any appearances. Such a great song, it can bring tears ♥️
Arlo still has a farm in the Berkshires outside of Stockbridge, spends the Summers here about 12 miles from where I live. I saw him perform in 89 at Bethel, with his Son's band, at an "unauthorized" Woodstock gathering, on the original site.
At 72 years old I can still remember when Amtrak announced that they were going to discontinue the rail run from Chicago to New Orleans to save money due to low ridership. In the last verse it says..."this trains got the disappearing railroad blues." For some reason there was a tremendous push back from the general public. Goodman wrote the song and recorded it but it didn't really get much attention. Arlo Guthery recorded it with this really cool rhythm like train wheels on a track and not only did it take off but it created a huge movement of public outcry to save "The City Of New Orleans" from extinction. That train run still operates today!
It was made into a movie mid 70's Arlo was the son of late folk singer Woody Guthrie, who toy story was based on,Woody died in a nursing home, Bob Dylan,Arlo and Peter from Peter Paul and Mary were there ,so Woody gave a lesson on how to right a song ,This song was recorded by Bob Dylan and Peter Paul and Mary , Bob Dylan was classified as the righter , the was Blowing In The Wind
Goodman had no progeny to be proud of him, but his many fans still remember him. He was diagnosed with leukemia in 1969 and lived with the knowledge that he would die early till that finally happened in '84
The city of New Orleans was a train on the Illinois Central that ran between Chicago and New Orleans . Amtrak still has a line today called the city of New Orleans but it runs a slightly different route than the original. It’s basically a train that runs thru the heart of America following down the Mississippi River
My late father, who worked the trains in the late 1940s and early 50s, loved this song. He said, "This kid [Steve Goodman, the songwriter] really knew trains!" Memphis really was where they "switched cars". And the part about the sons of Pullman Porters, and the sons of engineers riding, "their fathers' magic carpets made of steel," referred to the fact that as the senior guys on the train they were allowed to take their children on the trains with them. Often during summer holidays, the kids would take trips with their dads. I can't imagine how much fun that would be! This is one of my favourite songs, and I loved your reaction to it! Thank you.
I'm glad you mentioned that Steve Goodman wrote this song. He discovered that he had leukemia in 1969 and suffered from the dease until his death in 1984 at the age of 36. He felt that he was living on borrowed time and produced quite a lot of material during his short career. The Highwaymen do a killer version of this song, live, with Willie Nelson singing lead. Another popular Goodman song is "You Never Even Call Me by My Name," by David Allen Coe.
Fantastic request Craig! I always loved this song and haven’t heard it in years. Riding “their fathers’ magic carpet made of steel”. Great review from Harri. I agree that it’s sugar in my ears 🌺✌️
Sorry, someone probably already said this -- but the "New Orleans" is still a train that goes from Chicago to New Orleans (or at least it did a few years ago). If you have a chance to ride it, go for it.
This song was written by a great storytelling urban songwriter named Steve Goodman. Steve and John Prine used to haunt the folk clubs in Chicago. Both American Classics. R.I.P. to both!!!
Decades ago, in the mid-1980s, I went to an Arlo Guthrie concert. Before performing this song, he explained something about the lives of musicians who gain some recognition: if you go to a bar, people often come up to you wanting to perform a song they've written.They're hoping for help breaking into the music biz, or at least some encouragement, but as Arlo said, it's the worst song you've heard in your life. "Well, don't quit your day job," is what he wants to say but doesn't. So, anyway, one night in the early 1970s there's a supplicant seeking Arlo's attention for his song. Arlo responds, "Tell you what. I'm going to drink this beer. You can do what you want while I finish it." That aspiring musician was Steve Goodman, and the new song he wanted to play was his version of City of New Orleans. Arlo affirmed to us, "That turned out to be one of the best beers I've had."
This paints such a picture......you can feel yourself on the train. City of New Orleans still runs out of Memphis TN. It departs around 3 am.........for years I I have wanted to take it to New Orleans. Living in Nashville now I just might. I wish the Nashville train station was still in operation because it's about a 4 hour drive to Memphis but will be worth it. In the 70's Geraldo Rivera had a news show that aired around 11 pm. It was called Good NIght America and this was the theme song. Love Arlo, and love this so much.
His dad, Woody Guthrie, was a folksinger during the Great Depression and was no stranger to the hobo lifestyle and was one of those who road the trains hiding in freight cars. This song was such a beautiful tribute to those men.
Great reaction Harri! Arlo Guthrie has the perfect voice for this one.Steve Goodman the songwriter has one of my Desert Island albums " Jessie's Jig and other favorites" which will put Diamonds in your ears! Check it out if you get a chance.
I love hearing old trains rumbling by and hearing the whistle blow. The railroad tracks are one street over and I've been listening to the train pass by every morning for the past 58 years.
Steve Goodman wrote this song about a train with "the disappearin' railroad blues." The song became a hit on the radio-- not Arlo's version, Steve's. A month later Amtrak cancelled the train. It had been in the works for a long time.
@@debjorgo i don't deny that, I know. Just pointing out the irony. Goodman wrote the song, recorded it, released it, it was popular. And he predicted it- " this train got the disapperain' railroad blues." A month later Amtrak cancelled it. Then Arlo had the big hit, a lot of folks sang it, the idea became popular. Years later, Amtrak reinstated the train because of the popularity of the song. It ran for some more years, declining all the time. Finally, Amtrak cancelled it again, combining its schedule with the Panama Limited, a name which doesn't fit the melody, and doesn't have the same poetry in its soul.
@@larrystuder8543 Thanks for the info. That is an interesting swing of events. The song is about the passenger trains disappearing. I'm a big fan of Arlo's, in that my sister bought his Washington County album when it came out. I picked it up on CD years later. And of course, I like the Alice's Restaurant album. Funny, I like this song a lot, but I don't have the album it's on. I remember something about Steve Goodman, but I can't remember exactly what it was. I don't recognize anything on his wiki-page. I guess I just remember him from writing this song.
This song is about the demise of commercial passenger rail service in the United States. Each of the major railroad companies used to have their own lines, much as the airline industry does today. All these company lines ended service and were replaced by one national Amtrak service, which, in my opinion, is woefully underfunded. I don't know, maybe there is one penny spent on passenger rail service in the US for every million dollars spent on airline services.
Love this song ! Steve Goodman is such a great song writer . And Arlos voice has the perfect feel for the song , that's why for years and years I thought he wrote it. But rhere is another song Arlo did write which is classic and hilarious called Alice's Resturant. Also there is a movie of the same name starring Arlo. Kind of light hearted war protest movie is my way of describing it. Check them out Harri.
Written by the super wonderful human, Steve Goodman!! ♡ This song is full of great memories and stories by both Steve and Arlo. Steve Goodman and his friend John Prine are two great songwriter/singers. Goodman was an excellent guitar player and story teller.
Mmmm . . . love this song! This is one I used as a lullaby years ago -- so smooth and rhythmic and LONG, it was perfect for rocking my babies to sleep. : )
Legend has it, (Arlo told this story himself,) Steve Goodman came to him in his makeup room after the show and asked if he could play him a song he wrote. Arlo replied, "I'm going to sit here and drink this beer, and while I'm drinking you can do whatever you want!" Arlo concluded with perfect understatement, "It was one of the better beers I had ever drunk!"
This song was about the demise of the American passenger trains in the mid-60s to mid-70s. The government had to come in to continue passenger rail service (Amtrack) as jet travel and the interstate highway system had made passenger service not profitable for the major railroads. I was lucky, my grandfather worked for MKT railroad and I got to ride on the now long gone Rock Island railroad (which also has a song about it, Rock Island Line, done by the great Johnny Cash)
This song always brings tears to my eyes because this is the America we are losing.
Same here. I'm 58 years old and everything is moving too darn fast for me. I miss the 1970's and 80's when life was simpler. I also get teary when I hear this song and feel nostalgic.
👍
Have hope, there are good people fighting the mess we're seeing.
We have lost many Americas! This one is among my favorites.
Putting more into the infrastructure of rebuilding and expanding our rail system would be excellent for our country in my opinion. Rail travel does connect people and communities in a way that air travel just can’t.
This song was written by the late beautiful songwriter and musician Steve Goodman
He does a far better version too.
That man could write!
Oh, I can't take this. I'm bawling here! 😭 I've been crying to it for 50 years.
"and the sons of pullman porters and the sons of engineers, ride their father's magic carpet made of steel." must be the best lyrics ever written.
From England with love ❤️🤍💙
absolutely agree!
This has been called the best railroad song ever written.
This song was written by Steve Goodman who died of cancer in his early thirties. Listen to and watch anything and everything you can of him. He was one of the greatest guitarists I ever saw. I was fortunate to hear him in person several times in our hometown Chicago. He used to introduce his playing of this as "I'd like to do a medley of my hit song." "Good Morning America" became the name of a morning news show called "Good Morning America" and this was their theme song.
That's hilarious! Thank-you.
I'll take Steve's rendition over this.
Arlo’s father was the great Woody Guthrie, lyricist of This Land Is Your Land. The complete personification of folk music. I have to thank you because I had forgotten who sang it.
The "changing cars in Memphis, Tennessee" line is about all Black passengers having to move to the specific segregated "Jim Crow Coach" because it entered the segregated South back in the day....
Interesting, I never correlated this line with the "Jim Crow Laws".
This was a huge hit back in the 70s. A great storyteller song, about not only a specific train (named "The city of New Orleans") but of the lifestyle and routine of the Railroad system, and it's deep history in the building of this great nation called America. This is Guthrie's best musical accomplishment in my opinion.
I dunno, as far as his story songs, "Coming In To Los Angeles" comes close hehe. But this is a bit more wholesome haha
Arlo didn't write this... it's by Steve Goodman (also recorded by Goodman first)
I agree with your opinion that it's his best musical accomplishment and you nailed the analysis of this song. Thanks!
You can’t really understand this song fully without knowing it’s genesis in the writer, Steve Goodman, and his life and death, and how he convinced Arlo Guthrie to sing it.
Arlo Guthrie, the singer, is the son of Woody Guthrie, an American singer-songwriter who was a significant figure in American folk music. Woody Guthrie wrote the iconic song, known all over our country by schoolchildren, “This Land Is Your Land”, one among many other great songs of Americana.
@@rmhanseniii Yes, no dispute there. I was just referencing that Arlo was the son of a famous folk song writer and singer.
@@deannawoolsey1088 you’re absolutely correct, please allow me to withdraw my original statement 😵💫
..and they removed some lines from "This Land is Your Land" because it upset the rich/oligarchs--the nerve of the common folk thinking they were entitled...
That's fascinating. But the song *this land is your land* is likely one of the first pieces of propaganda that exists, as a piece of history. Because This land was never European Lands. And the land doesn't belong to american people. The land belongs to the people it birthed.. which is people like me... Cree.. known as a native.. to others.
@@keetahbrough "There is not one square inch of land occupied by its original owners anywhere in the world "--Mark Twain
Steve Goodman was a very special young man. And great songwriter.
RIP Steve Goodman. He wrote soooooo many wonderful songs. He died of leukemia much too young. Steve said that Arlo's recording of City of New Orleans basically saved his butt financially. His sense of humor couldn't be beat even though he knew he wouldn't live long. Love you Steve and Arlo. Arlo is still with us though he had a serious stroke and had to stop touring.
Fond memories of my youth going accross the country by r ail, including the wonderful City of New Orleans. If you want to see the real America, go by train.
Arlo Guthrie's voice always gives me vibes of Bob Dylan. Great American folk singer.
This song written by Steve Goodman in 1971, has been covered by John Denver, Judy Collins, Johnny Cash, Willy Nelson and Canadian singer Roch Voisine.
Another great Arlo song, "Coming into Los Angeles". Great reaction Harri. Thanks Harri and Craig. Great trip back. Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
You’re welcome!
There are quite a few singers who don't have technically great voices, but we enjoy their uniqueness .....Arlo is one of those along with Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, Woodie Guthrie, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, even the infamous Sonny Bono .
@@bgallagher8129 Roy Orbison doesn’t have a technically great voice? Are you serious?
Well, he is the son of the legendary Woody Guthrie for crying out loud. And Bob Dylan himself was heavily influenced by this guy's father, even to the point of relocating from his native Hibbing Minnesota to New York to follow Woody as a young folk singer toward the end of Woody's life.
@@craigaust3306 Yeah, Orbison's voice is incredible.
Always loved this song. Actually, I grew up in Kankakee. About 60 miles south of Chicago. Spent 45 years of my life there. ;)
Arlo Guthrie's Alice's Restaurant is played on American Thanksgiving day on some independent radio stations. It's a real treat, but nearly 20 minutes. It's a wonderful and funny story. His father was Woody Guthrie, who may be familiar to you.
Yes, please react to it, Hari! It is a work of genius!
@@bowtangey6830, I hate the thought of overselling a song in case it doesn't get big numbers, but it's brilliant and such a tradition.
I listen to Alice's Restaurant every year on Thanksgiving!
@@steamr0ll, I should start again.
I share it with my FB friends every Thanksgiving. It's tradition
Arlo is still with us. Fortunately.
Man, I'm standing here with tears running down my face. I haven't sung this song in years, and haven't heard it in many more. Nighttime on a train, rolling across the countryside, the people who are up late, sitting in closed dining cars telling their stories. Some great old memories. Thanks for this. :)
7:07 - As Amtrak was formed, and also airline travel and travel by cars on Interstate highways is dominant, this song is a memorial to all inter-city travel on American railroads.
@@BobSoltis1 Oh... No. But that's fun. It's been a long time since I was asked. :)
I will never forget the three-day train trip from Iowa to California, 1965, I was seven. It was one of the most awesome memories from my childhood.
@@drdr76 I remember, as a kid, my shock at how the toilets worked on a train. When you flushed in those days, a flap opened and the toilet emptied on to the tracks. Hence the sign: Do Not Flush While Train Is In Station.
One of my favorite songs ever. It is so homespun. This is the backbone of America people.
One of the best songs about life in America ever written (kudos- Steve Goodman), and so well delivered by Arlo. So glad I got to hear him play it live once ! He tells cool stories in between songs too.
Love the part where he says the train pulls out of Kankakee. I was born there...about 60 miles south of Chicago. Love your reactions Harri!
A wonderful story, wonderful lyrics, wonderful accompaniment. Woody and Arlo are truly American treasures. Where are today's story-tellers? Thank you Harri, for playing this, and reacting to it. You did good!
Great question, where are today's great lyricists?
Steve Goodman wrote it though.
@@steveullrich7737 jason isbell
@@steveullrich7737Eminem is a better writer than Dylan. second only to Cohen imo
Argo Guthrie is a great singer and songwriter in his own right, and the son of one of America's true originals, the folk singer and activist, Woody Guthrie. Painted prominently on the front of Woodie's guitar were the words, “This machine kills fascists.” But this song was indeed written by another, the Chicago area singer-songwriter Steve Goodman. The song is based on an actual trip Goodman and his wife took on the train. He penned the lyrics during the trip, simply recording things as he observed them. The final lines were added later when Goodman heard that the City of New Orleans was scheduled to be discontinued for lack of passengers. Hence “the disappearing railroad blues.” Sadly, Goodman died at age 36, after many years battling leukemia. If you want to hear one of Arlo's own songs, try reacting to Alice's Restaurant, but be prepared for a long, wild and hilarious ride.
Love this song! Willie Nelson also did a great version of this
Arlo Guthrie was a really good friend of Jim Croce. I remember this song well. Thanks Harri
Arlo's father Woody Guthrie is legendary. Fortunately, he doesn't seem to have inherited his father's Huntington's Chorea. Woody Guthrie wrote and sang memorable depression-era songs such as "Union Made" and Arlo followed that tradition with songs such as "Alice's Restaurant". Thanks for playing this & your comments.
I'm glad they gave tribute to Steve Goodman. He was a brilliant talent. Arlo Guthrie is the son of Woody Guthrie, who was the godfather of modern protest folk music. The beat started with the tempo of the train wheels. It birthed hundreds of songs.
I see that someone else has mentioned this song was written in 1970 by Steve Goodman (brilliant songwriter, guitarist, singer, and entertainer) who played it for Arlo - who asked to record it.
Arlo is always a winner, and best wishes from New Orleans... really!
Live north of Mephis, TN
@@denicesanders4586 I used to be a bartender at BB Kings and the Rum Boogie. Did my time there
Great song my Dad loved Folk music and brings back wonderful memories.
Arlo's voice is perfect for this song.
Great request Craig. Love Arlo Guthrie. A fantastic song. Good reaction Prince Harri. 🤴🇬🇧🇨🇦🇺🇸👍🙃
Arlo is the son of an American folk icon, Woody Guthrie. Arlo grew up around some of the best folk singers of his dad's era including Pete Seeger and the other members of The Weavers. He paid his dues touring for several decades. His voice is so pure that at times you can hear it ring.
Woody wrote many of America's most important folk songs in the 30's and 40's. "Do Re Mi", "This Land is Your Land", "Roll On, Columbia, Roll On", and "So Long, It's Been Good to Know Yuh".
Back when The City of New Orleans was still the Illinois Central, the trains were more important to travel. They are still used, but are part of the Amtrak lines and are more corporatized, as well as more expensive. There was something more "romantic" about rail travel back then. I never got to ride the original City of New Orleans, but I did travel with my young daughter many years ago on the Amtrak City of New Orleans. Sang her to sleep with this song more than once. Great reaction.
It's more expensive because they no longer haul mail, and the mail and express baggage contracts where what made passenger service profitable. Very few passenger trains survived on just passenger fares even in the heyday of rail travel.
Omg I’ve always loved this song. Thanks for reacting to it!
Damn, I love this song, have loved it for just about 50 years now. Still brings a slight tear to my eye. So glad you now have it in your life.
To my ears, his voice is haunting in this song. Something about it makes my heart ache.
Edit: Jesus. Maybe I'm just exhausted but my eyes were misty by the time I got to the end of this one tonight.
Arlo has a way of sneaking up on you. You are there enjoying a rambling tale, just smiling and singing along. All of the sudden you find he has managed to slip a shroud of melancholy over your. The lyric "Good morning America, how are you!" is bright, cheerful, and it is right up front. In the background you hear the clickety-clack of the train and at the end of the refrain he sings, "this train's got the disappearing railroad blues".
He is insidious in his greatness.
Here's a little Ditty written by Tom Paxton that Arlo made his own. This is from the Double CD "Precious Friend (1982)" that he released with Peter Seeger.
"I'm Changing My Name to Chrysler"
m.ruclips.net/video/w8uo6cfG4J8/видео.html
Trains in general do that to me. They give me a haunting, sad feeling.
Yes!
Arlo and Woody Guthrie wrote some real American treasures.
Written by Steve Goodman
ruclips.net/video/e4ztWNJYFrU/видео.htmlsi=DO8GPKC3NtQWyw03
Hi Harri, yes an American classis. I'm a Rail Road Engineer and so was my Dad. This song stirs the memories of many involved with the rail ways. Every time I cross the Florida/ Georgia State line (which is a large river) I play this song in the cab.
I read an account that Steve Goodman shared the song with his friend, John Prine, who then took him to talk to Arlo who wasn't sure it was for him. Clearly they were persistent enough. Might also try Coming Into Los Angeles by Arlo. There is a great live version complete with some good storytelling as a set up to the song.
I love Arlo's live songs because you always get a story. My favorite is when his wife got arrested.
Steve and John also wrote, You Never Even Called Me by My Name. Which is the perfect country song.
Yes, let's not forget Steve Goodman wrote this song.
Thanks for bringing this Harri. I'm glad you enjoyed this song as much as I do. I've had the privilege of seeing Arlo in concert several times. Wonderful experiences each time. His music, as always, was fantastic. But, the stories he told between songs were alone worth the price of admission. That includes the story of how Steve Goodman brought this song to him.
Arlo and Pete Seeger used to do annual Thanksgiving weekend concerts at Carnegie Hall in NYC. I went to several and they were both great and the audience would sing along. One time Arlo sang Alice’s Restaurant - a treat I will never forget.
I took my first train trip in the ‘70s, and I fell in love. Makes me sad that this experience is all but gone now. It was a beautiful thing.
Great song by my Chicago homie Steve Goodman.
this song is written by the late great Steve Goodman. You should check out his "TURNPIKE TOM" as well as his other stuff. What a loss it was when Steve left this world. 😢
So young too. Did you ever hear My Old Man by him? Such a heartfelt and heartbreaking song.
@@RicoBurghFan Yes. So sad. I have listened to al Steve's songs, actually.
@@RicoBurghFan great song.. John prine does an amazing version too
I was lucky enough to see Steve Goodman live in a small coffee house just off Harvard Square in the early seventies. He was awesome.
Don't forget his homage to tow truck drivers: Lincoln Park Pirates. As a native Chicagoan, it always makes me smile. Great memory there!
This song always sends me back to my childhood in the 1950's when passenger trains were a still a way to travel from town to town.
Harri,as noted by many subs here,this was written by Steve Goodman great underrated talent. You should react to his tribute song to his Father: "My Old Man"...it is beautiful.
Harri , check out some of his fathers music and you will see/ hear where is music comes from . Father is WOODY GUTHRIE
Oh..and to add to my previous comment.. the "City of New Orleans" was a passenger train that ran from Chicago to New Orleans, through Memphis and many other small cities. Was originally an Illinois Central train, but has since been taken over by Amtrak. Of course I've seen the train at the Kankakee train station many times growing up. So the song definitely has special meaning for me. ;)
I've ridden it to both New Orleans and Chicago. One more check on my bucket list. ☺️✌️
Makes me think of home - Memphis. I miss it, and I love this song. Arlo is a great story teller, and this song almost seems like a story as he sings it. Great choice, great reaction.
Steve Goodman was a good friend of Arlo's and wrote a bunch of important songs in the early 70s and teamed up with his buddy John Prine who we lost last spring to Covid-19... (Another Guy you should check out, say "Sam Stone". or "Paradise").
This was a big hit for Arlo back around '73... he just retired from performing due to health reasons, but he always will be remembered for this one and the long 60s anthem "Alice's Restaurant"
Steve died young when his Hodskins Disease returned in the early 80s but this was his masterpiece and his friends always talked fondly of the guy... he was a fine guitarist and wrote some very personal tunes, often funny but some like "My Old Man" quite poignant ... go check him out or John Prine... they wrote a big hit that was recorded by another guy over a drunken weekend called "You Never Even Called Me By My Name"... that's another to search out.
The other thing about this song is that it's talking about a train that effectively ran back and forth from just outside of Chicago (where Steve was from) to New Orleans ... and was the place where years before the civil rights movement Black men started making a pretty decent living as Pullman Porters on this and other trains which helped to build the Black Middle Class so in context it's also about that
You really should react to his “Alice’s Restaurant” He did write that one. It is VERY long but we’ll worth the listen. Very funny but also makes a number of political statements, particularly about the draft.
Arlo is soooo under-rated. I saw him a couple of times in Ct. He is an AMAZING story teller, and super funny. Now I want to see him again! Have fun all.
I don't think Arlo has passed. I saw him a few years back to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his legendary "Alice's Restaurant." What a rare treat that was. And, he did this number as well. Thanks for doing this one - I love your channel.
Could you get anything you want??? 😋✌️♥️ Legendary
@@johnboydTx Yeah, at Alice's Restaurant 🤪😜😊😉👍😁 Now, do you wanna pickle 🥒, or would you rather ride a motorcycle🏍???
Arlo is still with us, and is 75 years old now.
@@StevesFunhouse He posts on Facebook frequently.
Steve Goodman passed away.
His dad was Bob Dylan’s idol, you gotta check out “Alice’s Restaurant”; it’s an epic protest song in the most brilliant fashion 👍
It's about the death of rail transit in general, not a specific line, and about the death of the corresponding culture.
Always loved this song it triggers fun times while growing up.
I've always loved Arlo, sadly no relation. He is just so genuine! Check out his performance at the Woodstock concert, hehe
Awesome reaction as always Harri and Arlo Guthrie is alive and living in Florida with his second wife. His first wife passed away in 2012 from liver cancer. He announced in 2020 that he would no longer do any concerts or make any appearances. Such a great song, it can bring tears ♥️
Arlo still has a farm in the Berkshires outside of Stockbridge, spends the Summers here about 12 miles from where I live. I saw him perform in 89 at Bethel, with his Son's band, at an "unauthorized" Woodstock gathering, on the original site.
At 72 years old I can still remember when Amtrak announced that they were going to discontinue the rail run from Chicago to New Orleans to save money due to low ridership. In the last verse it says..."this trains got the disappearing railroad blues." For some reason there was a tremendous push back from the general public. Goodman wrote the song and recorded it but it didn't really get much attention. Arlo Guthery recorded it with this really cool rhythm like train wheels on a track and not only did it take off but it created a huge movement of public outcry to save "The City Of New Orleans" from extinction. That train run still operates today!
Arlo was also at Woodstock and tells stories about it during some of his live performances.
Great reaction! Love this sing along song!
It was made into a movie mid 70's Arlo was the son of late folk singer Woody Guthrie, who toy story was based on,Woody died in a nursing home, Bob Dylan,Arlo and Peter from Peter Paul and Mary were there ,so Woody gave a lesson on how to right a song ,This song was recorded by Bob Dylan and Peter Paul and Mary , Bob Dylan was classified as the righter , the was Blowing In The Wind
“Coming Into Los Angeles” is a good one to react to ☮️❤️👵🏼
Arlo is one of those musicians that must be experienced live ,the whole show ,not just the indivual songs .
Harry, this song is about as evocative of the spirit of AMERICA as can possibly be...Arlo Guthrie is a national teasure...
Arlo is a music genius.🎸☮️🌎
Next Arlo Guthrie song: Alice’s Restaurant! You should also listen to Arlo's father Woody Guthrie sing This Land Is Your Land.
Goodman had no progeny to be proud of him, but his many fans still remember him. He was diagnosed with leukemia in 1969 and lived with the knowledge that he would die early till that finally happened in '84
This used to be our favourite at our hangout in the ‘70s. Still love it ❤
The city of New Orleans was a train on the Illinois Central that ran between Chicago and New Orleans . Amtrak still has a line today called the city of New Orleans but it runs a slightly different route than the original. It’s basically a train that runs thru the heart of America following down the Mississippi River
To understand Arlo - you must know his father Woody and his music.
My late father, who worked the trains in the late 1940s and early 50s, loved this song. He said, "This kid [Steve Goodman, the songwriter] really knew trains!" Memphis really was where they "switched cars". And the part about the sons of Pullman Porters, and the sons of engineers riding, "their fathers' magic carpets made of steel," referred to the fact that as the senior guys on the train they were allowed to take their children on the trains with them. Often during summer holidays, the kids would take trips with their dads. I can't imagine how much fun that would be! This is one of my favourite songs, and I loved your reaction to it! Thank you.
I'm glad you mentioned that Steve Goodman wrote this song. He discovered that he had leukemia in 1969 and suffered from the dease until his death in 1984 at the age of 36. He felt that he was living on borrowed time and produced quite a lot of material during his short career. The Highwaymen do a killer version of this song, live, with Willie Nelson singing lead. Another popular Goodman song is "You Never Even Call Me by My Name," by David Allen Coe.
As a kid in Australia i loved this song. Grew up in suburbia but always dreamed of a country life.
Fantastic request Craig! I always loved this song and haven’t heard it in years. Riding “their fathers’ magic carpet made of steel”. Great review from Harri. I agree that it’s sugar in my ears 🌺✌️
Sorry, someone probably already said this -- but the "New Orleans" is still a train that goes from Chicago to New Orleans (or at least it did a few years ago). If you have a chance to ride it, go for it.
This song always brings tears. An earlier era that has passed. Good night City of New Oreleans.
This song was written by a great storytelling urban songwriter named Steve Goodman. Steve and John Prine used to haunt the folk clubs in Chicago. Both American Classics. R.I.P. to both!!!
Decades ago, in the mid-1980s, I went to an Arlo Guthrie concert. Before performing this song, he explained something about the lives of musicians who gain some recognition: if you go to a bar, people often come up to you wanting to perform a song they've written.They're hoping for help breaking into the music biz, or at least some encouragement, but as Arlo said, it's the worst song you've heard in your life. "Well, don't quit your day job," is what he wants to say but doesn't.
So, anyway, one night in the early 1970s there's a supplicant seeking Arlo's attention for his song. Arlo responds, "Tell you what. I'm going to drink this beer. You can do what you want while I finish it." That aspiring musician was Steve Goodman, and the new song he wanted to play was his version of City of New Orleans. Arlo affirmed to us, "That turned out to be one of the best beers I've had."
such an amazing song. I've taken "The City of New Orleans" but on Amtrack. still had this song on my mind.
Written by the late great Steve Goodman
Hari, glad you liked this. It's one of my favorites.
Highly recommend Arlo Guthrie's, "The Motorcycle Song"...
It's brilliant and hilarious ..
This paints such a picture......you can feel yourself on the train. City of New Orleans still runs out of Memphis TN. It departs around 3 am.........for years I I have wanted to take it to New Orleans. Living in Nashville now I just might. I wish the Nashville train station was still in operation because it's about a 4 hour drive to Memphis but will be worth it. In the 70's Geraldo Rivera had a news show that aired around 11 pm. It was called Good NIght America and this was the theme song. Love Arlo, and love this so much.
Thanks for this one Craig ! Remember "Alice's Restaurant," which was also great! Thank you dear Harri 🥰✌
His dad, Woody Guthrie, was a folksinger during the Great Depression and was no stranger to the hobo lifestyle and was one of those who road the trains hiding in freight cars. This song was such a beautiful tribute to those men.
Once saw a good movie about Woodie Guthrie.... Can't remember it's name tho...
@@jimmyfortrue3741 It was probably "Bound for Glory" with David Carradine.
@@Martin.Wilson That's it.. I now recall David Carradine played the part. Thanks for reminding me.
Great reaction Harri! Arlo Guthrie has the perfect voice for this one.Steve Goodman the songwriter has one of my Desert Island albums " Jessie's Jig and other favorites" which will put Diamonds in your ears! Check it out if you get a chance.
Listen to Alice's restaurant. It's a Thanksgiving talking song.
I love hearing old trains rumbling by and hearing the whistle blow. The railroad tracks are one street over and I've been listening to the train pass by every morning for the past 58 years.
Steve Goodman wrote this song about a train with "the disappearin' railroad blues." The song became a hit on the radio-- not Arlo's version, Steve's. A month later Amtrak cancelled the train. It had been in the works for a long time.
Arlo's version was the bigger hit, making it to number 18 on Billboards Hot 100.
@@debjorgo i don't deny that, I know. Just pointing out the irony. Goodman wrote the song, recorded it, released it, it was popular. And he predicted it- " this train got the disapperain' railroad blues." A month later Amtrak cancelled it. Then Arlo had the big hit, a lot of folks sang it, the idea became popular. Years later, Amtrak reinstated the train because of the popularity of the song. It ran for some more years, declining all the time. Finally, Amtrak cancelled it again, combining its schedule with the Panama Limited, a name which doesn't fit the melody, and doesn't have the same poetry in its soul.
@@larrystuder8543 Thanks for the info. That is an interesting swing of events. The song is about the passenger trains disappearing. I'm a big fan of Arlo's, in that my sister bought his Washington County album when it came out. I picked it up on CD years later. And of course, I like the Alice's Restaurant album. Funny, I like this song a lot, but I don't have the album it's on. I remember something about Steve Goodman, but I can't remember exactly what it was. I don't recognize anything on his wiki-page. I guess I just remember him from writing this song.
What a beautiful song!
You should listen to “Alice’s Restaurant “
This song is about the demise of commercial passenger rail service in the United States. Each of the major railroad companies used to have their own lines, much as the airline industry does today. All these company lines ended service and were replaced by one national Amtrak service, which, in my opinion, is woefully underfunded. I don't know, maybe there is one penny spent on passenger rail service in the US for every million dollars spent on airline services.
Love this song ! Steve Goodman is such a great song writer . And Arlos voice has the perfect feel for the song , that's why for years and years I thought he wrote it. But rhere is another song Arlo did write which is classic and hilarious called Alice's Resturant. Also there is a movie of the same name starring Arlo. Kind of light hearted war protest movie is my way of describing it. Check them out Harri.
This reaction brings back childhood memories of singing along to this song. I loved this song as a child, especially the chorus ❤
Back in the 70s I was learning guitar and bought the sheet music. I still have it, it's still a favorite song of mine.
Written by the super wonderful human, Steve Goodman!! ♡
This song is full of great memories and stories by both Steve and Arlo.
Steve Goodman and his friend John Prine are two great songwriter/singers. Goodman was an excellent guitar player and story teller.
Another incredible song by Arlo is one that is little known but so beautiful and so powerful. Lister to "Somebody Turned on The Light."
Mmmm . . . love this song! This is one I used as a lullaby years ago -- so smooth and rhythmic and LONG, it was perfect for rocking my babies to sleep. : )
Legend has it, (Arlo told this story himself,) Steve Goodman came to him in his makeup room after the show and asked if he could play him a song he wrote. Arlo replied, "I'm going to sit here and drink this beer, and while I'm drinking you can do whatever you want!"
Arlo concluded with perfect understatement, "It was one of the better beers I had ever drunk!"
This song was about the demise of the American passenger trains in the mid-60s to mid-70s. The government had to come in to continue passenger rail service (Amtrack) as jet travel and the interstate highway system had made passenger service not profitable for the major railroads. I was lucky, my grandfather worked for MKT railroad and I got to ride on the now long gone Rock Island railroad (which also has a song about it, Rock Island Line, done by the great Johnny Cash)