Hello, Kankakee County and beyond! Today, we’re celebrating a story that runs on steel rails, bridges musical generations, and puts our hometown right at the heart of American song. On this week’s episode of the Kankakee Podcast, I, Jake LaMore, take you on a journey through the legacy of “City of New Orleans”—a song that not only immortalizes the golden age of rail travel but also gives a heartfelt shoutout to Kankakee.
A Folk Song with a Hometown Stop
You don’t have to be a train buff or a folk music fanatic to recognize these famous lines:
“Ridin’ on the City of New Orleans / Illinois Central, Monday morning rail.”
What you might not know? That train rolled right through Kankakee, and Steve Goodman’s storytelling mapped our city onto music history forever.
Key Point:
“That line right there, that train route, it rolled straight through Kankakee, and this song has cemented our city into musical history.” — Jake LaMore
Steve Goodman: The Man Behind the Song
Chicago native Steve Goodman was a powerhouse of folk songwriting and storytelling. Diagnosed with leukemia at just 20, he packed his too-short life with humor, hope, and an uncanny ability to find poetry along the backroads and rail lines of America. In 1970, Goodman and his wife Nancy rode the Illinois Central from Chicago, passing through Kankakee. As Nancy slept, Goodman looked out the window, guitar and notebook in hand, documenting everything he saw—from the quiet fields to the card players in the club car.
When Goodman learned that the real Illinois Central’s City of New Orleans train was soon to be discontinued, he turned his notes into a bittersweet musical tribute to that great American journey.
A Song’s Unlikely Journey
Goodman’s 1971 recording didn’t make waves at first—but he didn’t give up. The story goes that he cornered folk star Arlo Guthrie in a Chicago bar and promised to play “just one song.” If Guthrie didn’t like it, Goodman would buy him a beer and leave him alone. Arlo was hooked, and in 1972, his laid-back version of “City of New Orleans” became a national hit.
Key Quote:
“Arlo listened, and by the end, he was hooked.” — Jake LaMore
Suddenly, “Good morning America, how are ya?” wasn’t just a lyric—it became a catchphrase, even inspiring ABC’s iconic morning show title.
From the Rails to the Grammys
After Goodman’s untimely death in 1984 at age 36, “City of New Orleans” found new life, thanks to Willie Nelson. Nelson’s heartfelt cover topped the country charts and earned Goodman a posthumous Grammy, keeping the song—and Kankakee’s memory—rolling for new generations.
Key Point:
“Willie’s version has a slower, more reflective tone than Arlo’s. It captures that sense of farewell, not just to the train itself, but maybe to a whole way of life.” — Jake LaMore
Kankakee’s Musical Landmark
The real “City of New Orleans” train isn’t just a relic. It’s still rolling, now via Amtrak, connecting small towns like ours with the wider world. For decades, students, soldiers, families, and dreamers of all stripes have stared out those very same windows, and—whether they know it or not—followed Goodman’s poetic journey.
Key Quote:
“So next time you hear the whistle or see the train pass by, think of Steve, Arlo, Willie, and the music that keeps those tracks alive.” — Jake LaMore
A Lasting Tribute
“City of New Orleans” isn’t just a song—it’s a memory, an ode to ordinary moments, a love letter to midwestern landscapes, and a lasting reminder that every stop—even Kankakee—has a story worth telling.
I hope you’ll ride along with us this week. If you haven’t heard “City of New Orleans” in a while, give it a listen and feel the pride that comes with that Kankakee shoutout.
Thanks for joining me on this musical journey! Subscribe to the Kankakee Podcast for more stories straight from the heart of our community. And next time you see the train roll by, don’t forget to wave!
Sources: songfacts.com, American Songwriter, PBS, Soundbreaking, Rolling Stone, the Steve Goodman biography Facing the Music, and the Library of Congress archive on American railroads.
