City of New Orleans is a folk song written by Steve Goodman, describing a train ride from Chicago to New Orleans in bittersweet and nostalgic terms. Goodman got the idea while traveling on the train of that name for a visit to his wife's family. He performed the song for Arlo Guthrie in the Quiet Knight, a bar in Chicago, and Guthrie agreed to add it to his repertoire. The song proved a hit for Guthrie in 1972 on his album Hobo's Lullaby, and is now more closely associated with him, although Goodman continued to perform it until his death in 1984. The song has also been covered by Willie Nelson, John Denver, Johnny Cash, Judy Collins, Jerry Reed, and others.