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Song Parodies -> "The City of New Orleans"

Original Song Title:

"The City of New Orleans"

Original Performer:

Steve Goodman

Parody Song Title:

"The City of New Orleans"

Parody Written by:

Phil Alexander

The Lyrics

Trying to find the "City of New Orleans"
Illinois Central - nope, it isn't there
Tried fifteen maps in fifteen different counties
Geographic'ly challenged, can't find it anywhere

I'm on a south-bound odyssey, from Illinois through Missouri
Passing Greenville, Buffalo, Springfield
Little Rock was all I saw of Tennessee and Arkansas
In Kentucky was the cute-named "Booneville"

Singing
I know you're in A-merica. Where are you?
Saying I can't find it, ain't the index crap?
I'm looking for the "City of New Orleans".
But I'll be damned before I buy a brand new map

I found a mountain down in West Virginia
Almost heaven - nope, that's another song
Through Maryland and North/South Carolina
I'm still lookin' and I must be going wrong
Found Macon down in Georgia, I hear they make good wine down here
Peachtree City's really peachy too
Florida's a bit absurd: I came across St Petersburg
I thought that was in Russia - didn't you?

Singing
I know you're in A-merica. Where are you?
Saying I can't find it, ain't the index crap?
I'm looking for the "City of New Orleans".
But I'll be damned before I buy a brand new map

But I still can't find the city of New Orleans
I looked all across Alabam' for you
And I thought Birmingham was in England
And in Mississippi, there's a "Booneville" too
Yes, I know you're in A-merica. where are you
I'll look in Louisiana - oh, of course!
It's way down south, the "City of New Orleans".
So why's the song say Illinois up North?

Singing
I know you're in A-merica. I found you!
I couldn't, then I looked again, again
I found out that the "City of New Orleans".
That goddamn song was all about a train

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Original Song: 
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Voting Results

 
Pacing: 3.9
How Funny: 4.0
Overall Rating: 4.2

Total Votes: 8

Voting Breakdown

The following represent how many people voted for each category.

    Pacing How Funny Overall Rating
 1   1
 1
 1
 
 2   0
 0
 0
 
 3   1
 1
 0
 
 4   3
 2
 2
 
 5   3
 4
 5
 

User Comments

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Guy DiRito - June 06, 2003 - Report this comment
The song is a favorite of mine and you did well by it. Glad you wern't looking for Nantucket... I gave you 5s
Royce Miller - June 06, 2003 - Report this comment
Good one, Phil
Rice Cube - June 06, 2003 - Report this comment
It's in Louisiana ;-) Maybe you could've written about Mardi Gras! (unless that's what the original was about...dunno the song :-/)
Phil - June 06, 2003 - Report this comment
Yes, I know it's Louisiana, Rice: I found it in the last verse ;-)... and the original's about (and I quote) 'A train they call "The City of New Orleans" '
Phil - June 06, 2003 - Report this comment
PS Guy... "Nantucket", huh? Well, I guess the "Bucket" rhyme might get a bit overused ;-)
Billy Florio - June 06, 2003 - Report this comment
Am I nuts or isnt this by Arlo Guthrie?
Wild Man - June 06, 2003 - Report this comment
If Memory serves, I think Billy is right. Thought it was Arlo Too! Nevertheless and excelent parody of a rock classic!
Meriadoc - June 06, 2003 - Report this comment
From an American viewpoint, this was hilarious! Hope to see this one go stright to #1 - it deserves it!
Claude Prez - June 06, 2003 - Report this comment
Well done, Phil. And Billy, I'm pretty sure Arlo had the hit with this but Goodman wrote it. Either way you're nuts tho.
Michael Pacholek - June 07, 2003 - Report this comment
Phil, it's not "Bucket." It's "Bouquet!" And yes, Steve Goodman wrote it, and Arlo Guthrie had the hit. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must transfer to the 7 Flushing Local.
Rick D - October 31, 2003 - Report this comment
The place where I play at has a couple guys that play this song, which I dislike. Can I do your version to shut them up? I laughed my buns off.
Johnny D - October 31, 2003 - Report this comment
This parody is superb. All 5's. One of my favorite folk songs, and Phil, you did it sweet justice.
My favorite line:
I found a mountain down in West Virginia Almost heaven - nope, that's another song
LOL !
Michael Pacholek - November 01, 2003 - Report this comment
St. Petersburg is in Russia? You're close, at least in terms of repression: Miami is starting to resemble Hitler's Berlin mixed with Pinochet's Chile, and I will get over it when he's out of office! By the way, Steve Goodman's "other song" is "A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request." It sounds like a parody, but it's real. Too bad it turned out to be the truth as well.
Phil Alexander - November 03, 2003 - Report this comment
Rick - please do... let me know how it goes.

Michael - I thought Steve Goodman's other song was "You never even called me by my name", the C&W song to end all C&W songs (at least, that's what David Allan Coe says)
AMIRIGHT AWARDS NOMINEE - November 13, 2003 - Report this comment
"Annoyances of Life"
vickie - April 27, 2007 - Report this comment
Love it love it love it !!! Can't belive you honored Booneville !!! I grew up only a few miles from Booneville (between Booneville & Corinth) so what a treat. Just curious, what gave you the idea to put that little 'ole town in your song ? FYI, Booneville is home of Northeast Mississippi College (go Tigers) & is named for the Boone family of Daniel Boone. Although I live in the 'big city' of Nashville now, it made me think of home. Clever lyrics - thanks again.
Phil Alexander - April 27, 2007 - Report this comment
:-) Thanks for reminding me of this one, Vickie... it's a long time since I've had a read of it, and I wrote the thing. To answer your question, IIRC I included "Booneville" partly 'cause I spotted more than one on the map, and partly because it reminds me of a mispronounced motorbike
Larry - September 09, 2014 - Report this comment
Hilarious all the way

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