<Tr> <Th> Songwriter (s) </Th> <Td> Steve Goodman </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Producer (s) </Th> <Td> Kris Kristofferson, Norbert Putnam </Td> </Tr> <P> "City of New Orleans" is a folk song written by Steve Goodman (and first recorded for Goodman's self - titled 1971 album), describing a train ride from Chicago to New Orleans on the Illinois Central Railroad's City of New Orleans in bittersweet and nostalgic terms . </P> <P> Goodman got the idea while traveling on the Illinois Central line for a visit to his wife's family . The song has been recorded by numerous artists both in the US and Europe, including two major hit versions: first by Arlo Guthrie in 1972, and later by Willie Nelson in 1984 . </P>

What is the song the city of new orleans about