This is one of those songs that will make me miss a phone call, a season finale, or a toast, just so I can listen to it from beginning to end.  The combination of wonderful, picture-painting lyrics and beautiful music makes me ache for a rocking chair, a pipe, and a view of the mountains.  Thank you, Steve Goodman, for creating this song. And thank you, Arlo Guthrie, for bringing it to my attention so many years ago...

Been on that train.  What a great experience, and how well this song captures it!

It doesn't matter who does this song it's notes waft on the memories of my youth...being a kid listening to my Mom singing this with her country/rock cover band at band practice while I curled up in the corner with a book and my dog, Jenny.    Thanks for the mini vacation from the mundane stress of this work day!!  :-)

Not my favorite of his but still good.

 KevH wrote: 
I'll second that.

I give you visual proof that Steve was indeed a north-sider who bled "Cubbie Blue" all the way to the end:



He still gets a bunch of local airplay, as the Cubs play his "Go Cubs Go" song after every home win. 

If you have a chance, check out his far superior "A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request" on youtube.  It's got a bunch of early-80's dated references, but the lingering pain of Cubbie futility is still looming constantly almost 30 years later.

Love the song Bill,  Thank you!

Kind of surprised that the writer of this song, Steve Goodman, is not on the RP playlist. 

 katyb wrote: 
Well, in my defense. Well, I have no defense.
Peace,

Nice!

 MortimerS wrote: 
Sorry, MortimerS., Steve Goodman, the writer of this song, was from Chicago not Minnesota. 

 autoroute25 wrote: 

In Holland: Gerard Cox - Het is weer voorbij die mooie zomer (1973)

memories ...

The only guy who could pull off "Solo Reunion Tour - Together At Last".

I am just old enough to remember what "father's magic carpet made of steel" was like before Amtrak.  Those of you who aren't, just listen to this, and you'll have some idea.

And a Minnesotan wrote it. Go figure. I do like this version, but Steve live at the Orpheum with John Prine before he passed is the one I will remember.

OMG!  I love this song — my mom had this album and I grew up listening to it, and we would all sing along.  I will always have a soft spot for it, and all the records in my mom's collection because that was my first exposure to music!

Arlo Guthrie live by =mjbear
marty   ©2008-2010 =mjbear

This is Arlo Guthrie. He played with his son and grandson at the festival but he has been known for years. To those who don't know of him, he an iconic legend so you should find out more about him. He has some of the best stories and plays some great tunes. He even played at Woodstock. One of the funniest things he said during the time he played was a quote from Marylin Monroe that was never written down. She said " The best answer when asked to do something your not sure about is....ahh what the hell...." Just made me smile. The last song he played at the event was "this land is your land", and had stories to tell after each verse. If you ever get the chance to see him you must or you will regret it.

Stands the test of time quite well, me thinks. 

Sorta interesting that this lovely song would be charactarized as Arlo's "one hit" (forgetting "Alice's Restaurant"), given who he is and that his daddy had a guitar with the legend "This machine kills fascists" written on it.

Joe Dassin - Salut les amoureux

Good cover but Steve' Goodman's original is sublime...

Bill and Rebecca, it is time that we had some Steve Goodman on Radio Paradise.  Please!

Remember riding The City of New Orleans line from Chicago to Effingham during the college days. Something romantic about it. It was like the Orient Express in winter. Such an odd cast of characters. I would always eat a Gold Coast hot dog and fries before boarding at Union Station. You could always count on the train to arrive between 30 minutes and four hours late. Ah, the rails.

 wxman wrote: 
This may be one of the biggest mistakes of your life... but you already know that.  I do feel bad for you, though. 

Yes, more Steve Goodman... The Dutchman anyone?

This song has given me chills from the first listen decades ago.  I nearly cry.  I know not why.

 Blip wrote: 

Steve Goodman

 steeler wrote: 

Bill you really need to play some Steve Goodman.  He is one of the great song writers.  I fortunately got to see him in Boston one year, and miss him.