John Denver - City of New Orleans — Although Denver made this song famous, it was originally written by Steve Goodman. Goodman, a folk icon from Chicago, penned the tune in one night, inspired by his experiences on trains. The song's details are rooted in Goodman's rides on the Illinois Central Railroad. Denver was drawn to Goodman's creation and adopted it as his own, making some changes to the lyrics. Their collaboration story is disputed, but Denver's version remains the most iconic, bringing