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