a very random couple of America songs…

Bleed American by Jimmy Eat World

(At least as powerful now as it was then, I think.)

City of New Orleans - Steve Goodman, popularized by Willie Nelson/Arlo Guthrie/etc. A little sad, a little gritty, but not unlovely. Kind of goes with America by Simon and Garfunkel in my head?

Speaking of trains, but not in a great way:

The L&N Don’t Stop Here Anymore - Jean Richie (or any of the many covers). A bitter folk song about coal miners getting screwed over could be from a couple places. One that starts the chorus with “ I was born and raised at the mouth of Hazard holler”, calls out the L&N (Louisville & Nashville rail line), mentions scrip/company stores (which I’m pretty sure was an illegal practice in the UK and Canada a lot earlier), and references kudzu… yep, you’re in the Appalachians.

I had one more that got back into a more pop/rock place but now I CANNOT remember. Oops.