Dixie Flyer by Randy Newman

Album: Land Of Dreams (1988)

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This is a biographical song about the Newman family. Newman was born in Los Angeles on November 28, 1943. It is evident from the lyrics that his grandparents were Orthodox Jews who were trying to throw off their Jewishness and live the American Dream. In the song, his mother leaves Los Angeles bound for New Orleans where her family lived, on the Dixie Flyer, which was a train that traveled from the midwest to Florida. >>
Suggestion credit:
Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments: 4

Fong Tong from Atlanta GaIn reality, the "Dixie Flyer" train went from Chicago to Florida via Nashville and Atlanta - it went nowhere near Los Angeles. The train from Los Angeles to New Orleans was (and still is) called the "Sunset Limited."
The Land Of Green Ginger from Essex, UkNew Orleans is known as The Land of Dreams long before Randy Newman, from a Louis Armstrong lyric, no irony, even if he wasn't a jazz fan he'd have heard it called that, as well as The Crescent City, The Big Easy etc
Dave from New England, UsThough Newman's parents were Jewish, they were nonobservant--definitely not orthodox. He has said that he grew up with no religious identity. Regardless, it would have been easier at the time to live in the American South--"down there" as he refers to it in the song--being Christian.
Rene from New Orleans, Larandy, as normal being tongue-in-cheek calling new orleans the land of dreams; but i like it...

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