G'day,
Here's how the words might have been if written by a young man meeting his real father for the first time:-

CITY OF NEW ORLEANS

I've travelled from the City of New Orleans
I tracked you down to Memphis Tennessee
It's taken such a long, long time to find you
But you meant so much to my mama and me
Do you remember long ago
You travelled round and made your dough
Sellin' life insurance door to door
I guess you've made your pile since then
You spend your time among rich men
Like predators you prey upon the poor.

Good mornin' Mr Business Man how are you
Say don't you know me, I'm your natural son
I was conceived the day you wandered through New Orleans
You were gone 500 miles when the day was done.

Night time in the City of New Orleans
You knocked upon a poor young lady's door
I guess you sold her more than life insurance
When day had dawned you'd left for Baltimore
But you don't know how hard it's been
Our lives have been a bad dream
All this time you still ain't heard the news
But here I am I've found my dad
From now on life won't be bad
'Cause now you've got the re-appearing offspring blues.

Cheers,
Alan