House of the Rising Sun

[Verse]
There is a house in New Orleans
You call the Rising Sun.
It’s been the ruin of many a poor soul
And me, oh God, I’m one.

[Verse]
My mother she’s a tailor,
Sews those new blue jeans.
My sweetheart, he’s a drunkard, Lord God
He drinks down in New Orleans.

[Verse]
Go and tell my baby sister
Never do like I have done.
Shun that house down in New Orleans
That they call that Rising Sun.

[Verse]
It’s one foot on the platform,
One foot on the train.
I’m going back down to New Orleans
To wear my ball and my chain.

[Verse]
My life is almost over,
My race is almost run.
Going back down to New Orleans
To that house of the Rising Sun.

ABOUT THE SONG

The song “House of the Rising Sun” has a long and complex history that traces back from the Appalachian coal miners of the United States to folk traditions in the British Isles. Over time, the song evolved through oral transmission, changing lyrics, themes, and instrumentation, but it retains its roots in traditional folk ballads.

Origins in the British Isles

The origins of “House of the Rising Sun” are thought to lie in the British Isles, where a rich tradition of ballad singing developed, particularly in England, Scotland, and Ireland. Many folk songs in these regions were often passed down orally and carried across the Atlantic by British and Irish immigrants. The themes of loss, hardship, and moral consequences, common in British ballads, are reflected in the song’s lyrics.

The earliest versions of the song may be connected to traditional English ballads like “The Unfortunate Rake” or “Matty Groves,” which often told cautionary tales about crime, regret, and societal downfall. These ballads were typically sung in a slow, mournful style and conveyed the sense of inevitable misfortune, much like “House of the Rising Sun.”

Arrival in America and Connection to Appalachia

As immigrants from the British Isles settled in the Appalachian region of the U.S., they brought their music with them. In the early 20th century, Appalachian coal miners, many of whom descended from these British and Irish settlers, would have been familiar with these traditional ballads. “House of the Rising Sun” may have been adapted and localized in this setting, taking on a more distinct American identity.

In the Appalachian folk tradition, themes of hardship and struggle were particularly resonant. The ballads that immigrants brought from Europe were often reshaped to reflect the miners’ difficult lives, with “House of the Rising Sun” serving as a lament for misfortune or regret. Some versions refer to a brothel in New Orleans, while others are more general, depicting a place of vice and ruin.

Evolution of the Lyrics and Themes

The lyrics of “House of the Rising Sun” likely changed over time, with different versions circulating in different regions. The “rising sun” may have originally referred to a symbol of misfortune or sin, possibly tied to a gambling house, a prison, or a brothel. The song’s setting in New Orleans likely developed in the U.S., though the phrase “rising sun” appears in various folk songs from Europe as well.

In some versions, the protagonist is male, while in others, it is a woman. The theme of moral downfall—whether through gambling, drinking, or prostitution—is a constant, mirroring the cautionary tone of many old British ballads. The melody, meanwhile, shares similarities with both British and Appalachian folk music, reinforcing its transatlantic roots.

First Recordings and Popularization in America

The earliest known recordings of “House of the Rising Sun” were made by folk music collectors in the early 20th century, particularly by American folklorist Alan Lomax. One of the first significant recordings was by the Appalachian folk singer Clarence “Tom” Ashley in 1933. Ashley learned the song from his grandfather, a testament to the song’s oral tradition in the Appalachian region.

Folk singer Lead Belly also recorded a version in the 1940s, helping to popularize it further. Lomax, who was instrumental in preserving traditional American folk music, recorded several versions of the song during his travels through the South, capturing its significance in American folk culture.

Popularization by The Animals (1964)

The most famous version of “House of the Rising Sun” was recorded by the British rock band The Animals in 1964. Their rendition turned the folk song into a global hit, featuring a haunting organ riff and bluesy vocals by Eric Burdon. The Animals’ version took a traditional folk tune and electrified it, bridging the gap between British rock and American blues.

Their interpretation likely drew from earlier recordings by American folk artists like Woody Guthrie and Joan Baez, who had kept the song alive in the American folk revival scene of the 1950s and early 1960s.

Legacy

“House of the Rising Sun” has become one of the most recognizable folk songs in both the United States and the United Kingdom, with its haunting melody and evocative lyrics about sin, regret, and loss. Its journey from the British Isles to Appalachian coal miners and ultimately to global fame through The Animals showcases the fluid nature of folk music, constantly evolving as it moves through different cultures and times.

Though its precise origins remain murky, the song’s deep roots in the folk tradition of both the British Isles and Appalachian America highlight its enduring resonance with themes of human struggle and moral consequence.