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Its haunting melody and timeless appeal have inspired artists in rock, blues, and even heavy metal to incorporate or reinterpret elements of the song in their own works. There has been evidence to suggest that the song, though it’s origins are commonly traced back as far as the early 1900s Appalachia area, has strong roots dozens or even hundreds of years earlier in England. As many people over the years churned and moved and settled, the places that components of the song could have come from are nearly endless. Much like hundreds of other folk songs, the epicenter of House of the Rising Sun is lost to the past.
Is there a real house that inspired the song?
The lyrics speak of a notorious house in New Orleans that is known as the "Rising Sun." This house has been the downfall for many young women, including the narrator of the song. Leadbelly’s haunting rendition of “House of the Rising Sun” captured the attention of a broader audience in the 1940s. His unique vocal delivery and ability to convey raw emotions resonated deeply with listeners, propelling the song to newfound popularity and solidifying it as a classic in American folk music. “The House Of The Rising Sun” has been the subject of much interpretation and discussion over the years. While some believe the song to be about a brothel in New Orleans, others argue that it speaks to the allure and destructive nature of addiction. Regardless of its exact meaning, the song’s universal themes of regret, redemption, and the consequences of one’s actions resonate with listeners of all generations.
Written and Recorded
Medicine shows, popular in the early-to-mid 1900s, were traveling bands of musicians and salesmen. Notable folk singer Clarence Ashley actually did make an earlier recording of the same song in 1933, where his version is definitively in the bluegrass style. Clarence had said that he learned the song from his grandfather, meaning the song’s origins can be dated to considerably older than 1933. What is interesting is that, while both Ashley and Turner come from the Appalachia region, Clarence was from Tennessee and Georgia was from Kentucky. The two were over 100 miles apart, a considerable distance in the 1930s, yet both sang eerily similar versions of the song. In an age where few could afford record players or radios, how did so many people learn the same music such as the Rising Sun?
What instruments are commonly used when performing “House of the Rising Sun”?
But he still goes and knows that the temptations of the place are like a ball and chain that he is condemned to carry. However, it seems more likely it is a metaphor for his addictions to drinking and gambling. In that version, you will find a similar tune and words, with Lowestoft, a seaside town in the UK, replacing New Orleans. The mystery deepens when you learn that there is a pub in Lowestoft called ‘The Rising Sun.’ Opened before 1964, I might add. A song that, when you try to get to the bottom of what it is all about and where it came from, asks more questions than it answers. The meaning behind “House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals is one such song.
Who originally wrote the song “House of the Rising Sun”?
Both the Joan Baez and Dylan versions were included on their first albums, which were both very folk-oriented. Many have sung “House of the Rising Sun” before Eric Burdon took it on with the Animals, and many will sing it in the future. Its psychological insight and philosophical meaning are all too relevant for this song to be anything but timeless. But it’s hard to imagine that anybody will ever again inhabit that doomed soul at the epicenter of the tale quite as well. Its impact on popular music cannot be understated, and it continues to be regarded as a masterpiece within the folk genre.
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Posted: Wed, 11 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
A Brief History of the “House of the Rising Sun”
The Animals’ version went on to become the most-renowned of perhaps innumerable renditions of “The House of the Rising Sun”. And amongst its accolades is being placed on Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”. Furthermore, it was included in the “500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll” by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Five Finger Death Punch version
It speaks to the universal human experience of being drawn into a life of vice and the subsequent consequences that follow. The song tells the haunting tale of a person’s downfall and subsequent ruin in the infamous House of the Rising Sun. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a life consumed by vice, sin, and despair.
Q: Who wrote the original version of House of the Rising Sun?
Yes, apart from Bob Dylan’s rendition, “House of the Rising Sun” has been covered by various artists over the years. Notable versions include The Animals’ iconic and highly influential interpretation, as well as renditions by Joan Baez, Nina Simone, and Johnny Cash, among others. As a final note, the legacy of House of the Rising Sun lies in its ability to transcend time and connect with audiences on a deep emotional level.
Indeed the folk song itself dates back to at least the early 20th century and perhaps even a significant time before that. Still though there remains the moral undertone of the lyrics, as the singer is advising the listener not to fall prey to the “sin and misery” that he has. And the insinuation is that his vice is something along the lines of gambling and consequentially excessive drinking. This is because he acknowledges his own father as possessing those weaknesses. And the conclusive message is that somehow this lifestyle has gotten him, the singer, into serious trouble with the law. Moreover he has witnessed “many a poor boy” also have their lives ruined via ‘the house of the Rising Sun’.
If you find yourself captivated by “House of the Rising Sun,” there are indeed numerous alternative versions to explore. Notable renditions include Joan Baez’s folk-inspired interpretation, Bob Dylan’s distinct twist on the song, and Nina Simone’s soulful rendition, among many others. The origins of “House of the Rising Sun” remain elusive, with no clear evidence of a definitive author.
Our article on the Fancy Like lyrics meaning also explains how this song managed to convince Applebee’s to bring back a discontinued menu item. Another controversial song that also suffered accusations of racism, in this case due to cultural appropriation before that was even a phrase, comes fro Ram Jam. See our article covering the meaning of the lyrics to Black Betty for more. But that does not mean that someone can’t come along one day soon and release an even better version. House of the Rising Sun does not have a known author and many artists have sung the song. This is where we find one of the most interesting aspects, since it has lent itself to being reinvented.
The tragedy of “House of the Rising Sun” is that the narrator seems to have lost his free will. He knows that the house will be his damnation, yet he is en route while he is telling his sad story. At the very least, he tries to use his example to save others—Oh mother, tell you children not to do what I have done. And maybe he even hesitates for just a moment before committing to his return, Well, I got one foot on the platform/The other on the train. If the music sounded almost supernatural, Burdon’s vocal gave the song its terrestrial heart, one rent in two by the loaded dice and lost bets. He tempers his performance, starting off low and with deadly serious intent to grab your attention.
Originally released by the British rock band The Animals in 1964, “The House Of The Rising Sun” quickly captured the hearts of many music lovers around the world. However, what makes this song truly exceptional is its rich history and the profound emotions it evokes through its lyrics. While “House of the Rising Sun” has been covered by countless artists, Leadbelly’s rendition stands out as one of the most influential. Leadbelly, also known as Huddie William Ledbetter, was a talented blues musician who helped popularize folk and blues music in the early 20th century.
The book expertly discusses Rising Sun as a part of the greater story of the spread of folk music at large. Anthony presents several ways songs tended to move across the confining borders of small towns where many of the folk singers, both recorded or otherwise, lived their entire lives and died. Anthony asserts that Clarence Ashley actually traveled the Appalachia area in the 1920s with medicine shows.
The Kentucky folk singer Jean Ritchie sang a different traditional version of the song to Lomax in 1949, which can be heard online courtesy of the Alan Lomax archive. Dillard Chandler of Madison County, North Carolina sang a variant of the song beginning "There was a sport in New Orleans". The earliest known printed version from Gordon's column is about a woman's warning. The earliest known recording of the song by Ashley is about a rounder, a male character.
This change in the gender of the narrator gives a complete twist to the meaning of the story and the events it tells. Keep reading for the full lyrics to House of the Rising Sun and an analysis of their meaning. But the point is, it can seem like just about every musician out there as done a version of it.
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