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Like so many folk songs, the House of the Rising Sun‘s true “origins,” along with exactly where — or even what the Rising Sun was have been washed away by time. Georgia was merely 16 when she recorded the song, but was largely mum on where she had learned it. Lomax included the song in the popular Library of Congress album Our Singing Country in 1941. Believe it or not, the melody is a traditional English ballad, but the song became popular as an African-American folk song. It was first recorded in the 1920s, followed by a number of other artists including Leadbelly, Josh White and later Nina Simone. 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.
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Possible real locations
A lot of people have sung the song over the years, and there will be a lot that still will sing it. The message in “House of the Rising Sun“ still has relevance today, which is why it is called a timeless song. However, I doubt anyone will ever come close to Eric Burdon’s rendition, which creates the feeling of the tortured soul the song is about. There are far too many versions of “House of the Rising Sun” to list them all. But, a few notable recordings are Leadbelly from 1948, Joan Baez from 1960, and Bob Dylan from 1962.
Who is the Writer Behind “House of the Rising Sun?”
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. Its enduring popularity is a testament to the timeless nature of music and its power to evoke emotions and tell compelling stories. It creates an atmospheric and haunting mood, drawing the listener into the world of the song’s protagonist. The lyrics, combined with the haunting instrumentals and Jim Morrison’s emotive vocals, establish a dark and introspective atmosphere throughout the track.
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Often times the establishment is a brothel, or a gambling parlor, bar, or prison. "The House of the Rising Sun" is a traditional folk song, sometimes called "Rising Sun Blues". Many versions also urge a sibling or parents and children to avoid the same fate. The most successful commercial version, recorded in 1964 by the British rock band The Animals, was a number one hit on the UK Singles Chart and in the US and Canada.
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Then there was a powerful organ solo in the middle that ‘Pricey’ dragged out of his shaking Vox Continental. However, it was the vocals that set the song apart, especially when Eric went up an octave. But, they rarely had three different “high points.” This song did, which is one reason why “House of the Rising Sun” is so unique. Since the origins of “House of the Rising Sun“ may have been at a time when very few ordinary people were literate, nothing about the original song has been written down. So, there are some interesting references by people who have shed some historical light on the song.
Early commercial folk and blues releases
While some stories claim that the tale is based on an actual brothel, others argue that the “House of the Rising Sun” is symbolic and represents a metaphorical descent into sin and temptation. The origins of “House of the Rising Sun” remain elusive, with no clear evidence of a definitive author. The song’s roots can be traced back to traditional English folk ballads, such as “The Unfortunate Rake” and “The House of the Rising Sun,” which were brought to America by British settlers. The song revolves around the tale of a young man’s tragic descent into the depths of vice and debauchery in the infamous House of the Rising Sun, a place shrouded in myth and infamy. The lyrics depict a vivid picture of a ruinous establishment located in either New Orleans or St. Louis, both possessing a checkered past and notorious reputation.
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Across the pond at around the same time, Burdon apparently heard the song from a local folk singer in England. Burdon brought it into the Animals, who electrified the song for their 1964 self-titled debut album. Hilton Valentine played the stoic arpeggiated guitar part that foundations the song, while Alan Price tore into the organ solo as if trying to free every tortured soul trapped in this sinister place.
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I had learned it sometime in the 1950s, from a recording by Hally Wood, the Texas singer and collector, who had got it from an Alan Lomax field recording by a Kentucky woman named Georgia Turner. I put a different spin on it by altering the chords and using a bass line that descended in half steps—a common enough progression in jazz, but unusual among folksingers. By the early 1960s, the song had become one of my signature pieces, and I could hardly get off the stage without doing it. In late 1961, Bob Dylan recorded the song for his debut album, released in March 1962. That release had no songwriting credit, but the liner notes indicate that Dylan learned this version of the song from Dave Van Ronk.
More From: Behind The Song
There have been tales of a picture of a women’s prison outside of New Orleans with a stone etching of a rising sun over the gate, though no images have surfaced to date. The theory is plausible, since most versions before the 60s made the narrator a woman, and many renditions include the phrase “ball and chain”. A house on Esplanade Ave, just beside the French Quarter in the Treme neighborhood has, at times, been referenced as being “the” Rising Sun, as have several other places in the area. In all actuality, the term “Rising Sun” was and continues to be (no doubt fueled, in part, by the song’s staying power and popularity, bringing it full-circle,) a common phrase.
Price performed the organ solo that was shaped after jazzman Jimmy Smith’s hit, “Walk On The Wild Side”, on a Vox Continental. Eric Burdon heard this song sung in a Northeastern folk club and brought the song to the group as a suggestion. They “electrified” it, added a superb organ solo from Alan Price, and Burdon sang it first in a lower register, then took it up an octave. The whole thing was started by Hilton Valentine’s iconic guitar arpeggio beginning. Most likely, the song in its original form was a folk song from the UK.
The first people to sing it had probably never even heard of New Orleans. A song is written, and, if it’s special enough, it hangs around waiting for an artist to claim it, putting their indelible stamp on it so that all other versions are henceforth compared to that one unforgettable take. Nobody is sure who wrote “House of the Rising Sun.” But we do know that the Animals, powered by the blustery vocals of Eric Burdon, claimed it. The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father. 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 protagonist’s harrowing journey through this den of iniquity represents a cautionary tale, warning against the perils of indulgence and immorality. So, the next time you find yourself drawn to a melancholic melody or a song that stirs something deep within your soul, remember to listen closely to the lyrics and uncover the meaning behind the 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. Burdon then lets rip with all the emotion and anguish he can muster for that last verse as he pummels our senses.
They infused the song with their unique sound, incorporating Jim Morrison’s distinctive vocals and Ray Manzarek’s mesmerizing organ playing. The band’s interpretation added a sense of depth and intensity to the track. To most people, even mentioning House of the Rising Sun evokes memories of The Animals‘ 1964 smash hit, with it’s instantly recognizable circular chord pattern in A-minor. The song itself, however, enjoys a hidden and shockingly broad history that spans every folk-inspired corner of the United States, and dates far earlier than the mid-1960s, when it’s popularity exploded.
The song traces its origins back to the early 20th century in the Southern United States, where it first emerged as a traditional folk ballad. Its timeless allure lies in its enigmatic storyline and compelling lyrics. Either way, the house in question is a place where people spend their lives in "sin and misery," and the song serves as a cautionary tale warning others not to fall victim and be stuck in the "ball and chain" of the house.
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. Medicine shows, popular in the early-to-mid 1900s, were traveling bands of musicians and salesmen. Clarence, as well as unknown others, may have sang the famous House to numerous towns in Appalachia, where some townsfolk would remember and re-sing the song time and again, improvising if they forgot a word or phrase.
But it’s hard to imagine that anybody will ever again inhabit that doomed soul at the epicenter of the tale quite as well. The song is also credited to Ronnie Gilbert on an album by the Weavers released in the late 1940s or early 1950s. Pete Seeger released a version on Folkways Records in 1958, which was re-released by Smithsonian Folkways in 2009.[16] Andy Griffith recorded the song on his 1959 album Andy Griffith Shouts the Blues and Old Timey Songs.
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