{"id":37313,"date":"2024-10-02T13:41:29","date_gmt":"2024-10-02T13:41:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/idea.membrane.com\/songwriter\/?p=37313"},"modified":"2024-10-02T13:41:29","modified_gmt":"2024-10-02T13:41:29","slug":"house-of-the-rising-sun-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/2024\/10\/02\/house-of-the-rising-sun-2\/","title":{"rendered":"House of the Rising Sun"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/MegaEpix-Enormous\/multimedia\/V\/House-of-the-Rising-Sun-0.mp3\"> House-of-the-Rising-Sun-0.mp3<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/MegaEpix-Enormous\/multimedia\/V\/House-of-the-Rising-Sun-0.mp4\"> House-of-the-Rising-Sun-0.mp4<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/MegaEpix-Enormous\/multimedia\/V\/House-of-the-Rising-Sun-I.mp3\"> House-of-the-Rising-Sun-I.mp3<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/MegaEpix-Enormous\/multimedia\/V\/House-of-the-Rising-Sun-I.mp4\"> House-of-the-Rising-Sun-I.mp4<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/MegaEpix-Enormous\/multimedia\/V\/House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Unplugged-Underground-V.mp3\"> House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Unplugged-Underground-V.mp3<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/MegaEpix-Enormous\/multimedia\/V\/House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Unplugged-Underground-V.mp4\"> House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Unplugged-Underground-V.mp4<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/MegaEpix-Enormous\/multimedia\/V\/House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Unplugged.mp3\"> House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Unplugged.mp3<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/MegaEpix-Enormous\/multimedia\/V\/House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Unplugged.mp4\"> House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Unplugged.mp4<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/MegaEpix-Enormous\/multimedia\/V\/House-of-the-Rising-Sun-acoustic.mp3\"> House-of-the-Rising-Sun-acoustic.mp3<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/MegaEpix-Enormous\/multimedia\/V\/House-of-the-Rising-Sun-electric.mp3\"> House-of-the-Rising-Sun-electric.mp3<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/MegaEpix-Enormous\/multimedia\/V\/House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Prequel-1.mp3\"> House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Prequel-1.mp3<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/MegaEpix-Enormous\/multimedia\/V\/House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Prequel-2.mp3\"> House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Prequel-2.mp3<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/MegaEpix-Enormous\/multimedia\/V\/House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Prequel-3.mp3\"> House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Prequel-3.mp3<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/MegaEpix-Enormous\/multimedia\/V\/House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Prequel-4.mp3\"> House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Prequel-4.mp3<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/MegaEpix-Enormous\/multimedia\/V\/House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Prequel-5.mp3\"> House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Prequel-5.mp3<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/MegaEpix-Enormous\/multimedia\/V\/House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Prequel-6.mp3\"> House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Prequel-6.mp3<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/MegaEpix-Enormous\/multimedia\/V\/House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Prequel-7.mp3\"> House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Prequel-7.mp3<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/MegaEpix-Enormous\/multimedia\/V\/House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Prequel.mp3\"> House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Prequel.mp3<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/MegaEpix-Enormous\/multimedia\/V\/House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Prequel.mp4\"> House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Prequel.mp4<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[Verse]<br \/>\nThere is a house in New Orleans<br \/>\nYou call the Rising Sun.<br \/>\nIt&#8217;s been the ruin of many a poor soul<br \/>\nAnd me, oh God, I&#8217;m one.<\/p>\n<p>[Verse]<br \/>\nMy mother she&#8217;s a tailor,<br \/>\nSews those new blue jeans.<br \/>\nMy sweetheart, he&#8217;s a drunkard, Lord God<br \/>\nHe drinks down in New Orleans.<\/p>\n<p>[Verse]<br \/>\nGo and tell my baby sister<br \/>\nNever do like I have done.<br \/>\nShun that house down in New Orleans<br \/>\nThat they call that Rising Sun.<\/p>\n<p>[Verse]<br \/>\nIt&#8217;s one foot on the platform,<br \/>\nOne foot on the train.<br \/>\nI&#8217;m going back down to New Orleans<br \/>\nTo wear my ball and my chain.<\/p>\n<p>[Verse]<br \/>\nMy life is almost over,<br \/>\nMy race is almost run.<br \/>\nGoing back down to New Orleans<br \/>\nTo that house of the Rising Sun.<\/p>\n<p>ABOUT THE SONG<\/p>\n<p>The song &#8220;House of the Rising Sun&#8221; 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.<\/p>\n<h3>Origins in the British Isles<\/h3>\n<p>The origins of &#8220;House of the Rising Sun&#8221; 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\u2019s lyrics.<\/p>\n<p>The earliest versions of the song may be connected to traditional English ballads like \u201cThe Unfortunate Rake\u201d or &#8220;Matty Groves,&#8221; 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 &#8220;House of the Rising Sun.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h3>Arrival in America and Connection to Appalachia<\/h3>\n<p>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. &#8220;House of the Rising Sun&#8221; may have been adapted and localized in this setting, taking on a more distinct American identity.<\/p>\n<p>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&#8217; difficult lives, with &#8220;House of the Rising Sun&#8221; 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.<\/p>\n<h3>Evolution of the Lyrics and Themes<\/h3>\n<p>The lyrics of &#8220;House of the Rising Sun&#8221; likely changed over time, with different versions circulating in different regions. The &#8220;rising sun&#8221; may have originally referred to a symbol of misfortune or sin, possibly tied to a gambling house, a prison, or a brothel. The song\u2019s setting in New Orleans likely developed in the U.S., though the phrase &#8220;rising sun&#8221; appears in various folk songs from Europe as well.<\/p>\n<p>In some versions, the protagonist is male, while in others, it is a woman. The theme of moral downfall\u2014whether through gambling, drinking, or prostitution\u2014is 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.<\/p>\n<h3>First Recordings and Popularization in America<\/h3>\n<p>The earliest known recordings of &#8220;House of the Rising Sun&#8221; 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 <strong>Clarence &#8220;Tom&#8221; Ashley<\/strong> in 1933. Ashley learned the song from his grandfather, a testament to the song\u2019s oral tradition in the Appalachian region.<\/p>\n<p>Folk singer <strong>Lead Belly<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n<h3>Popularization by The Animals (1964)<\/h3>\n<p>The most famous version of &#8220;House of the Rising Sun&#8221; was recorded by the British rock band <strong>The Animals<\/strong> in 1964. Their rendition turned the folk song into a global hit, featuring a haunting organ riff and bluesy vocals by <strong>Eric Burdon<\/strong>. The Animals\u2019 version took a traditional folk tune and electrified it, bridging the gap between British rock and American blues.<\/p>\n<p>Their interpretation likely drew from earlier recordings by American folk artists like <strong>Woody Guthrie<\/strong> and <strong>Joan Baez<\/strong>, who had kept the song alive in the American folk revival scene of the 1950s and early 1960s.<\/p>\n<h3>Legacy<\/h3>\n<p>&#8220;House of the Rising Sun&#8221; 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.<\/p>\n<p>Though its precise origins remain murky, the song\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"http:\/\/membrane.com\/global_warming\/\">A song about The Human Induced Climate Change Experiment<\/a><\/h2>\n<h3>&#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/idea.membrane.com\/songwriter\/tag\/lost-in-the-sound\/\">Lost in the Sound<\/a>&#8221; by <a href=\"http:\/\/membrane.com\/The_Beatless_Sense_Mongers\/\">The Beatless Sense Mongers<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>House-of-the-Rising-Sun-0.mp3 House-of-the-Rising-Sun-0.mp4 House-of-the-Rising-Sun-I.mp3 House-of-the-Rising-Sun-I.mp4 House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Unplugged-Underground-V.mp3 House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Unplugged-Underground-V.mp4 House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Unplugged.mp3 House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Unplugged.mp4 House-of-the-Rising-Sun-acoustic.mp3 House-of-the-Rising-Sun-electric.mp3 House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Prequel-1.mp3 House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Prequel-2.mp3 House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Prequel-3.mp3 House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Prequel-4.mp3 House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Prequel-5.mp3 House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Prequel-6.mp3 House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Prequel-7.mp3 House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Prequel.mp3 House-of-the-Rising-Sun-Prequel.mp4 [Verse] There is a house in New Orleans You call the Rising Sun. It&#8217;s been the ruin of many a poor soul And me, oh God, I&#8217;m one. [Verse] My mother she&#8217;s a tailor, Sews those [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1478,9,14,3955,24],"tags":[4019,546,563],"class_list":["post-37313","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-coversongs","category-daniel","category-lyrics","category-megaepix-enormous","category-the-beatless-sense-mongers","tag-lost-in-the-sound","tag-mp4","tag-music-videos"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37313","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37313"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37313\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37326,"href":"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37313\/revisions\/37326"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37313"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37313"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/kingarthur.com\/songwriter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37313"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}