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Like many classic folk ballads, the authorship of House of the Rising Sun, sometimes called "Rising Sun Blues", is dubious. Folklorist Alan Lomax, author of the seminal 1941 songbook Our Singing Country , wrote that the melody was taken from a traditional English ballad and the lyrics written by a pair of Kentuckians named Georgia Turner and Bert Martin. Other scholars have proposed different explanations, although Lomax's is generally considered most plausible.
In the early 20th century, the phrase "Rising Sun" may have been used as a euphemism for a brothel or house of prostitution, and it is not known whether or not the house described in the lyrics is an actual or fictitious place.
Various places in New Orleans, Louisiana have been proposed as the inspiration for the song, with varying plausibility. City directories of the late 19th century record a "Rising Sun Hall" in the riverfront of the uptown Carrollton neighborhood, which seems to have been a building owned and used for meetings of a Social Aid & Pleasure Club, commonly rented out for dances and functions. Links to gambling or prostitution, if any, are undocumented for this building.
The traditional lyrics, as recorded by Lomax, are as follows:
There is a house in New Orleans They call the Rising Sun. It's been the ruin of many a poor girl, and me, O God, for one. If I had listened what Mamma said, I'd 'a' been at home today. Being so young and foolish, poor boy, let a rambler lead me astray. Go tell my baby sister never do like I have done to shun that house in New Orleans they call the Rising Sun. My mother she's a tailor; she sold those new blue jeans. My sweetheart, he's a drunkard, Lord, Lord, drinks down in New Orleans. The only thing a drunkard needs is a suitcase and a trunk. The only time he's satisfied is when he's on a drunk. Fills his glasses to the brim, passes them around only pleasure he gets out of life is hoboin' from town to town. One foot is on the platform and the other one on the train. I'm going back to New Orleans to wear that ball and chain. Going back to New Orleans, my race is almost run. Going back to spend the rest of my days beneath that Rising Sun.A popular version from the 1930s was recorded by Leadbelly. The best-known cover of the song is the 1964 version by The Animals, who added ambiguity to the lyrics by changing the gender of the singer. Other artists to cover the song include Woody GuthrieWoodrow Wilson Guthrie ( July 14, 1912 October 3, 1967), known almost universally as "Woody", was a folk singer and raconteur who wrote some of America's best-loved songs. He is best known for " This Land is Your Land" Guthrie was born in Okemah, Oklahoma, Joan BaezJoan Chandos Baez (born January 9, 1941 in Staten Island, New York) is an American folk singer and songwriter, known for her distinctive vocal style as well as her outspoken political views. Baez's professional career began at the 1959 Newport Folk Festiv, Bob DylanBob Dylan (born Robert Allen Zimmerman May 24, 1941, Duluth, Minnesota, USA) is widely regarded as America's greatest popular songwriter. Stephen Foster, Irving Berlin, Woody Guthrie, and Hank Williams are among the few songwriters similarly revered for t, Tim HardinTim Hardin ( December 23, 1941 December 29, 1980) was a United States folk musician and composer who was a part of the 1960s Greenwich Village folk scene and performer at the Woodstock Festival. Hardin was born in Eugene, Oregon. He dropped out of high sc, Pink FloydPink Floyd is a British psychedelic rock band famous for its songwriting, harmonic classical rock compositions, bombastic style and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd is one of rock's most successful acts, ranking seventh in number of albums sold worldwide., Peter, Paul and MaryPeter, Paul and Mary (often PP&M was one of the most successful folk-singing groups of the 1960s. The trio comprised Peter Yarrow, Noel "Paul" Stookey, and Mary Travers. The group was created by producer Albert Goldman, who sought to create a folk "superg, Dolly PartonDolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American country music singer, songwriter and actress. Born in Sevierville, Tennessee, the fourth of 12 children, she started her entertainment career singing on local radio and television in eastern Tenn, Nina SimoneEunice Kathleen Waymon better known as Nina Simone ( February 21, 1933 April 21, 2003), was a singer, songwriter and pianist. She generally is classified as a jazz musician, but disliked that categorisation herself; and her work also has been described as, Johnny Hallyday and Muse.
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