The House of the Rising Sun-lyics-chords-meaning-versions-artists

Recipes

Camping

Scrapbook
albums

Guestbook/ newsletter

Archives

Sponsors

Physical Fitness

Events

Itinerary

Contribute

Job ads

Free rental ads

Privacy Policy

Calendars

Living Vicariously

Safety tips

Wut2do

Search

Associate

Send us a link

Link to Us

Table of contents

Contact us

The House of the Rising Sun

This song was performed by many different artists, Leadbelly, Charlie Byrd, Roy Acuff, Woody Guthrie, Dylan, The Animals, Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings and Tracy Chapman just to name a few of the better known ones. We should have probably mentioned Peter Paul and Mary but it was done so sweetly it didn't capture the essence of the song.

It has long been the subject of coffee houses as to what the meaning of the lyrics really is or are. It was originally written as the House of the Rising Sun being a whore house and the original lyrics stated, "It's been the ruin of many a poor girl". Commonly when a male performer does the piece they substitute "girl" with "boy" but not all as Dylan used the term girl in his recording. Likewise when sang in the male version it is commonly thought that the artist is referring to a prison and this would seem more fitting. Either way that it is a great song and quite easy to play on the guitar or keyboard using this selection of chords: E Am C D F Am C E Am E C D F Am E Use coarse strumming to break out each note individually in both the down and up stroke.

As originally written by
Georgia Turner and Bert Martin

The commonly thought of as Original version by
Eric Burton and the Animals

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.

E        Am C                     D          F
There is a house down in New Orleans
        Am      C        E
They call the Rising Sun
E           Am          C       D                F
And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy
         Am      E           Am
And Lord I know I'm one

My mother was a tailor
She sewed my new bluejeans
My father was a gamblin' man
Down in New Orleans

Now the only thing a gamblin man ever needs
Is a suitcase and trunk
And the only time that he is satisfied
Is when he's on a drunk

------ instrumental solo ------

Mothers please tell your children
Not to do what I have done
To spend your lives in sin and misery
In the House of the Rising Sun

It's one foot on the platform
and the other's on that train
I'm goin' back to New Orleans
To wear that ball and chain

There is a house down in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun
And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy
And Lord I know I'm one

Great song to learn especially by those that feel it. If you would like to send in an audio file of your version we would like to hear it and possibly post it here on wut2.com

Click here to make wut2.com your homepage

Go to top Build an Itinerary

About wut2.com Advertise with us Link to Us Contact us Report Errors Job Opportunities Legal Copyright