The Meaning Behind The Song: The House Of The Rising Sun
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Originally a traditional folk song, “The House of the Rising Sun”, also known as “Rising Sun Blues”, tells of life in New Orleans, back in the day when poverty was the fate of many people. Like the majority of classic folk ballads, the authorship of “The House of the Rising Sun” is tricky and uncertain. It remains, without a doubt, one of the songs that shaped the 60s and, to some extent, shaped rock music. The use of light and shade and a progressive atmospheric build was innovative.
Q: What other artists have covered House of the Rising Sun?
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He’s unable to settle at a place for too long and is constantly moving his suitcase in and out of his car trunk across several towns. His lifestyle doesn’t give him much to be glad about so he relieves his stress by becoming an alcoholic. This scenario also gives an image of what the young man has learned at the House of the Rising Sun. Its haunting melody, powerful vocals, and deeply relatable lyrics have made “The House Of The Rising Sun” a timeless classic that continues to captivate audiences today. Its inclusion in numerous films, television shows, and even adaptations by various artists only solidifies its enduring legacy. 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.
Q: What impact did House of the Rising Sun have on The Doors’ career?
But it’s hard to imagine that anybody will ever again inhabit that doomed soul at the epicenter of the tale quite as well. 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. BBC writer Ralph McLean would also note on the 1964 release that is had been “a revolutionary single” after which “the face of modern music was changed forever”.
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In 1962, Bob Dylan had sung this grim tale of a Southern girl trapped in a New Orleans whorehouse. And the producer is an English musician by the name of Mickie Most who was behind many hits from back in the day. The initial release of “The House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals topped the Billboard Hot 100. It also topped the Canada Top Singles and the UK Singles Chart in addition to charting in a handful of other countries.
The Origins of “House of the Rising Sun“
The “ball and chain” may mean ‘prison’, but could also be a metaphor for addiction to gambling and booze. Definite links to gambling or prostitution (if any) are undocumented for either of these buildings. There is a house in New Orleans, it's called the Rising SunIt's been the ruin of many poor girlGreat God, and I for one. One thing is clear, that the original “The House of the Rising Sun” is older than New Orleans itself, as the city was founded in 1718. Its lyrics were also varying and different than the one we are familiar with today. It is interesting how Burdon didn’t perform the song for a long time after the Animals split, calling it an “embarrassment”.
The Animals were on tour with Chuck Berry and chose it because they wanted something distinctive to sing. Keynote Records released one by Josh White in 1942, and Decca Records released one also in 1942 with music by White and the vocals performed by Libby Holman. Yes, there are several live recordings of The Doors performing House of the Rising Sun.
There is a house in New OrleansThey call the Rising SunWhere many poor boys to destruction has goneAnd me, oh God, are one.
One of the most well-known versions is by the British rock band The Animals, who had a major hit with their 1964 rendition. Other artists who have covered the song include Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, and Dolly Parton. The Doors’ rendition of House of the Rising Sun showcases the band’s unique sound and their ability to infuse their own emotions into a timeless folk song.
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It is a great song for them to perform, but it wasn’t the only one that raised the roof. There were only two singers that could do that and make it work so well. “House of the Rising Sun” went to #1 on both sides of the Atlantic and was the first major Folk-Rock success. But, he later admitted when they had finished it, he knew it was special. For most bands, when you had a big-name artist that was to follow, you usually end up with a bit of a rocker. The Animals were from the Northeast of England and were a well-known blues band even in London, 300 miles south.
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. At the time, New Orleans businesses listed as coffee houses often also sold alcoholic beverages.
As such, it is also theorized that it was actually Nina Simone’s 1962 take on the tune which caught The Animals’ attention. The lyrics of The Animals’ version are a different take than the character “The House of the Rising Sun” is traditionally based on. For example, older renditions of the ballad were relayed from the perspective of a female who was considered to be either imprisoned or a working girl.
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