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It was a song that was passed from person to person and from one generation to the next. It’s earliest singers, the location of the house that so many had apparently spent their lives in sin and misery, and most everything else about the song is a mystery. Perhaps this mystery, along with the somewhat anonymous lyrics and spooky minor chords, is part of what has continued to intrigue so many thousands and millions over the years. The Animals' version of the American folk song is considered one of the 20th century’s British pop classics.
Echoing into Modernity: The Song’s Enduring Legacy
The Canadian composed it when she was an unsigned 15-year-old living in Napanee, Ontario. And the producer is an English musician by the name of Mickie Most who was behind many hits from back in the day. The Animals’ Alan Price is recognized as the writer of the song, along with untraceable traditional sources. 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.
And Along Came Eric
Its enduring popularity, cultural significance, and ability to resonate with listeners make it a song that continues to captivate and fascinate audiences worldwide. Leadbelly’s rendition undoubtedly popularized the song, but it has been covered by numerous artists over the years. One notable cover of “House of the Rising Sun” is The Animals’ 1964 version, which introduced the song to a whole new generation and became an international hit. “The House of the Rising Sun” was a traditional folk ballad about a person’s life going wrong in New Orleans, with different versions using various narratives with the same themes.
The Meaning Behind The Song: The House Of The Rising Sun
The earliest recorded versions date back to the 1930s, and it has since been covered by numerous artists in various styles. The House of the Rising Sun by The Animals is a timeless classic that has stood the test of time. Its haunting melody, powerful lyrics, and passionate vocals have captivated listeners for generations. The cautionary tale it tells serves as a reminder of the consequences of succumbing to temptation and making poor choices. The House of the Rising Sun is a classic folk song that has been covered by numerous artists over the years. However, The Animals’ rendition of the song is arguably the most well-known and popular version.
And in an era before cars were common and highways were still 25 years away, how did songs like this one manage to spread across the country? Several have researched the topic of “floating songs”, which, much like the songs themselves, has murky and hard-to-trace origins. 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.
Eric Burdon on Trump Using ‘House of the Rising Sun’: ‘A Tale of Sin and Misery Set in a Brothel Suits Him So Perfectly’ - Rolling Stone
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Explore American Songwriter
So, we shouldn’t be surprised to find references to ‘The Rising Sun.’ It is a common name for an English pub even today. Pubs of two to three hundred years ago were often “houses of ill-repute.” The song was likely carried to America by immigrants who performed it there, from whence local names and traditions became intertwined. The song is also credited to Ronnie Gilbert on an album by the Weavers released in the late 1940s or early 1950s. While the song’s exact origins are unknown, its themes of vice and moral ambiguity are representative of the societal issues prevalent at the time. It has been linked to various contexts, including the red-light districts of New Orleans and the hardships faced by working-class individuals in the early 20th century.
It is a great song for them to perform, but it wasn’t the only one that raised the roof. For most bands, when you had a big-name artist that was to follow, you usually end up with a bit of a rocker. There is a house in New Orleans / They call the Rising Sun / And it’s been the ruin of many a poor boy / And God, I know I’m one, they sing in the chorus. Definite links to gambling or prostitution (if any) are undocumented for either of these buildings. Famous Yugoslav singer Miodrag "Miki" Jevremović covered the song and included it in his 1964 EP "18 Žutih Ruža" (eng. "Eighteen Yellow Roses"). The single also charted in Australia (number 14), France (number 36), and Italy (number 54).
So, there are some interesting references by people who have shed some historical light on the song. Colombian band Los Speakers covered the song under the title "La Casa del Sol Naciente", in their 1965 album of the same name. "House of the Rising Sun" was not included on any of the group's British albums, but it was reissued as a single twice in subsequent decades, charting both times, reaching number 25 in 1972 and number 11 in 1982. Ottolenghi said he had "always been super eager to get our flavours onto people's dinner plates nationwide, not just in London, without having to cook it from scratch every single time".
The Animals’ “The House of the Rising Sun” Lyrics Meaning
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To Spend Your Life in Pain and Misery: An Interview with Eric Burdon.
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The song is sung in the first person and the interpreter narrates his own tragic experience, in an attempt to warn parents and children about the pain that this house can cause. No matter which version you prefer, or even if you do not like the song at all, you can’t help but respect the story of a song that will forever be on radio stations and playlists around the world. The “ball and chain” may mean ‘prison’, but could also be a metaphor for addiction to gambling and booze. However, this meant that only Price received songwriter's royalties for the hit, a fact that has caused bitterness among the other band members ever since.
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. The writer consequently pleads with other mothers, who in his own experience seem more responsible than fathers, to not allow their children follow in his footsteps. Although he admits and regrets that his life has become a mess, he seems to have no option than to return to New Orleans to continue his lifestyle. He uses the words ball and chain as a metaphor to describe the extent to which he has now become a prisoner to his addiction of gambling and alcoholism.
The protagonist’s harrowing journey through this den of iniquity represents a cautionary tale, warning against the perils of indulgence and immorality. The strength of this song lies in the timelessness of its story, whose message makes us reflect and realize that every boy will reach a time in his life when he will be tempted by the lowest vices of humanity. If he is not cautious, he will end up being enslaved by these vices, as happened to the storyteller. In 1964, The Animals recorded the version that became the most famous of all and that is the one most people know today. Eric Burdon said he first heard it sung by Johnny Handle in his hometown of Newcastle, England.
Bob Dylan, The Animals, and Joan Baez are just a few examples of musicians who have put their own unique spin on this timeless folk song. White learned the song from a "white hillbilly singer", who might have been Ashley, in North Carolina in 1923. "The House of the Rising Sun" is a traditional folk song, sometimes called "Rising Sun Blues". Although “The House of the Rising Sun” has a distinct storyline, it is actually based on a folk song that centered on a completely-different character. Moreover ‘the house of the Rising Sun’ in the traditional rendition is considered to be either an actual historical prison or house of working girls. So for instance the reference to the “ball and chain” near the end of the song is largely considered to allude to said penitentiary.
The longevity and enduring popularity of “House of the Rising Sun” can be attributed to its universal themes and captivating storytelling. The song’s exploration of temptation, moral decay, and consequence strikes a chord with listeners across generations, ensuring its place in the annals of music history. At its core, ‘House of the Rising Sun’ is a cautionary tale, an almost Aesopian fable set to a bluesy rock background.
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