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Sep. 1st, 2021 11:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dolariI've always been fascinated by The Animals' version House of the Rising Sun. The way the lead singer just wails the song, and how sinister the lyrics sound. But when you really look into it, the song doesn't make much sense, and it feels like pieces are missing. I decided to look into the the background behind the song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-43lLKaqBQ
Holy cow, this song goes BACK. Apparently it's the latest version of a song from Appalachia in the mid 1800s, which has multiple versions including versions where the story is told by a man and a woman. The theme behind it is "I went to New Orleans, and messed up my life."
The male version of the song seems to be about a drifter who gets drunk, possibly sleeps with a prostitute and returns to New Orleans to die.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaYL8BwUk3Y
The female version of the song is longer, and seems to be what the Animals' version is based off and is super chopped up. In that one, a girl falls in love with a gambler against the wishes of her mother, and regretted it. While he goes wanders from town to town, she returns to New Orleans to "wear that ball and chain" which I'm thinking means she's pregnant.
It's neat to get the context behind the song. I couldn't find a full version of the female version of the song, but Joan Baez gets the closest. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rD80eZ6Gxz0
Female lyrics:
There is a house in New Orleans they call the Rising Sun,
It’s been the ruin of many poor girl, and me, O God, for one.
If I had listened what mama said, I’d’a’ bee at home today,
being so young and foolish, poor boy, let a rambler lead me astray.
Go tell my baby sister never to 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.
The only pleasure he gets out of life is hoboin’ from town to town.
One foot is on the platform and the other on 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 life beneath that Rising Sun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-43lLKaqBQ
Holy cow, this song goes BACK. Apparently it's the latest version of a song from Appalachia in the mid 1800s, which has multiple versions including versions where the story is told by a man and a woman. The theme behind it is "I went to New Orleans, and messed up my life."
The male version of the song seems to be about a drifter who gets drunk, possibly sleeps with a prostitute and returns to New Orleans to die.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaYL8BwUk3Y
The female version of the song is longer, and seems to be what the Animals' version is based off and is super chopped up. In that one, a girl falls in love with a gambler against the wishes of her mother, and regretted it. While he goes wanders from town to town, she returns to New Orleans to "wear that ball and chain" which I'm thinking means she's pregnant.
It's neat to get the context behind the song. I couldn't find a full version of the female version of the song, but Joan Baez gets the closest. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rD80eZ6Gxz0
Female lyrics:
There is a house in New Orleans they call the Rising Sun,
It’s been the ruin of many poor girl, and me, O God, for one.
If I had listened what mama said, I’d’a’ bee at home today,
being so young and foolish, poor boy, let a rambler lead me astray.
Go tell my baby sister never to 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.
The only pleasure he gets out of life is hoboin’ from town to town.
One foot is on the platform and the other on 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 life beneath that Rising Sun
