House of the Rising Sun.... Did it Really Exist? What was it really?

Well, I'm a little late this week with my song of the week posting.... Anyway, I thought I'd pick "House of the Rising Sun" by the Animals... It's tough to find good songs with the words "house" or "home" in them.  Anyhooo..I've always thought this song was awesome even though it did come out in 1964! Wowsers!

There's alot of speculation as to the origins of this song.  It seems it may have been a folk ballad that has been passed down. The oldest known existing recording is by versatile Appalachian artists Clarence "Tom" Ashley and Gwen Foster in 1933. Ashley said he heard it from his grandfather! Craaaazy! 


Nobody knows exactly if the song is referring to a brother, a prison or some kind of slavery house.  Depending on who you talk to there is also the question of whether it's a woman or man singing it.  It can apparently be sung from two perspectives...

Lyrics

"for woman singer" : 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 Mama 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 sewed 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 According to Wikipedia, The phrase "House of the Rising Sun" is often understood as a euphemism for a brothel, but it is not known whether or not the house described in the lyrics was an actual or fictitious place. One theory speculated the song is about a daughter who killed her father, an alcoholic gambler who had beaten his wife. Therefore, the House of the Rising Sun may be a jail-house, from which one would be the first person to see the sun rise (an idea supported by the lyric mentioning "a ball and chain," though that phrase has been used as slang to describe marital relationships for at least as long as the song has been in print). Because the song was often sung by women, another theory is that the House of the Rising Sun was where prostitutes were detained while they were treated for syphilis. Since cures with mercury were ineffective, going back was very likely. By the way, there is an actual bed and breakfast in New Orleans that is called: House of the Rising Sun Bed and Breakfast 335 Pelican Avenue New Orleans, Louisiana 70114 United States Niiiiice!

"for man singer" : 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 My mother was a tailor She sewed my new blue jeans My father was a gamblin' man Down in New Orleans Now the only thing a gambler needs Is a suitcase and a trunk And the only time he's satisfied Is when he's on a drunk Oh mother tell your children Not to do what I have done Spend your lives in sin and misery In the House of the Rising Sun Well, I got one foot on the platform The other foot on the train I'm goin' back to New Orleans To wear that ball and chain Well, 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

Well, it doesn't really matter who sang it first, whether it's a man or woman singing it or whether they were referring to a jail or brothel. What we do know is that the Animals ROCKED it! Enjoy!!!