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It delves into the dark side of human nature, exploring themes of addiction, betrayal, and lost innocence. The lyrics evoke a sense of sadness and introspection, urging the listener to reflect on their own choices and actions. But he still goes and knows that the temptations of the place are like a ball and chain that he is condemned to carry. However, it seems more likely it is a metaphor for his addictions to drinking and gambling.
The Lyrics
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Its haunting atmosphere and powerful vocals make it a standout track that continues to captivate audiences to this day. It creates an atmospheric and haunting mood, drawing the listener into the world of the song’s protagonist. The lyrics, combined with the haunting instrumentals and Jim Morrison’s emotive vocals, establish a dark and introspective atmosphere throughout the track.
Earliest American versions
Its enduring popularity is a testament to the timeless nature of music and its power to evoke emotions and tell compelling stories. The song tells the haunting tale of a person’s downfall and subsequent ruin in the infamous House of the Rising Sun. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a life consumed by vice, sin, and despair. It speaks of a place of ill repute, a den of iniquity where the protagonist’s life takes a turn for the worse. The House of the Rising Sun serves as a metaphor for a place of temptation and moral corruption. Burdon then lets rip with all the emotion and anguish he can muster for that last verse as he pummels our senses.
Q: How did The Doors’ version of House of the Rising Sun differ from previous versions?
Many believe that this points out to a brother in New Orleans, where the song was supposedly named after the occupant Madame Marianne LeSoleil Levant, which meant Rising Sun in French. Another popular theory goes that it was about a women’s prison in the city which had a gate that bore a rising sun motif (allegedly a reference to the “ball and chain” lyric in the song). Like many folk songs, "The House of the Rising Sun" is of uncertain authorship.
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”.
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.
But, they rarely had three different “high points.” This song did, which is one reason why “House of the Rising Sun” is so unique. The song was first recorded in 1933 by Clarence Ashley and Gwen Foster under the title “Rising Sun Blues.” In response to a question about the song’s origins, Ashley said that his grandfather had taught it to him. Grandfather Enoch was married at the time of the American Civil war, which places the timeframe we are looking at in context. Many have sung “House of the Rising Sun” before Eric Burdon took it on with the Animals, and many will sing it in the future. Its psychological insight and philosophical meaning are all too relevant for this song to be anything but timeless.
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.
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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Those vocals, and the essential organ part from Alan Price, lifted this song way above anything else at the time. Little did I know that this haunting melody would leave an everlasting impression on my soul. In these variations, the narrator is a woman bemoaning her return to prostitution. Male singers made it “the ruin of many a poor boy,” which transformed the title establishment into a gambling den. Indeed the folk song itself dates back to at least the early 20th century and perhaps even a significant time before that. Still though there remains the moral undertone of the lyrics, as the singer is advising the listener not to fall prey to the “sin and misery” that he has.
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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