The House Of The Rising Sun

EverEve

There is a house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun,
And it's been the ruin for many a poor boy,
And God, I know I'm one.

My mother was a tailor,
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'll be satisfied
Is when he's all 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've got one foot on the platform,
The other foot on the train.
I'm going 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 for many a poor boy,
And God, I know I'm one.


Lyrics submitted by Fistan

House of the Rising Sun Lyrics as written by Alan Price

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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The House Of The Rising Sun song meanings
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4 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment
    I THINK it´s about a boy that comes from a broken home, and maybe the house of the rising sun is some kind of addiction he had cause of that. If not, this song is one of my favorites.
    Frauon September 23, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    amazing song.
    DubC4Lifeon April 19, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Frau you were on the right track there, but The House of the Rising sun was actually a "Whore House" and the line "They call the rising sun. And it's been the ruin of many a poor Boy, and God I know I'm one." is meaning that he blew all his money at the Risining Sun and probably obtained that behaviour from his father, because this line ?My father was a gamblin' man. Down in New Orleans." is either meaning he was actually gambling or he was also someone who went to the Rising Sun
    Link7722on May 20, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    When I first listened the song, the "house of prostitution theory" seemed obvious to me. I actually still believe that is the meaning of it. It exists a French version of the song which is about a prison. Its name is "Les portes du pénitencier". In Engnlish, the lyrics are : "the gates of the prison will soon be closed that will be where I'm going to finish my life as other guys did. For me, my mother gave her wedding dress Can you ever forgive me I've made you cry too much The sun isn't made for us That's during the night that we can cheat. You, who lost everything tonight You can win tomorrow O mothers listen to me Never let your boys hanging around on the streets at night or they'll end up in prison You, the girl who loved me I made you cry too much The tears of shame you shed You have to forget them"
    sosoolaon July 02, 2008   Link

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