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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. 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). It remains, without a doubt, one of the songs that shaped the 60s and, to some extent, shaped rock music. The use of light and shade and a progressive atmospheric build was innovative.
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The earliest recorded versions date back to the 1930s, and it has since been covered by numerous artists in various styles. House of the Rising Sun is a timeless classic, and one of the most iconic songs in the history of rock music. Originally an old folk tune, this song has been interpreted and reimagined by various artists over the years. However, it was The Doors who truly brought it to life and made it their own. 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.
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The song has since been named number 122 on Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list and received a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. The oldest recording of the song is a version called "Rising Sun Blues" by Tennessee artist Clarence "Tom" Ashley and Gwen Foster, released in 1933. In 1938, ethnomusicologist, folklorist, and archivist Alan Lomax recorded a 16-year-old girl named Georgia Turner sing it in eastern Kentucky.
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25 of the Most Covered Songs in Music History - Mentalfloss
25 of the Most Covered Songs in Music History.
Posted: Thu, 08 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
While deeply rooted in American folk music, “House of the Rising Sun” has transcended its origins and influenced various music genres. Its haunting melody and timeless appeal have inspired artists in rock, blues, and even heavy metal to incorporate or reinterpret elements of the song in their own works. Although the date and author of the song are unknown, some musicologists have said that it resembled ballads of the 16th century, and could very easily have derived from one of that time.
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While the general narrative centers around a downward spiral into vice and ruin, interpretations of the song’s meaning can vary. Some suggest that it serves as a metaphor for the cyclic nature of life or the hardships faced by women in society. First, there was that iconic guitar arpeggio to start the song that every learning guitarist tried to play but couldn’t.
Behind The Song Lyrics: “House of the Rising Sun,” The Animals - American Songwriter
Behind The Song Lyrics: “House of the Rising Sun,” The Animals.
Posted: Mon, 14 Mar 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The combination of Jim Morrison’s powerful vocals, Ray Manzarek’s haunting organ, and the band’s signature psychedelic sound creates a mesmerizing experience for the listener. It's also a song beloved in the country music community due to its folk origins and notable country covers. Its haunting melody, powerful vocals, and deeply relatable lyrics have made “The House Of The Rising Sun” a timeless classic that continues to captivate audiences today. Its inclusion in numerous films, television shows, and even adaptations by various artists only solidifies its enduring legacy.
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Both the Joan Baez and Dylan versions were included on their first albums, which were both very folk-oriented. I don’t know a single classic rock aficionado who doesn’t count ‘The House Of The Rising Sun’ by The Animals among their favorite tunes! This eerie, soulful song was released in 1964 during the height of the British invasion and it’s one that’s stood the test of time with use in movies and television since its release. 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.
At the end of the Doors song "Touch Me," Jim Morrison chants, "Stronger than dirt!" The line is from an Ajax commercial where a white knight rides around destroying dirt. While there is no specific true story behind the song, House of the Rising Sun draws inspiration from the themes and experiences common in the world of addiction, regret, and lost opportunities. It speaks to the universal human experience of being drawn into a life of vice and the subsequent consequences that follow.
Frequently Asked Questions About “House of the Rising Sun”
House of the Rising Sun played a significant role in establishing The Doors as one of the leading bands of their time. It showcased their musical versatility and ability to put a fresh spin on a traditional song. The Doors’ version became one of their signature songs and helped solidify their place in rock music history. 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.
The song was first collected in Appalachia in the 1930s, but probably has its roots in traditional English folk song. Johnny Cash never performed this song, it was a cover artist named "The Ghost of Johnny Cash" (real name David Radcliffe). 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.
In an interview for the documentary No Direction Home, Van Ronk said that he was intending to record the song and that Dylan copied his version. 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.
Parton's remake reached number 14 on the US country singles chart and crossed over to the pop charts, where it reached number 77 on the Billboard Hot 100; it also reached number 30 on the US Adult Contemporary chart. Parton has occasionally performed the song live, including on her 1987–88 television show, in an episode taped in New Orleans. White is also credited with having written new words and music that have subsequently been popularized in the versions made by many other later artists. Notable folk singer Clarence Ashley actually did make an earlier recording of the same song in 1933, where his version is definitively in the bluegrass style. Clarence had said that he learned the song from his grandfather, meaning the song’s origins can be dated to considerably older than 1933. What is interesting is that, while both Ashley and Turner come from the Appalachia region, Clarence was from Tennessee and Georgia was from Kentucky.
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