House of the Rising Sun
Adolescents Lyrics


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There is a house down in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun,
It's been the ruin of many a poor girl,
And me, oh god I'm one.

My mother was a tailor.
She sewed those new blue jeans.
My lover was a gambling one.
Down in New Orleans.

Now the only thing a gambler needs
Is a suitcase and trunk
And the only time he's satisfied
Is when he's on a drunk

He fills his glasses up to the brim,
And push those cards around.
The only pleasure he gets out of life
Is rambling from town to town.

Now tell my baby sister,
Not to do what I have done.
But shun that house in New Orleans,
They call the Rising Sun.

Got one foot on the platform
The other foot on that train
I'm going back to New Orleans
To wear that ball and chain

I'm going back to New Orleans
The aged-old soul have run
I'm going back to end my life,
Down in the Rising Sun.

There is a house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun,




It's been the ruin of many a poor girl,
And me, oh god I'm one.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Adolescents' version of "House of the Rising Sun" speak of a notorious and infamous establishment in New Orleans known as the Rising Sun. This brothel has ruined the lives of many young women, including the singer of the song. The singer warns her younger sister to avoid the same fate and not make the same mistake she did. Throughout the song, the lyrics describe the addictive nature of gambling, which ultimately leads to the singer's downfall. The song concludes with her acknowledging her fate and returning to New Orleans to face the consequences of her choices.


The song, though originally a folk ballad, has been covered by numerous artists over the years. While the lyrics have remained relatively unchanged, the style and instrumentation have varied widely. Adolescents' version is a punk rock cover of the classic song, adding a sense of urgency and rawness to the lyrics. One interesting interpretation of the song is that the "house" in question is a metaphor for life, with the "rising sun" representing the dawning of a new day and the endless cycle of birth and death.


Line by Line Meaning

There is a house down in New Orleans They call the Rising Sun, It's been the ruin of many a poor girl, And me, oh god I'm one.
This house in New Orleans, known as the Rising Sun, has been the downfall of many young women, including myself.


My mother was a tailor. She sewed those new blue jeans. My lover was a gambling one. Down in New Orleans.
My mother made clothes for a living, including the blue jeans that my lover wore. He was a gambler who lived in New Orleans.


Now the only thing a gambler needs Is a suitcase and trunk And the only time he's satisfied Is when he's on a drunk
All a gambler requires is a suitcase and a trunk. He is only content when he is drunk, wasting away his life.


He fills his glasses up to the brim, And push those cards around. The only pleasure he gets out of life Is rambling from town to town.
He pours alcohol to the brim of the glass and passes the time playing cards. The only enjoyment he derives is traveling from city to city, aimlessly.


Now tell my baby sister, Not to do what I have done. But shun that house in New Orleans, They call the Rising Sun.
I caution my younger sister to avoid making the same mistakes I have, staying away from the perilous Rising Sun establishment in New Orleans.


Got one foot on the platform The other foot on that train I'm going back to New Orleans To wear that ball and chain
Standing with one foot on the platform, and the other on the train, I am going to New Orleans to face the consequences of my poor choices and the guilt that comes with them.


I'm going back to New Orleans The aged-old soul have run I'm going back to end my life, Down in the Rising Sun.
I am heading back to New Orleans, where I have lived a long, hard, lonely life. I am returning there to put an end to my life, in the infamous Rising Sun establishment.


There is a house in New Orleans They call the Rising Sun, It's been the ruin of many a poor girl, And me, oh god I'm one.
Once again, I repeat that this house in New Orleans, known as the Rising Sun, has been the downfall of many young women, including myself.




Contributed by Joseph H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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CR


on No Way

I perceive the "No ass, no head" lyrics to mean no sex, no blowjobs(head) hence the "gotta go home and jack off instead"

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