The House Of The Rising Sun
Battleme & The Forest Rangers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
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
The song "House of the Rising Sun" is a classic folk song that has been covered by many artists throughout history. The first two lines of the song introduce us to a house located in New Orleans which is referred to as the "Rising Sun". This house has been the ruin of many poor boys and the singer admits that he is one of them. The meaning behind "the ruin of many poor boys" could potentially refer to a place where gambling and addiction thrive, causing individuals to lose everything they have.
The following lines describe the family history of the singer. His mother was a tailor who sewed his blue jeans, while his father was a gambler who spent his time in New Orleans. The theme of a father being a gambler is continued in the third stanza, where it is stated that the only thing a gambler needs is a suitcase and a trunk, and the only time he is satisfied is when he is drunk. The singer then goes on to warn future generations to not do what he has done, to not spend their lives in sin and misery in the House of the Rising Sun.
The final stanza is the climax of the song where the singer is leaving New Orleans to escape the same fate as those before him. However, he admits that he has one foot on the platform of the train, while the other is on the train itself, suggesting that he cannot fully leave the destructive cycle behind. Overall, "House of the Rising Sun" is a powerful and timeless song that depicts the struggles of addiction and the destructive nature of gambling.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a house in New Orleans
The song is about a notorious house in New Orleans, referred to as the House of the Rising Sun.
They call the Rising Sun
The house is notorious and has earned an ominous nickname because of the bad things that happen there.
And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy
The house has been the downfall of many young men who have gotten caught up in the illegal activities that take place there.
And God I know I'm one
The singer himself has been ruined by the house in New Orleans and the poor choices he made while there.
My mother was a tailor
The singer's mother worked as a tailor.
She sewed my new blue jeans
The singer's mother made him a new pair of jeans.
My father was a gamblin' man
The singer's father was a gambler who lived in New Orleans.
Down in New Orleans
The singer's father lived and gambled in the city of New Orleans.
Now the only thing a gambler needs
Gamblers do not need much to be happy.
Is a suitcase and trunk
Gamblers only need a few possessions, like a suitcase, to feel content.
And the only time he's satisfied
Gamblers are only truly happy when they are drunk.
Is when he's on a drunk
Gamblers are only truly happy when they are drunk.
Oh mother tell your children
The singer is warning others about the dangers of going to the House of the Rising Sun.
Not to do what I have done
He is advising them not to make the same mistakes he did by going to the House of the Rising Sun.
Spend your lives in sin and misery
Going to the House of the Rising Sun will lead to a life of sin and misery.
In the House of the Rising Sun
The House of the Rising Sun is where all of the bad things he is warning against happen.
Well, I got one foot on the platform
The singer is preparing to leave New Orleans and put the past behind him.
The other foot on the train
He is physically leaving and has one foot on the train that will take him away.
I'm goin' back to New Orleans
Despite everything that has happened to him, the singer is going back to New Orleans.
To wear that ball and chain
The singer is expecting to be punished for his past mistakes when he returns to New Orleans.
And God I know I'm one
The singer again acknowledges that he has been ruined by the House of the Rising Sun and his time in New Orleans.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alan Price
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind