[edit] Career
At a young age, he was interested in music but his primary interest was athletics. He purchased a guitar at the age of 12 and although he learned to play it, most of his time was devoted to sport. This eventually resulted in being offered a baseball scholarship to the University of Idaho at Moscow.
King later returned to Shreveport and joined the Louisiana Hayride, a popular TV and radio show broadcast in the U.S. and the United Kingdom, produced in Shreveport, Louisiana. The Louisiana Hayride ranked second only to the Grand Ole Opry in terms of television and radio importance in the early 1950s to the 1960s and King was frequently billed on the same shows with other famous legends such as Elvis Presley, John Ritter's father, Tex Ritter, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Webb Pierce, Kitty Wells, Jimmie Davis, Slim Whitman, Faron Young, Johnny Horton, Jim Reeves, George Jones and Lefty Frizzell, among many others who became big music stars in the 1960s.
King recorded a few songs for Gotham Records, although none were successful. In 1961, he became more serious about a musical career and signed with the Nashville, Tennessee division of Columbia Records. He struck immediately, cutting "Big River, Big Man", a country Top 10 and even a small pop crossover success. He soon followed with "The Comancheros" inspired by the movie of the same title, starring John Wayne. It was a Top 10 country hit in late 1961, also crossing over to the pop charts.
King made his "career" recording in the spring of 1962. "Wolverton Mountain", written with Nashville veteran Merle Kilgore, was based on a real character, Clifton Clowers, who lived on Wolverton Mountain in Arkansas. The song became an immediate hit, going to No.1 for nine weeks during its 26-week run on the Billboard Country charts. It was also a pop Top 10.
King followed up that year with an American Civil War song, "The Burning Of Atlanta" which also went Top 10 on the country charts and again generated a lot of interest on the pop lists. In late 1962, he recorded "I've Got The World By The Tail" which narrowly missed the country Top 10.
He had another good year in 1963, scoring three solid country hits with "Sheepskin Valley", "Building a Bridge" and "Hey Lucille!". The hits continued in 1964 with "Sam Hill" and in 1965 he was back in the Top 10 with "Tiger Woman", co-written by Merle Kilgore. King also did well that year with "Little Buddy". His smooth country style continued to find a flavor throughout the decade, especially songs like "Catch a Little Raindrop" and the Top 10 "All For The Love Of A Girl" in 1969. His singles continued to hit the country charts through 1972. He left the label in 1973 after having accomplished 29 hits.
Besides a successful career recording and touring, King also performed as an actor in several movies, and like his nephew, Chris Aable, King is also among a minority of actors who are members in both the Screen Actors Guild and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. He appeared in the 1982 television miniseries The Blue and the Gray and appeared in several feature films. King is no relation to another actor by the same name, born in 1875 in England.
In 1981, Arkansas Governor Frank D. White paid tribute to King and his big 1962 hit by declaring August 7 "Wolverton Mountain Day". By that time, King had almost retired from recording.
After being absent from recording for over 20 years, King recently released a new CD called Cowboy in the White House. Most of the songs were written or co-written by him. Elvis Presley's guitarist, James Burton performed guitar for the release.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_King"
The House Of The Rising Sun
Claude King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it's been the ruin of many poor boys and Lord I know I'm one
My mother she was a taylor she sowed my new blue jeans
My father he was a gambler way down in New Orleans
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
There is a house in New Orleans...
Poor mother go tell all your children not to do what I have done
Spend your life in sin and misery in a house of the Rising Sun
Well I got one foot on the black farm the other foot on a train
I'm goin' back to New Orleans wear that ball and chain
There is a house in New Orleans...
Yes Lord I know I'm one
"The House of the Rising Sun" is a traditional folk song, made famous by the interpretation of many artists, including Claude King. The lyrics tell the story of a gambler who went to New Orleans, fell into the trap of vices, and was doomed to spend his life in misery. The song begins with the image of a house in New Orleans known as the Rising Sun, a place that has been the downfall of many poor boys, including the singer himself.
The first stanza reveals a bit about the singer's family background. He had a mother who was a tailor and had sewed his new blue jeans. His father was a gambler that spent most of his time in New Orleans. The second stanza paints a picture of the kind of life a gambler leads- with only a suitcase and a trunk needed to carry their belongings. The only thing that can satisfy them is when they become drunk.
The chorus highlights the theme of the song- the Rising Sun is a place of sin and misery, and the singer knows that he is one of its victims. The final stanza expresses the singer's despair and his realization that he is trapped in the never-ending cycle of vice and misery. He has one foot on the black farm and the other on a train, indicating that he is torn between two worlds- the world of vice and the world of redemption.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a house in New Orleans they call the Rising Sun
In New Orleans, there is a specific house that is popularly known as the Rising Sun.
And it's been the ruin of many poor boys and Lord I know I'm one
This house has caused the downfall of several young and vulnerable men, and I am one of them.
My mother she was a taylor she sowed my new blue jeans
My mother had a profession as a tailor, and she tailored my brand new blue jeans.
My father he was a gambler way down in New Orleans
My father was a gambler who lived in New Orleans.
The only thing a gambler needs is a suitcase and a trunk
A gambler only requires a suitcase and a trunk to carry their belongings.
And the only time he'll be satisfied is when he's all a drunk
A gambler is only content when they are completely drunk.
There is a house in New Orleans...
Repeats the first line of the song.
[ dobro ]
An instrumental break in the song.
Poor mother go tell all your children not to do what I have done
My mother, who I have caused pain and suffering to, should warn my siblings and other children not to emulate me.
Spend your life in sin and misery in a house of the Rising Sun
This house will only bring about a life of wrongdoing and unhappiness.
Well I got one foot on the black farm the other foot on a train
I am in a state of limbo, unsure of where I am going - with one foot on the platform and the other on a moving train.
I'm goin' back to New Orleans wear that ball and chain
I am returning to New Orleans where I will be imprisoned by my own vices and the house of the Rising Sun.
There is a house in New Orleans...
Repeats the first line of the song.
Yes Lord I know I'm one
I know that I am one of the many poor boys whose life has been destroyed by the house of the Rising Sun.
Lyrics © OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Alan Price
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
dansdotcom
This is probably the best version every done
Edwin Clements
Hadn't heard this one before. Nice.