House of the Rising Sun
Joan Baez Lyrics
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They call the Rising Sun
It has been the ruin of many a poor girl
And me, oh, God, I'm one
If I had listened to what my mother said,
I`d have been at home today,
But I was young and foolish, oh, God
Go tell my baby sisters
Don't do what I have done
To shun that house in New Orleans
They call the rising sun
And going back to New Orleans
My race is almost run
I'm going back to spend my life
Beneath the rising sun
In Joan Baez's version of the classic traditional folk song "House of the Rising Sun," the singer tells the story of an unfortunate young woman who has fallen victim to the notorious brothel in New Orleans known as "The Rising Sun." The house, which is personified in the song's title, has been the ruin of many poor girls, including the singer herself. She laments her own naivety, having been led astray by a "rambler" when she should have heeded her mother's warning. Despite her impending doom, she warns her sisters to avoid the same fate and shun the doomed house in New Orleans. In the final verse, the singer resigns herself to her fate and returns to New Orleans to spend the remainder of her life in the house's shadow, under the rising sun.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a house in New Orleans
There is an infamous place in New Orleans where women go and risk their lives.
They call the Rising Sun
The house’s name is the Rising Sun.
It has been the ruin of many a poor girl
Numerous young ladies have lost everything they had or even died there.
And me, oh, God, I'm one
I'm one of those poor girls too.
If I had listened to what my mother said,
I could have avoided being a victim of the house of the Rising Sun if I only listened to my mother’s advice.
I'd have been at home today,
I would have still been alive and well in the safety of my own home today.
But I was young and foolish, oh, God
I was reckless in my youth, and I made a mistake I deeply regret.
Let a rambler lead me astray
I followed a wandering man who led me into danger.
Go tell my baby sisters
Please tell my younger sisters.
Don't do what I have done
Do not go to the house of the Rising Sun as I did.
To shun that house in New Orleans
Avoid that infamous place in New Orleans called the Rising Sun.
And going back to New Orleans
I’m heading back to New Orleans.
My race is almost run
My life is coming to an end, and I’m running out of time.
I'm going back to spend my life
I'm going back to stay in New Orleans for the rest of my life.
Beneath the rising sun
I'll be living in the shadow of that horrible place called the Rising Sun.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: JOAN C. BAEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-rl7id7zw3x
0:15There is a house in New Orleans
They call the Risin' Sun
0:32And it's been the ruin of many poor girl And me, oh, God, for one
0:53If I had listened to what my mother said I'd have been at home today
1:10But I was young and foolish, oh, God
Let a rambler lead me astray
1:30Go, tell my baby sister "Don't do what I have done
1:47But shun that house in New Orleans
1:56They call the Risin' Sun"
2:09I'm goin' back to New Orleans My race is almost run
2:24I'm goin' back to spend my life Beneath that Risin' Sun
@Lukas-kh5gu
holy fucking shit. watch this with high end headphones... those high notes she is hitting are literally making my eyes water. I am not over-exaggerating. goosebumps all over.
@siddharthjha
YESSSSSS>... Just the way i felt.... Goosebumps
@geewizz20
It's off her self titled album well worth a listen
@lupcokotevski2907
You'd probably like the Bronx genius Laura Nyro's song about drugs and prostitution 'Buy and Sell' (1967). Also a voice like an angel. Nyro is not folk, she is all NYC. She was inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame in 2012. the Guardian featured an article about her April 2017. Nyro's 2nd LP the revolutionary 'Eli and the Thirteenth Confession' (1968) is probably the most influential LP on songwriters of the last 50 years. See a discussion of it on youtubes of Elton John, Todd Rundgren, Alice Cooper (search with 'Nyro'). Nyro created a new template for singing and songwriting that still resonates today in the work of Lana Del Rey, Sia and Adele, for example. See her 'Captain for Dark Mornings' (1969) which is probably the inspiration for Kate Bush's 'Wuthering Heights'.
@Marissainmortal
Same here
@cadenvann5003
@@lupcokotevski2907its comments like these that allow people to find the genius that hides in the shadows. Thank you and continue to flood the world with little hints of greatness
@shitty_beatles
I know the Animals version is probably the best known, but the beauty of this song is its unknown origins. Folk music is literally the music of the people, I think that's why every voice brings something different. There's just something about Joan's voice though. It cuts to the core.
@michaelcarvlin2551
Indeed, through all the cynicism and nihilism folk music persists☺️
@clp75
I recently knew that this versión más first and ispired The Animals
@SH-pm3dm
Joan's voice has that haunting quality to it, especially in his song.