The House of the Rising Sun
The Animals Lyrics


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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

My mother was a tailor
She sewed my new blue jeans
My father was a gamblin' man
Down in New Orleans

Now the only thing a gambler needs
Is a suitcase and trunk
And the only time he'll be satisfied
Is when he's all 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

Overall Meaning

"The House of the Rising Sun" by The Animals is a folk blues song that tells the story of a young man's journey into a life of gambling and sin in the notorious brothel in New Orleans known as the "Rising Sun." The lyrics speak of the many young men who have been lured into the house of ill repute and their subsequent downfalls. The singer warns his listeners to heed his warning and not follow in his footsteps.


The song's first line sets the scene in New Orleans, a city known for its jazz, blues, and hedonistic lifestyle. The mention of the "Rising Sun" immediately conjures up a place of temptation and vice. The singer then proceeds to describe his family background, with his father being a gambling man and his mother a tailor. This line acts as a foreshadowing of the singer's eventual fate. The next stanza depicts the life of a gambler, with their constant need for travel and love of alcohol. The singer then begs his mother to warn others not to make the same mistakes as he has and to avoid a life of sin and unhappiness.


The last stanza brings the song full circle, as the singer realizes, at last, that he has fallen victim to the temptations of the "Rising Sun." He is returning to New Orleans with a heavy heart, knowing that he will be returning to the chains of his former life. The song ends with a reiteration of the warning of the first verse, as the singer states that many have been ruined by the "Rising Sun," including himself.


Line by Line Meaning

There is a house in New Orleans
There exists a particular dwelling in the city of New Orleans


They call the Rising Sun
This house is commonly referred to as the Rising Sun


And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy
This house has caused the downfall of numerous impoverished young men


And God, I know I'm one
The artist acknowledges that he is included among the aforementioned unfortunate souls


My mother was a tailor
The artist's mother was a seamstress


She sewed my new blue jeans
This individual's mother stitched together their denim pants


My father was a gamblin' man
The singer's father was a habitual gambler


Down in New Orleans
This man engaged in his gambling activities in the city of New Orleans


Now the only thing a gambler needs
For a gambler, the sole essential item is


Is a suitcase and trunk
A suitcase and trunk to transport their belongings


And the only time he'll be satisfied
Happiness for a gambler can only be obtained


Is when he's all drunk
In a drunken state


Oh, mother, tell your children
The singer implores their mother to advise their children


Not to do what I have done
To avoid the same mistakes made by the singer


Spend your lives in sin and misery
Remaining in this lifestyle will lead to a life of sin and unhappiness


In the House of the Rising Sun
Referring to the aforementioned residence, which has led to the downfall of many


Well, I got one foot on the platform
The artist is physically positioned with one foot on the train's boarding area


The other foot on the train
While their other foot is literally aboard the train


I'm goin' back to New Orleans
The singer is returning to the city where they originated


To wear that ball and chain
An allusion is made to the burdensome weight of a prisoner's shackles, stating that the artist is going back to suffer the same fate again


Well, there is a house in New Orleans
The song's chorus is repeated, again discussing the prominent residence


They call the Rising Sun
A familiar name for this notorious dwelling


And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy
This place has drastically impacted the lives of numerous young, financially destitute men


And God, I know I'm one
Once again, the artist affirms their inclusion among these same individuals




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Anthem Entertainment, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alan Price

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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No easy way out

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A classic! Amazing to see The Animals in beautiful HD.

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Memorias de mi adolescensia Linda cancion

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I bet Eric Burden wears boxers...😎

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