Born in Cleveland, Ohio,U.S., Tracy Chapman began playing guitar and writing songs as a child. She received a scholarship through A Better Chance that allowed her to attend Wooster School in Connecticut, and was eventually accepted to Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts.
Tracy Chapman helped restore songwriters to the spotlight in the '80s. The multi-platinum success of Chapman's eponymous 1988 debut was unexpected, and it had lasting impact. Although Chapman was working from the same confessional songwriter foundation that had been popularized in the '70s, her songs were fresh and powerful, driven by simple melodies and affecting lyrics. At the time of her first album, there were only a handful of artists performing such a style successfully, and her success ushered in a new era of songwriters that lasted well into the '90s. Along with 10,000 Maniacs and R.E.M., Chapman's liberal politics proved enormously influential on American college campuses in the late '80s.
Official Website: http://www.tracychapman.com
Fansite: http://www.tracychapmanonline.com
House of the Rising Sun
Tracy Chapman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
they call the Rising Sun
Its been the ruins of many poor boys
and oh god, im one
My mother, shes a tailor
she sews us new blue jeans
My father, hes a gamblin' man
The only thing a gambler needs
a suitcase and a trunk
The only time hes ever satisfied
is when hes on a drug
i got one foot on the platform
another foot on the train
im goin' back to New Orleans
to wear that ball & chain
Mothers, tell your children
dont do as i have done
Dont spend your life in sin and misery
in the house of the rising sun
There is a house in New Orleans
they call the Rising Sun
Its been the ruins of many poor girls
and oh god im one
and oh god im one
and oh god im one
Tracy Chapman's rendition of House of the Rising Sun is a hauntingly beautiful and melancholic song that speaks of an unfortunate life story of a young man who never had it easy. The song starts with the singer pointing out a house in New Orleans that many called the Rising Sun. The singer explains that the house has been the ruins of many poor boys, and he is one of them. The house in question is a brothel infamous for attracting gamblers and other men who indulge in filthy pleasures. The singer's father is one of the gamblers who frequents the house. He has grown up in poverty and the streets of the city, barely surviving with a life of hustling and petty theft. However, he eventually fell victim to the temptations of the house and got himself caught in a vicious cycle of addiction and misery. The singer, burdened with the same fate as his father, is now contemplating returning to the house in New Orleans, knowing very well the darkness that the house brings to anyone associated with it.
The song ends with a cautionary sermon. The singer advises mothers to warn their children about the dangers of falling into the same trap as him. He admonishes that the house of the Rising Sun is a place of sin and misery, where the innocent can quickly spiral down into a life of destruction. The lyrics paint a bleak picture of a life trapped in poverty, addiction, and gambling, in a city where the only option seems to be submitting to the house by choice or force.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a house, in New Orleans
The song begins with introducing the main setting - a house located in New Orleans.
they call the Rising Sun
The house is known by the name of Rising Sun.
Its been the ruins of many poor boys
Over time, the dwelling has brought down the fate of many unfortunate boys.
and oh god, im one
The artist identifies with those who have met a tragic end in the Rising Sun.
My mother, shes a tailor
The song talks about the artist's mother who is a tailor.
she sews us new blue jeans
Being a tailor, she keeps the family clothed with new jeans.
My father, hes a gamblin' man
The singer also introduces their father to be a man who likes to gamble.
Down in New Orleans
The father carries out gambling activities in New Orleans.
The only thing a gambler needs
According to the artist, a gambler requires very little to be content.
a suitcase and a trunk
A gambler can pack everything they need in just a suitcase and a trunk.
The only time hes ever satisfied
The only moment a gambler can truly attain happiness is when they are overdosed with drugs.
is when hes on a drug
The addictive quality of gambling and drug use are emphasized here.
i got one foot on the platform
The singer is ready to leave his present location and start a new journey.
another foot on the train
They're going to leave with one foot inside the train that is moving towards New Orleans.
im goin' back to New Orleans
The singer is heading back to New Orleans.
to wear that ball & chain
The character feels tied down to the city they're leaving and expects to return soon.
Mothers, tell your children
The artist is giving a piece of advice to other people.
dont do as i have done
They advise people to learn from their mistakes and refrain from making the same ones.
Dont spend your life in sin and misery
The singer warns others of the consequences that await a sinful and miserable life.
in the house of the rising sun
The artist again emphasizes the name of the house due to the great impact it had on their life.
Its been the ruins of many poor girls
The lyrics reveal that the Rising Sun has also led to the downfall of many poor girls.
and oh god im one
This is repeated again in a mournful tone, expressing the artist's sadness and frustration at their misfortune.
and oh god im one
The repetition of the above line creates an eerie, unsettling effect and communicates the theme of how the past decisions can lead to a bleak future.
Contributed by Ruby S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@mikepaul1216
GREAT SONG.
@filmpjeskijken6197
It should stand on Spotify, beautiful!
@angusyoungwannabe1897
best version of the song!
@Chronicallycactus
Oh this is amazing! Never heard it before, how I wish her albums would get reissued with deluxe treatment
@THE-HammerMan
This version was recorded for Elektra Records RUBYIAT(40th anniversary) release.
If you don't have this fantastic release in your collection...GET IT!
It came out in a 2cd set, with Elektra artists doing covers of other Elektra artists' songs. It was also sold in a very rare 4cd set, with the original songs by the original artists on 2cds, and the covers on 2cds. FANTASTIC SET! WORTH EVERY PENNY to add to any music library.
@kharnac3973
It also contains the Gypsy Kings version of Hotel California. Awesome music.
@karoshiga
I wound up getting the European vinyl release about a year ago. Like Holy Grail.
@SoufianeTahiri
This was my phone ringtone for a while !
@nezihesal6915
This song also appeared in Europe as a single album which I regrettably lost. Today Iβll check whether still on sale!
@josianeagathe9584
I Love you too foooort Tracy Chapman ππππππππππππππππΈπΈπΈπΆπππππ€πΊ