Table Of Content
- The Meaning Behind “Peaceful Easy Feeling” by the Eagles and the Unlikely Path It Traveled to Becoming a Hit
- What makes Leadbelly’s version of “House of the Rising Sun” special?
- Behind The Song Lyrics: “House of the Rising Sun,” The Animals
- 'House of the Rising Sun': The Appalachian Folk Origins of the Rock Classic
- Notable covers

It serves as a reminder that we are not alone in our struggles and that there is always hope for redemption. This song encourages introspection and reflection on our own lives, urging us to learn from the mistakes of others and make wiser choices. However, this meant that only Price received songwriter's royalties for the hit, a fact that has caused bitterness among the other band members ever since. Roy Acuff, an "early-day friend and apprentice" of Clarence Ashley's, learned it from him and recorded it as "Rising Sun" on November 3, 1938.

The Meaning Behind “Peaceful Easy Feeling” by the Eagles and the Unlikely Path It Traveled to Becoming a Hit
The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father. A top New York studio musician, Ralph played guitar on many '60s hits, including "Lightnin' Strikes," "A Lover's Concerto" and "I Am A Rock." "Doo Wop (That Thing)" by Lauryn Hill was the only US #1 hit of the '90s entirely written, produced and performed by a female singer. Famous Yugoslav singer Miodrag "Miki" Jevremović covered the song and included it in his 1964 EP "18 Žutih Ruža" (eng. "Eighteen Yellow Roses"). "House of the Rising Sun" was not included on any of the group's British albums, but it was reissued as a single twice in subsequent decades, charting both times, reaching number 25 in 1972 and number 11 in 1982. Personally, “The House of the Rising Sun” has provided me solace during difficult times.
What makes Leadbelly’s version of “House of the Rising Sun” special?
The classic songs The Animals recorded in one take - Far Out Magazine
The classic songs The Animals recorded in one take.
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The song is also credited to Ronnie Gilbert on an album by the Weavers released in the late 1940s or early 1950s. Pete Seeger released a version on Folkways Records in 1958, which was re-released by Smithsonian Folkways in 2009.[16] Andy Griffith recorded the song on his 1959 album Andy Griffith Shouts the Blues and Old Timey Songs. Undoubtedly, “The House of the Rising Sun” is one of the most famous songs ever created. It became popular thanks to the British rock band, The Animals, but before that happened, there is a huge story-line to be tackled.
House of the Rising Sun: Leadbelly, 1944 – The Bowdoin Orient - The Bowdoin Orient
House of the Rising Sun: Leadbelly, 1944 – The Bowdoin Orient.
Posted: Fri, 30 Sep 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Behind The Song Lyrics: “House of the Rising Sun,” The Animals

House of the Rising Sun has stood the test of time due to its captivating storytelling, emotional depth, and memorable melody. The song touches on universal themes and emotions that resonate with listeners across generations. Its haunting atmosphere and powerful vocals make it a standout track that continues to captivate audiences to this day. House of the Rising Sun played a significant role in establishing The Doors as one of the leading bands of their time. It showcased their musical versatility and ability to put a fresh spin on a traditional song.
'House of the Rising Sun': The Appalachian Folk Origins of the Rock Classic
The oldest known recording of the song, under the title "Rising Sun Blues", is by Appalachian artists Clarence "Tom" Ashley and Gwen Foster, who recorded it in 1933. As a final note, the legacy of House of the Rising Sun lies in its ability to transcend time and connect with audiences on a deep emotional level. Its enduring popularity is a testament to the timeless nature of music and its power to evoke emotions and tell compelling stories. While House of the Rising Sun primarily focuses on personal struggles and moral dilemmas, it can be interpreted as a commentary on the destructive nature of vice and the consequences it has on individuals and society as a whole. The song serves as a cautionary tale, exploring the consequences of making sinful choices.
Once The Animals' frontman Burdon heard the song, the band arranged their own version and recorded it in one take in May 1964. Because of the song's folk origin, The Animals' version was described as the very first folk-rock hit. The song has since been named number 122 on Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list and received a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. The oldest recording of the song is a version called "Rising Sun Blues" by Tennessee artist Clarence "Tom" Ashley and Gwen Foster, released in 1933. In 1938, ethnomusicologist, folklorist, and archivist Alan Lomax recorded a 16-year-old girl named Georgia Turner sing it in eastern Kentucky.
The Animals, from the English coal town of Newcastle, changed the gender in the lyrics, and keyboardist Alan Price created the new arrangement. Old Time Music is proud to have such a passionate and talented team of writers who share their love for music with our readers. If the music sounded almost supernatural, Burdon’s vocal gave the song its terrestrial heart, one rent in two by the loaded dice and lost bets. He tempers his performance, starting off low and with deadly serious intent to grab your attention.
Notable covers
White is also credited with having written new words and music that have subsequently been popularized in the versions made by many other later artists. “The House of the Rising Sun” is a traditional folk song, sometimes known as “Rising Sun Blues.” It revolves around the narrative of a life gone wrong in New Orleans and serves as a cautionary tale for listeners. Over the years, numerous versions of this song have emerged, with many of them encouraging siblings, as well as parents and children, to avoid falling into the same destructive patterns. Originally, “The House of the Rising Sun” gained popularity in the 1930s, and it has since become a classic folk ballad that transcends time.
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Dillard Chandler of Madison County, North Carolina sang a variant of the song beginning "There was a sport in New Orleans". With its melancholic melody and Jim Morrison’s soulful vocals, the song captures the essence of desperation and hopelessness. It delves into the dark side of human nature, exploring themes of addiction, betrayal, and lost innocence. The lyrics evoke a sense of sadness and introspection, urging the listener to reflect on their own choices and actions. The song tells the haunting tale of a person’s downfall and subsequent ruin in the infamous House of the Rising Sun.
Regardless of its exact meaning, the song’s universal themes of regret, redemption, and the consequences of one’s actions resonate with listeners of all generations. On a further note, Alan Lomax, along with his father, curated the Archive of American Folk Songs for the Library of Congress. As part of their job, they worked on the field and were able to record a number of performances of the legendary song. This was the ancestor of hundreds of covers that were later on released by numerous performers, included Dave Van Ronk, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and of the course The Animals, who first helped the song become a worldwide hit.
The Doors’ version became one of their signature songs and helped solidify their place in rock music history. Its haunting melody, powerful vocals, and deeply relatable lyrics have made “The House Of The Rising Sun” a timeless classic that continues to captivate audiences today. Its inclusion in numerous films, television shows, and even adaptations by various artists only solidifies its enduring legacy. By the time the ’60s rolled around, the folk legend Dave Van Ronk included an intense take on “House of the Rising Sun” as a steady part of his live repertoire. His young acolyte Bob Dylan largely mimicked Van Ronk’s arrangement of the song and included it on his debut album. Across the pond at around the same time, Burdon apparently heard the song from a local folk singer in England.
The Rising Sun in the song serves as a metaphorical representation of a place of corruption and moral decay. The Rising Sun can also be seen as a warning, showcasing the consequences of one’s actions and the potential for redemption. A song is written, and, if it’s special enough, it hangs around waiting for an artist to claim it, putting their indelible stamp on it so that all other versions are henceforth compared to that one unforgettable take. Nobody is sure who wrote “House of the Rising Sun.” But we do know that the Animals, powered by the blustery vocals of Eric Burdon, claimed it. Burdon himself picked the song up from the English folk scene, and the Animals first covered the slow, sinister tune when they opened for Chuck Berry because they knew they “couldn’t outrock” the guitar great.
The enduring popularity of “House of the Rising Sun” is a testament to its timeless appeal. This folk song has resonated with audiences for centuries, captivating new generations through its haunting melody and powerful storytelling. He learned this arrangement from Dave Van Ronk, a friend and mentor, who had re-worked the song from a recording by musicologist Hally Wood.
As a popular folk song, the oldest record of “House of the Rising Sun” in reference to a song was 1905, and it was first recorded in 1933 by an Appalachian group. Other early recordings include Woody Guthrie’s version from 1941 and Bob Dylan in 1961. The version by the Animals, however, is by far the most popular, and Dylan is often annoyed when it is assumed that he covered that song from them. Originally a traditional folk song, “The House of the Rising Sun”, also known as “Rising Sun Blues”, tells of life in New Orleans, back in the day when poverty was the fate of many people. Like the majority of classic folk ballads, the authorship of “The House of the Rising Sun” is tricky and uncertain. Apart from Leadbelly’s iconic rendition, several notable artists have covered “House of the Rising Sun” throughout the years.
It speaks of a place of ill repute, a den of iniquity where the protagonist’s life takes a turn for the worse. The House of the Rising Sun serves as a metaphor for a place of temptation and moral corruption. So, the next time you find yourself drawn to a melancholic melody or a song that stirs something deep within your soul, remember to listen closely to the lyrics and uncover the meaning behind the music.
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