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Parton's version reached No. 14 on the Country charts and crossed over to the Pop Charts, landing at No. 77 on the Hot 100 and No. 33 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Parton also performed the song on an episode of her variety show, Dolly, in New Orleans. House of the Rising Sun is a timeless classic, and one of the most iconic songs in the history of rock music. Originally an old folk tune, this song has been interpreted and reimagined by various artists over the years. However, it was The Doors who truly brought it to life and made it their own.
Why has “House of the Rising Sun” endured for so many decades?
I did not like the sound of that.” It was a sound that said, ‘I’ve already done it’. The legendary blues song “The House of the Rising Sun” is one of those tunes with a murky origin story. "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. David Allan Coe’s version of the song did not chart, unlike the many successful covers of the song that came before it. The Animals didn’t write the lyrics, and they attribute the musical arrangement to Dylan’s cover. Still, it feels like House of the Rising Sun belongs to The Animals.
Is the song confined to American folk music, or has it influenced other genres?
In conclusion, Tim Hardin’s rendition of “House of the Rising Sun” is a song deeply rooted in human struggle, temptation, and despair. Its raw portrayal of the consequences of one’s choices and the allure of vice continues to resonate with audiences today. This timeless classic has left an indelible mark on music history, solidifying its place as one of the most captivating and meaningful songs ever recorded. Although the date and author of the song are unknown, some musicologists have said that it resembled ballads of the 16th century, and could very easily have derived from one of that time. 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.
Origin and early versions
And maybe he even hesitates for just a moment before committing to his return, Well, I got one foot on the platform/The other on the train. Doors expert Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined, talks about some of their defining songs and exposes some Jim Morrison myths. There are various places in Crescent City that have become possible locales for the subject of the song. While “House of the Rising Sun” often implies a brothel, many don’t know if the song points to a real place or a fictitious one.
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]
The Meaning Behind The Song: House of the Rising Sun by The Doors
The next step seemed obvious, and The Animals obliged with profound effect creating what has to be considered the definitive version—and the most influential at that. While some claim the House in question is a brothel, and others a sort of casino shack, the fact of the matter is that it is a mystery and, in that sense, an allegory. This is beautifully celebrated in the poetic way that Odetta portrays it. Other songs exist with similar titles but are unrelated, including “Rising Sun Blues” by Ivy Smith in 1927. But let’s dive into the history of the song and see what we can find.
Hardin’s soulful delivery and his ability to convey the depths of despair brought a fresh interpretation to the song. His haunting vocals and minimalist acoustic guitar accompaniment created an atmosphere that emphasized the melancholic nature of the lyrics. The Animals' version of the American folk song is considered one of the 20th century’s British pop classics. While the original version was sung in the character of a woman led into a life of degradation, the Animals' version is told from the view of a young man who follows his father into alcoholism and gambling ruin. In these variations, the narrator is a woman bemoaning her return to prostitution. Male singers made it “the ruin of many a poor boy,” which transformed the title establishment into a gambling den.
History and Origins
Leadbelly’s rendition undoubtedly popularized the song, but it has been covered by numerous artists over the years. One notable cover of “House of the Rising Sun” is The Animals’ 1964 version, which introduced the song to a whole new generation and became an international hit. Leadbelly’s haunting rendition of “House of the Rising Sun” captured the attention of a broader audience in the 1940s. His unique vocal delivery and ability to convey raw emotions resonated deeply with listeners, propelling the song to newfound popularity and solidifying it as a classic in American folk music. – The song is often categorized as folk rock, with elements of blues and traditional folk music. Tim Hardin’s rendition of “House of the Rising Sun” introduced a new generation of listeners to the timeless ballad.
ERIC BURDON – HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN
The message conveyed is about the consequences of a life gone wrong and the longing for redemption. David Allan Coe was a fan of the song and did not perform on stage without playing it. One thing is clear, that the original “The House of the Rising Sun” is older than New Orleans itself, as the city was founded in 1718. Its lyrics were also varying and different than the one we are familiar with today.
But it’s hard to imagine that anybody will ever again inhabit that doomed soul at the epicenter of the tale quite as well. He changed the sound “by altering the chords and using a bass line that descended in half steps—a common enough progression in jazz, but unusual among folksingers. By the early 1960s, the song had become one of my signature pieces, and I could hardly get off the stage without doing it.” A young Dylan watched him play a great many times. The song originally appeared in Appalachia, in the Northeast part of the United States. But it likely has roots in traditional English folk songs, experts say. I had learned it sometime in the 1950s, from a recording by Hally Wood, the Texas singer and collector, who had got it from an Alan Lomax field recording by a Kentucky woman named Georgia Turner.
Another popular theory goes that it was about a women’s prison in the city which had a gate that bore a rising sun motif (allegedly a reference to the “ball and chain” lyric in the song). Nancy (a.k.a. Ophlin Russell) was the DJ (mic controller) for Kingston’s Stereophonic sound system when she met reggae producer Winston Riley in the late Seventies. “I really admired how he took recording serious,” Nancy said. Helen Adu’s small but fully inhabited range has been her secret weapon from the beginning.
Notable renditions include Joan Baez’s folk-inspired interpretation, Bob Dylan’s distinct twist on the song, and Nina Simone’s soulful rendition, among many others. – Many artists have been influenced by “House of the Rising Sun” and draw inspiration from its raw emotions and storytelling. Are there other notable versions of “House of the Rising Sun”? – Yes, The Animals’ rendition in 1964 became a chart-topping hit and is arguably the most well-known version after Tim Hardin’s. – The song’s origins are uncertain, as it predates recorded music. However, it is believed to have been passed down through oral tradition.
Kerry King of Slayer played guitar on the track - purposefully out of tune in parts. There is a house in New Orleans, it’s called the Rising SunIt’s been the ruin of many poor girlGreat God, and I for one. Famous Yugoslav singer Miodrag "Miki" Jevremović covered the song and included it in his 1964 EP "18 Žutih Ruža" (eng. "Eighteen Yellow Roses"). Like Sydnie he is a talented singer and the couple have both performed in the musical The Starlight Express. That said, Dylan’s version of House of the Rising Sun is tops. And we’ll say he got his fair dose of humble pie a few years later when the epic rendition by The Animals came out.
He was a big player in the folk-blues scene and performed regularly in Greenwich Village during the late 50s and early 60s. Musicologists say that it is certainly based on the broadside ballad tradition; a type of ballad which differentiated from traditional ones. They were popular between the 16th and the 19th century and unlike the traditional ballads, which were more epic in nature, they spoke of love, religion, legends, and wonders, and some were even drinking songs. The ‘broadsheet’ contained the lyrics of the song, along with the name of some popular tune that would match with the lyrics. “That song is my life and its words are my truth,” Lizzo wrote at the time. “Truth Hurts” was originally released in 2017, but the song got a big boost two years later, when Gina Rodriguez day-drunkenly sang it in the Netflix show Someone Great, and it became Lizzo’s signature hit.
She was a hit from the get, with her breakthrough debut album in 1960. When “House of the Rising Sun” hit the airwaves in 1964, it wasn’t just a song; it was a revelation. Burdon’s voice was that brushstroke – deep, haunting, and filled with a wisdom beyond his years. The song, with its melancholic melody and tale of ruin, became an anthem of sorts, a beacon for those lost in the shadows of life. In 2004, Rolling Stone published its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It’s one of the most widely read stories in our history, viewed hundreds of millions of times on this site.
The Rising Sun can also be seen as a warning, showcasing the consequences of one’s actions and the potential for redemption. 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 lyrics belted out through singer Eric Burdon feel like an urgently delivered message. And it’s hard to say from where – we just know it’s necessary. Frijid Pink released their cover of House of the Rising Sun in 1970. Recorded as an afterthought at the end of a session, their version became the surprise hit of their debut album. The song reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts that year. They speak to the life of common folk – a tailor, a gambler, a most likely a prostitute.
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