Have you heard the whispers echoing through New Orleans about The House of the Rising Sun? It is more than just a building. It is a legend shrouded in mystery and song.
The House of the Rising Sun. Its name conjures images of a bygone era. It evokes tales of fortunes lost and lives forever changed within its walls. The true story is elusive but we can try to piece together its history right here.
Like many folk songs the origins of “The House of the Rising Sun” are murky. Some say it evolved from 16th or 17th century English ballads. Others believe it came from France with early Louisiana settlers. This is why a house in New Orleans is referenced in the song.
The lyrics tell of a life gone wrong in New Orleans. Many versions warn siblings or children to avoid the same fate. Musicologists link it to broadside ballads. These ballads covered wonders religion love and legends.
The oldest published lyrics appeared in 1925. Robert Winslow Gordon printed them in Adventure magazine. The column was titled “Old Songs That Men Have Sung”.
The earliest recording “Rising Sun Blues” came in 1933. Appalachian artists Clarence “Tom” Ashley and Gwen Foster performed it. Ashley claimed he learned it from his grandfather. His grandfather married around the time of the Civil War.
The narrative shifts between male and female voices. Gordon’s version is a woman’s warning. Ashley’s is about a male character a rounder.
Over time “The House of the Rising Sun” has been interpreted many ways. The phrase itself is often seen as a euphemism for a brothel. Some believe it was a jail hence the line “ball and chain”. Others think it was a place where prostitutes were treated for syphilis.
Several locations in New Orleans are said to be the real The House of the Rising Sun. A short lived hotel on Conti Street burned down in 1822. Archaeologists found rouge and cosmetics there. This suggests possible prostitution. A “Rising Sun Hall” existed on Cherokee Street in the late 1800s. It hosted meetings and dances but no links to gambling or prostitution are documented. A business on Decatur Street in the 1860s was called “The Rising Sun”. It was advertised as a restaurant beer salon and coffee house.
One guidebook claims the real house was at 1614 Esplanade Avenue between 1862 and 1874. It was named after its madam Marianne LeSoleil Levant. Her surname means “the rising sun” in French. Another guide points to 826-830 St Louis Street also linked to Levant. A contemporary B and B uses the name. Its owners are song fans but it has no historical connection.
The Animals’ version in 1964 made the song a hit. Eric Burdon heard it in a Newcastle England club. They wanted a distinctive song while touring with Chuck Berry. Their recording starts with Hilton Valentine’s guitar arpeggio. Alan Price’s organ completes the sound.
The Animals recorded “The House of the Rising Sun” in one take. It topped charts in the UK and US. Many call it the first folk rock hit. Bob Dylan reportedly said the song inspired him to go electric.
Countless artists have covered the song. They include Woody Guthrie Bob Dylan and Dolly Parton. Frijid Pink had a hit version in 1970. Johnny Hallyday sang it in French as “Le Pénitencier”.
So what is the truth about The House of the Rising Sun? Perhaps it is a brothel a jail a metaphor or a mix of all three. Its enduring mystery adds to its allure. The song and the legend live on in the heart of New Orleans.