Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun

Subject: House of the Rising Sun
From: GUEST,Twister
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 06:10 PM

I don't know who sings it but it's an oldie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 06:45 PM

This has been sung by countless artists. If you go here you'll find the Weavers version.
If you go to the blue box in the top right hand corner you can do your own Digital Tradition search by putting any phrase from the song into the search box, enclose it in angled brackets [] and press Go. There is also a SuperSearch on the threadlist page which searches the Forum as well. (No need for angled brackets in that search box!) There are several threads on the song.
Still want to know more? Read the 'Mudcat FAQ - Newcomers' Guide' at the top of the threadlist. You might even feel like joining as a member after that... In any case - welcome at the biggest and friendliest café on earth!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: 8_Pints
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 06:45 PM

Eric Burdon and the "Animals".

A group from the North East of England, including Alan Price. Circa 1964 I think.

Bob vG

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: 8_Pints
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 06:49 PM

A Susanne says its in th DT database.

Bob vG

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: Gypsy
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 07:05 PM

Yee gads, EVERYONE did that one! Just check out Lomax on the history....Always found it funny to be sung by men. Consider the content, and you'll see what i mean

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: twister
Date: 12 Aug 01 - 04:51 AM

susanne I'm a member now

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From:
Date: 12 Aug 01 - 09:45 AM

The Mudcat Forum has some information on the history behind the song House of the Rising Sun

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 12 Aug 01 - 10:13 AM

That was really interesting. We have both the Animals version and one by Woody Guthrie which are similar but by no means the same one being sung from a young mans point of view and another from a girls. Always got the feeling from the animals version that it was the gambling that took place in the house that was the downfall and got a mental picture of the type of bar often seen in Western movies with the whores on the first floor while the men drink and gamble downstairs until the fighting begins!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: Big Tim
Date: 12 Aug 01 - 04:22 PM

What, no mention for the Dylan and Baez versions? I was intro to the song by the Baez version in 1960 (age 15) and then on Dylan's first album (1961). The Animals rock version (in 1964 I think, from memory) was apparently a major catalyst in Dylan's "going electric". Very interesting to hear about earlier versions.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: Cappuccino
Date: 12 Aug 01 - 07:19 PM

The interesting thing about the Animals' version is that (allegedly) Alan Price got the arranging credit without the rest of the band knowing. They've had quite a lot to say about it on recent TV documentaries. That arrangement also works very well as an alternative tune for the hymn 'There Is a green Hill Far Away'. Doesn't half surprise the congregation! - Ian B

Subject: Lyr Add: THE RISING SUN BLUES
From: GUEST,Randolph Weiner
Date: 12 Aug 01 - 07:34 PM

Here's the lyrics from Lomax- don't know if these are the same as something posted here- nonetheless:

THE RISING SUN BLUES
(Rec. and Arr. by Lomax from singing of Georgia Turner, from OUR SINGING COUNTRY. Tune related to LORD BARNARD AND LADY MUSGROVE. A related song found in Suffolk England by Peter Kennedy)

[Chords: Em-Am-Em-Am-B7
Em-B7-Em-B7-Em
Em-Am-Em-Am-B7
Em-Am-B7-Em
B7-B7-Em]

There is a house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun
It’s been the ruin of many poor girls
And me O lord for one

Go tell my baby sister
Never do like I have done
Tell her shun that house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun

The only thing that a drunkard wants
Is a suitcase and a trunk
The only thing that a rounder likes
Is to get on a great big drunk

One foot is on the platform
The other one on the train
I'm going back to New Orleans
To wear that ball and chain

I'm going back to New Orleans
My race is almost run
I'm going to spend the rest of my days
Beneath the Rising Sun

Go tell my baby Sister
Never do like I have done
Tell her shun that house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 30-Jan-02.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: Gypsy
Date: 12 Aug 01 - 09:52 PM

Animals just changed the gender. Rising Sun is a traditional name for a house of ill repute.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: Don Firth
Date: 12 Aug 01 - 10:14 PM

I first heard it sung by Walt Robertson in 1952. Josh White recorded it early on (Walt actually learned it from Josh White in person). As GUEST,Randolph Weiner lines it out above, the two of them sang just verses 1, 2, 5, and 6 -- same ones Joan Baez sings.

As far as it being sung by men, it works fine. I sang it a lot in coffeehouses and nobody gave me any funny looks. I've never really found a problem with a man singing a "woman's song" or vice versa. I think it depends on the "mind-set" the singer gets in. There was a women's group in Seattle some time back that specialized in sea chanteys. They were terrific!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: RWilhelm
Date: 12 Aug 01 - 11:19 PM

I find it truly amazing that no one has mentioned Leadbelly. He had the first recorded version and it is a quintessential Leadbelly song. Lomax, of course, made the money off the copyright.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 04:13 AM

At a training day tomorrow as an ice breaker we have to talk about a piece of music. I decided to do H of the RS. Partly because it is always the opener I sing with my Greek friends and I helped them with the English lyrics, but also because I seem to have so many versions in my record collection: Leadbelly, Baez, the Animals, George Melly, Odetta, Josh White, Ronnie Gilbert with the Weavers, and a dobro instrumental by Mike Auldridge, and probably others I can' recall at present.
RtS

Subject: Lyr Add: HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN (from W Guthrie)
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 12:04 PM

HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN

There is a house in New Orleans
You call the Risin' Sun.
It's been the ruin of many a poor soul,
And me, O God, I'm one.

If I had listened to what Mama said,
Be at home today.
Being so young and foolish, poor girl,
I let a gambler lead me astray.

My mother she's a tailor,
Sews those new blue jeans.
My sweetheart he's a drunkard, Lord God.
He drinks down in New Orleans.

He fills his glasses to the brim,
Passes them around.
The only pleasure that he gets out of life
Is a-hoboin' from town to town.

The only thing a drunkard needs
Is a suitcase and a trunk.
Only time that he's half satisfied
Is when he's on a drunk.

Go and tell my baby sister
Never do like I have done.
Shun that house down in New Orleans
That they call that Rising Sun.

It's one foot on the platform,
One foot on the train.
I'm a-goin' back down to New Orleans
To wear my ball and my chain.

My life is almost over.
My race is almost run.
Goin' back down to New Orleans
To that house of the Rising Sun.


This is from the Woody Guthrie version and if anyone can attach chords to it I would be grateful - it is NOT the same melody as the Animals version although not totally dissimilar.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: IanC
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 12:09 PM

Just a note. The recording of the "Woody Guthrie" version has Leadbelly on as well. The chords in this recording are more complicated than they seem.

Cheers!
Ian

Subject: Lyr Add: THE HOUSE OF THE RISING SON (parody)
From: Stewart
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 12:17 PM

With some hesitation, I'll post this parody that has circulated in the Seattle Song Circle. I have only a vague knowledge of the author - Susie Buellton (sp?) - maybe another NW person can provide more info.

THE HOUSE OF THE RISING SON

There is a house in New Orleans,
They call the Rising Son,
And it's been the ruin of just one little boy,
And my little boy was that one.

Well, he was young and tender,
His happiness never ceased,
They told me he would die unless,
I fed him on brewer's yeast.

Well, brewer's yeast is dead, you know,
To find some, I truly did strive,
In desperation, I fed my little boy,
Some yeast that was still alive.

I tucked him into bed that night,
His room was dark, dark and warm.
He was stuck in his bed the next morning,
Twice the size of his previous form.

I could not let him stay that way,
I kneaded him around,
I found in two hours, he'd doubled in bulk,
I turned and punched him down.

Well, I keep him in the house all day,
So the neighbors won't see what I've done.
He'll spend his life in the house named for him,
The house of the Rising Son.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 12:18 PM

Other interesting recorded versions are by Hally Wood (in the 40s), and Fred Gerlach and Snaker Dave Ray (who both borrowed heavily from Huddie Ledbetter's amazing take on the song). You got that right Earl. Sometimes those copyright credits tick me off no end.

Rick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: Gypsy
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 10:48 PM

I thunk that Leadbelly sang first, but was uncertain. Thanks for verification!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 10:49 PM

Just this last weekend I had a GREAT privilege! My Beautiful Wife and I went to Lansing, Michigan, to the National Folk Festival. Lots of free shows, wonderful musicians, and the display of a great deal of impressive crafts.

But what makes it relevant to THIS thread is that (to my mind) the star attraction was Doc Watson (and his grandson, Richard, and Jack Lawrence) playing and singing. Their turns, throughout the three days, were always jam-packed, not only standing room only but standing room hard to find.

One of Doc's songs was House of the Rising Sun, done REAL bluesy, in B minor, I believe he said. Wonderful! Somewhat different set of words than I had heard before. Y'all missed somethin' !!!

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 11:22 PM

Dave,

A guy I knew played the Doc version for me. Incredible. I do love the Dylan version though.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: GUEST,PO' Boy
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 04:57 PM

House of the rising sun was burnt to a sunder, I still remeber the smokey firesoot being blown past my eyes looking through the dense smoke, All i See is the structual sticks sticking out of the smoke, the windows had fire still burning though them, still in my mind, was the crying of those lost little girls, so glad it was done, but sad they still had noone to turn to, they turn and face the smoke and they were all smiling

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: GUEST,Guest, Annabelle Morison
Date: 09 Jul 06 - 04:45 PM

There are so many recordings of "The House Of The Rising Sun", and there are two recordings that I'm Looking for in MP3. The first recording is by The Moody Blues. The Second recording is by Shelby Flint. If anyone has them, I'd love to have them! You can send them to [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Jul 06 - 05:01 PM

I'll get right on that for you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: Johnhenry'shammer
Date: 09 Jul 06 - 08:21 PM

According to Alan Lomax, the melody is from a traditional English ballad and the lyrics are by two people from Kentucky named Georgia Turner and Bert Martin. The first recording was by Clarence Ashley and Glen Foster in 1934. The arrangement that Eric Burdon and the Animals made famous in 1964 was taken from Bob Dylan's first album. Dylan got the arrangement from hearing Dave Van Ronk play it live.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: GUEST,Annabelle Morison
Date: 09 Jul 06 - 08:53 PM

There are so many recordings of "The House Of The Rising Sun", and there are two recordings that I'm Looking for in MP3. The first recording is by The Moody
Blues. The Second recording is by Shelby Flint. If anyone has them, I'd love to have them! You can send them to [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Jul 06 - 09:05 PM

Hi. You still up there in Eugene?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: GUEST,Annabelle Morison
Date: 11 Jul 06 - 03:08 AM

Yes, I'm still living in Eugene.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 11 Jul 06 - 01:01 PM

I don't believe anyone's mentioned Ramblin' Jack who did a version of this song.
Johnhenry'shammer told the journey from Dave VanRonk through Dylan to the Animals. Van Ronk & Dylan sang from the woman's point of view if I remember correctly, but all three used the same unique chords and tune. I saw Dave on TV the other night and he said that he had to stop singing it after Dylan started doing it 'cause people would come up and say,"You got that from Dylan, didn't you?" He said that after the Animals recorded it that Dylan had to quit singing it for the same reason.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: GUEST,Annabelle Morison
Date: 13 Jul 06 - 09:03 PM

Did somebody say that they have high-quality MP3 recordings of the Shelby Flint version and The Moody Blues Bersion of "The House Of The Rising Sun"? you can send them as separate MP3 attachments to [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: GUEST,Annabelle Morison
Date: 14 Jul 06 - 02:35 AM

I'm the one who lives in Eugene. Did somebody say that they have high-quality MP3 recordings of the Shelby Flint version and The Moody Blues version of "The House Of The Rising Sun"? you
can send them as separate MP3 attachments via Email to [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: pavane
Date: 14 Jul 06 - 03:26 AM

I don't think 1934 is the first!

I think there is another version, under the name Rounder's Luck, recorded in the 1920's. I have also seen mention of a recording in 1920's by one Texas Alexander.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: 12-stringer
Date: 14 Jul 06 - 04:48 AM

No, the 1933 (not 1934, as stated above) cut by Ashley and Foster is the earliest identified recording. Homer Callahan's "Rounder's Luck" was recorded in 1935, and Roy Acuff's "Rising Sun" in 1938. (All three versions, oddly, were recorded for the same label.) I don't know if Homer Callahan's source has been identified, but Acuff learned the song from Tom Ashley while both were working on a medicine show in east Tennessee.

The various 1920s recordings of "Rising Sun Blues" are often cited as versions of this song, but they aren't; they only share the title and the rising sun motif. They're not otherwise related. That includes the cuts by Texas Alexander, Peetie Wheatstraw, King David's Jug Band, and others, as well as the 1930 lowdown hillbilly blues of the same title by Tom Darby and Jimmie Tarlton.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: Kara
Date: 14 Jul 06 - 04:58 AM

This was one of the first songs I ever sang in public with The New Forest Rovers (all aged 10)

Kara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: GUEST,Annabelle Morison
Date: 16 Jul 06 - 02:19 AM

I'm still waiting for an answer. Did somebody say they have high-quality MP3 recordings of the Moody Blues version and the Shelby Flint Version of "The House Of The Rising Sun"? If so, you can send them as attachments to [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: The Sandman
Date: 16 Jul 06 - 03:15 AM

Leadbelly or Huddie Leadbetter, Had an amazing version, I am sure he was first to record it, didnt Lomax collect it from him.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: GUEST,Annabelle Morison
Date: 16 Jul 06 - 08:01 PM

I'm still waiting for an answer. My name is Annabelle Morison, and I live in Eugene, Oregon. I'm searching for high-quality MP3 recordings of the Moody Blues Version, if there is a version by The Moody Blues, of The House Of The Rising Sun, and the Shelby Flint version of "The House Of The Rising Sun" (1963). Did somebody say they have high-quality MP3 recordings of the Moody Blues version and the Shelby Flint Version of "The House Of The Rising Sun"? If so, you can send them via Email as attachments to [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: Peace
Date: 16 Jul 06 - 08:07 PM

Wouldn't it be easier to get the CDs?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: Jeri
Date: 16 Jul 06 - 08:17 PM

After six identical demands by Annabelle, I'm considering this spam and repeats will likely disappear like magic, even if people reply to them.

I don't believe the Moody Blues recorded it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 16 Jul 06 - 08:19 PM

Annabelle, as I read the above messages, in answer to your question, "Did somebody say they have high-quality MP3 recordings of the Moody Blues version and the Shelby Flint Version of "The House Of The Rising Sun"?" :

No, they just inquired whether you still lived in Eugene.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 16 Jul 06 - 11:08 PM

Shelby Flint recorded "House of the Rising Sun" on "Sings Folk," 1963 album. It was reissued on disc 1/2, "Shelby Flint."
No, I don't have it and wouldn't provide mp3 of any material under copyright, but you can buy used/new of this discontinued set from Amazon, etc.

Not recorded by Moody Blues (but they did "House of Four Doors," Parts 1, 2).

BMI lists 38 singers who sang copyright versions of "House of the Rising Sun." ASCAP lists 25. And etc. etc.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: GUEST,Annabelle Morison
Date: 19 Jul 06 - 01:31 AM

How could "The House Of The Rising Sun" be copyrighted, when it is in fact a traditional tune? On www.songfacts.com, in the songfacts for "The House Of The Rising Sun", it clearly states that no one can claim rights to the song, in other words, it can be recorded and sold royalty free. Did that recently change?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Jul 06 - 11:14 AM

Guest, anyone can copyright their performance of any song.
This prevents others playing their version on media, or distribution of their version, without payment of royalties.

Anyone may prepare his/her version of a song in the public domain, and copyright it if they so desire. The raison d'etre is that the individual's version is 'unique'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: Musician.Shane
Date: 26 Jun 12 - 04:05 PM

Yes, if one arranges the song in a certain way, make the lyrics their own, and they perform and record it. It is copyrighted. The same would apply if YOU recorded a version of the song. That recording would be copyrighted to you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: House of the Rising sun
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 26 Jun 12 - 09:59 PM

And of course there's the:

The John Otway Version