It does seem as if Dave Van Ronk is the creator of the version of "The House of the Rising Sun" that we all know. In his book " The mayor of MacDougal Street", Dave clearly says that he learnt the song from a recording by Hally Wood who in turn had learnt it from an Alan Lomax field recording by Georgia Turner; however, Dave says that he added the classic chord sequence ( which in turn would have altered the tune somewhat ) which is every much part of the song's appeal. And, of course, Dylan " pinched " it off Dave, and The Animals got their version from Dylan's first album.