Here's another version attributed to Leadbelly, from The Leadbelly Songbook, edited by Moses Asch and Alan Lomax (Oak Publications, 1962)


House of the Rising Sun
Words and music by Huddie Ledbetter
Collected and adapted by John A. Lomax & Alan Lomax

There is a house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun
It's been the ruin of many poor girl
And me, oh God, were one.

If I had done like mama said,
I wouldn't be here today,
But being so young and foolish,
Let a gambler lead me astray.

Go tell my baby sister,
Don't do like I have done.
Please shun that house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun.

I'm going back to New Orleans,
My race is almost run.
I'm going back to New Orleans,
To live in that Rising Sun.

---

Note that the tune is quite different from many versions:

Click to play

---

I'm not convinced that this is the definitive Leadbelly version. As stated above, he recorded the song on the "Last Sessions" album (which I haven't heard). Any other recordings? 12-Stringer, any idea where your version came from?