Posted in: Oldies by E.E. Grunewald on August 21, 2010 | 9 Comments
A historical overview of the English/American folk ballad popularized by the Animals in 1964.
Millions were intrigued by the dark, sultry electric guitar arpeggios gradually blending into an equally dramatic organ harmony – a texture which set a provocative, somewhat dismal tone against Eric Burdon’s raspy-yet-soulful vocals. This voice went onto tell the tale of a life led to ruin in the city of New Orleans, recollecting many a regretful year spent in a house known as the Rising Sun – either a brothel or a gambler’s paradise, depending on individual interpretations.
This was the first number one hit of the so-called “British Invasion” unconnected to the Beatles and an instant breakthrough chart topper on both sides of the Atlantic. Eric Burdon and his band, The Animals, had been in search of a distinctive song to sing while on tour with Chuck Berry and had found the missing link when they heard the ballad in a club in Newcastle. Little did they know, they’d found themselves a signature piece, described by BBC writer Ralph McLean as “arguably the first folk-rock tune.”
There is more to the song, however, than the Animals’ rendition, as suggested by US music critic Dave Marsh when he described their sound as if “they’d connected the ancient tune to a live wire.” Keyword: “ancient.”
It turns out that the Animals, while credited for thrusting the song into the mainstream, actually make up about the third or fourth century of performers portray the voices of sin and misery in the House of the Rising Sun. This is probably the one disadvantage of having an arrangement so popular: flattering as it may be to have such a timeless classic as a footnote in your career, mesmerized listeners get so caught up in the buzz that the song’s true history is lost.
Like most folk ballads, the House of the Rising Sun’s history is incomplete, but such shadiness is half the intrigue of such tunes. The puzzle must be completed with the imagination of the listener, but first, let us start you off with the following pieces:
Not surprisingly, the tune of House of the Rising Sun was popular in the halls of brothels during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. In spite of the (memorable) geographical location the lyrics reveal, however, it did not originate as a house in New Orleans. Much like the Animals’ breakthrough, House of the Rising Sun was a ballad of transatlantic popularity.
thuanynguyen December 28th, 2009 at 11:43 am
A great write, very unique.
E.E. Grunewald December 28th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Thanks, “thuanguyen!”
Take heart,
EEG
Ted Anthony January 5th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
You might want to check out my book, “Chasing the Rising Sun: The Journey of an American Song” (2007, Simon & Schuster). I spent seven years tracking the history of this song and the people who sang it.
E.E. Grunewald January 16th, 2010 at 1:31 pm
Ted, I am definitely interested in your book (and I am not just saying that – it really does sound fascinating!), and hope to obtain a copy soon!
Take heart,
EEG
mkd1788 January 25th, 2010 at 6:37 am
very well written..great work
Cutealice March 2nd, 2010 at 9:37 am
Nice one
Dina May 25th, 2010 at 11:33 am
I couldnt resist and did my own version of the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWF7C-Uub3o
DW May 29th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
Other than through folklore, there seems to be no concise documentation of the song. It again appears to be hand me down folklore. BUT, what I have concluded… the version presented by “The Animals” clearly relates to a prison. There is not one sentence in the song that would relate it to any sort of “bordello”, “house of prostitution” or any such related activity.
Also… in that from various backgrounds music became so similar, especially amoung the “downtrotten” as might be called.
Also notable to me, at the time that the original version is thought to have come about; there were “beggars prisons”. Gambling, in most environments was considered criminal, unmoral activity.
To date we have no real concept how closely “The Animals” version is to the said to be original… or did I miss something, that is KNOWN fact more than conjecture?
Just my thoughts. And no matter the origin… I’ve liked the song for decades… that’s all *I* know ’bout it.
Jim Grunewald August 22nd, 2010 at 12:18 am
Wonderful article, well written, and well researched! It is an intriguing story and you told it well. I think part of the confusion many may have with this song is that it was originally in the voice of a woman but the most popular version (The Animals’) was in the voice of a man. For me, that just adds to the mystery!
Thanks!