House of the Rising Sun Lyric Question
Discussion
"When he's on a drunk" is the oft written line.
Does that mean when he's on a bender? Don't understand the meaning. At 66 and a couple of the Animals were at my school I should know (I know they didn't write it...)
Always thought it was "when he's all a drunk" which makes more sense (I think)
Does that mean when he's on a bender? Don't understand the meaning. At 66 and a couple of the Animals were at my school I should know (I know they didn't write it...)
Always thought it was "when he's all a drunk" which makes more sense (I think)
There is a house in New Orleans
They call the rising sun
And its been the ruins of many a poor boy
And god I know Im one
My mother was a tailor
She sewed my new blue jeans
My father was a gamblin?man
Way down in New Orleans
Now the only thing a gambler needs
Is a suitcase and a trunk
And the only time you keep him satisfied
Is when hes all a drunk
Oh mother tell your children
Not to do what I have done
Spend your life in sin and misery
In the house of the rising sun
I got one foot on the platform
The other on a train
And Im goin?back to New Orleans
To swing that ball and chain
Yeah, there is a house in New Orleans
They call the rising sun
And its been the ruins of many a poor boy
And God I know I'm one
They call the rising sun
And its been the ruins of many a poor boy
And god I know Im one
My mother was a tailor
She sewed my new blue jeans
My father was a gamblin?man
Way down in New Orleans
Now the only thing a gambler needs
Is a suitcase and a trunk
And the only time you keep him satisfied
Is when hes all a drunk
Oh mother tell your children
Not to do what I have done
Spend your life in sin and misery
In the house of the rising sun
I got one foot on the platform
The other on a train
And Im goin?back to New Orleans
To swing that ball and chain
Yeah, there is a house in New Orleans
They call the rising sun
And its been the ruins of many a poor boy
And God I know I'm one
Wacky Racer said:
There is a house in New Orleans
They call the rising sun
And its been the ruins of many a poor boy
And god I know Im one
My mother was a tailor
She sewed my new blue jeans
My father was a gamblin?man
Way down in New Orleans
Now the only thing a gambler needs
Is a suitcase and a trunk
And the only time you keep him satisfied
Is when hes all a drunk
Oh mother tell your children
Not to do what I have done
Spend your life in sin and misery
In the house of the rising sun
I got one foot on the platform
The other on a train
And Im goin?back to New Orleans
To swing that ball and chain
Yeah, there is a house in New Orleans
They call the rising sun
And its been the ruins of many a poor boy
And God I know I'm one
I always thought it was on a drunk and wear that ball and chain.They call the rising sun
And its been the ruins of many a poor boy
And god I know Im one
My mother was a tailor
She sewed my new blue jeans
My father was a gamblin?man
Way down in New Orleans
Now the only thing a gambler needs
Is a suitcase and a trunk
And the only time you keep him satisfied
Is when hes all a drunk
Oh mother tell your children
Not to do what I have done
Spend your life in sin and misery
In the house of the rising sun
I got one foot on the platform
The other on a train
And Im goin?back to New Orleans
To swing that ball and chain
Yeah, there is a house in New Orleans
They call the rising sun
And its been the ruins of many a poor boy
And God I know I'm one
Wasn't the Muhammad Ali joke ' what did Abraham Lincoln say when he woke up from a 3 day drunk ? Answer- I freed the what?
The term " on a drunk" appeared on a list in the St Louis Post-Despatch in 1901...see link here:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/vintage-slang-terms...
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/vintage-slang-terms...
Regardless, whether it's 'all a drunk' or 'on a drunk'...
I remember buying it as a single in 64 and playing it to death. Always liked Eric, something about the guy that simply means 'music'. He penned the line in the Animal's 67 song Monterery, 'You wanna find the truth in life... don't pass music by.' He's right.
However, doesn't get much (any?) airplay these days but the most widespread international success of 'House of the Rising Sun' came in 1970 when Detroit group Frijid Pink released their version as a single. I think I played this as much as the Animals version!
Love the drumming and Gary Ray Thompson's guitar playing on this 'completely different' to the Animals version!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTFNhhpAZBE
I remember buying it as a single in 64 and playing it to death. Always liked Eric, something about the guy that simply means 'music'. He penned the line in the Animal's 67 song Monterery, 'You wanna find the truth in life... don't pass music by.' He's right.
However, doesn't get much (any?) airplay these days but the most widespread international success of 'House of the Rising Sun' came in 1970 when Detroit group Frijid Pink released their version as a single. I think I played this as much as the Animals version!
Love the drumming and Gary Ray Thompson's guitar playing on this 'completely different' to the Animals version!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTFNhhpAZBE
Edited by dandarez on Tuesday 16th July 23:55
dandarez said:
Frijid Pink
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTFNhhpAZBE
If it wasn't for the echo, Andy Pandy's singing would be rubbish but the guitar playing sounds OKhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTFNhhpAZBE
Edited by dandarez on Tuesday 16th July 23:55
Sorry, it's Eric Burdon every time.
The earliest versions were sung from a woman's point of view. The Animals version changed the lyrics. I assume that a piss-head gambler was more acceptable to the BBC than was a prostitute. 
Apparently, the arrangement recorded by the Animals came from Dave van Ronk through Dylan.
Many versions, in several time signatures, on Youtube, from Georgia Turner to the Animals via Woody Guthrie, Huddie Leadbetter, Joan Baez, van Ronk, Dylan, Nina Simone, and others.
Apparently, the arrangement recorded by the Animals came from Dave van Ronk through Dylan.
Many versions, in several time signatures, on Youtube, from Georgia Turner to the Animals via Woody Guthrie, Huddie Leadbetter, Joan Baez, van Ronk, Dylan, Nina Simone, and others.
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