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And God, I know I’m one,” immediately set the tone for the emotional journey that lies ahead. These words speak of a place that has brought destruction and devastation upon the lives of many, including the narrator. If The Animals tapped into the track’s adrenalised side, Hendrix sent it home in a hand basket. With a sort of skiffle rhythm, blistering guitar work waltzes around the instrumental arrangement with free rein. Perhaps things prove too rattling to work in the all-important vocal topline, but you can always paste them in yourself with a track as well-trodden as this old classic of old classics. Lord knows how many half-recorded bootlegs of ‘House of the Rising Sun’ are doing the rounds in dusty attics, but I doubt any are as appealing as Hendrix’s.
Why has “House of the Rising Sun” endured for so many decades?
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a life consumed by vice, sin, and despair. It speaks of a place of ill repute, a den of iniquity where the protagonist’s life takes a turn for the worse. The House of the Rising Sun serves as a metaphor for a place of temptation and moral corruption. If you find yourself captivated by “House of the Rising Sun,” there are indeed numerous alternative versions to explore.
The Quitting Song Of George Harrison For The Beatles
House of the Rising Sun played a significant role in establishing The Doors as one of the leading bands of their time. It showcased their musical versatility and ability to put a fresh spin on a traditional song. The Doors’ version became one of their signature songs and helped solidify their place in rock music history. While deeply rooted in American folk music, “House of the Rising Sun” has transcended its origins and influenced various music genres.
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Though the “house” was not the called the Rising Sun but another, more localized infamous establishment, and the lyrics were changed slightly, the song was nonetheless obviously of the school of the “original”. It was likely the railroads, theorizes Anthony, that would enable some anonymous soul to carry the song from the mountains in the east all the way to the plains in the midwest. As records became more popular, so did recordings of the House of the Rising Sun. Instead of chance hearing-and-remembering by hand fulls of troubadours, records were common and fairly easy to come by. From the 1940s on, many artists recorded various versions of the song, occasionally under different titles, but generally the same lyrics and chord progressions. Leadbelly released several versions of the song in the 1940s.
The song itself tells the world-weary tale of an ambitious life gone awry in the city of New Orleans. However, with its roots believed to be in traditional English folk music, the geographical placement of the tale likely comes from a later permutation. The fact that the song remains to this day of unknown authorship only adds to its timeless appeal. Thus, with no true owner to declare, we’re looking at some of the finest versions below.
Burdon didn’t just sing songs; he lived them, his voice a mirror reflecting life’s brutal honesty. To most people, even mentioning House of the Rising Sun evokes memories of The Animals‘ 1964 smash hit, with it’s instantly recognizable circular chord pattern in A-minor. The song itself, however, enjoys a hidden and shockingly broad history that spans every folk-inspired corner of the United States, and dates far earlier than the mid-1960s, when it’s popularity exploded.
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These performances showcase the band’s raw energy and improvisation skills, with each performance offering a unique interpretation of the song. Some notable live versions can be found on The Doors’ live albums and concert recordings. The Doors’ rendition of House of the Rising Sun took the original folk song and transformed it into a psychedelic rock masterpiece.
A Brief History of the “House of the Rising Sun”
Its haunting melody and timeless appeal have inspired artists in rock, blues, and even heavy metal to incorporate or reinterpret elements of the song in their own works. By the time the ’60s rolled around, the folk legend Dave Van Ronk included an intense take on “House of the Rising Sun” as a steady part of his live repertoire. His young acolyte Bob Dylan largely mimicked Van Ronk’s arrangement of the song and included it on his debut album.
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The origins of “House of the Rising Sun” trace back to traditional folk songs and ballads that have been passed down through generations. The song’s roots can be traced back to the late 19th century, with various versions being recorded by blues and folk artists. However, it was Tim Hardin’s rendition in 1964 that brought the song into the mainstream consciousness.
Other variants lament over the fate of young soldiers, sailors, cowboys or maids, all of whom had lost their life too early. Hooker, whose canny blues boogie became a root integer for early rock & roll, said this swinging, swaggering bit of primal thump was inspired by his inability to get to a regular gig on time. Shortly after Gabriel quit Genesis in 1975, he climbed to the top of Little Solsbury Hill in Somerset, England, to reflect on his life-changing decision. It inspired his debut solo song, in which he explained to fans why he felt the need to go out on his own. Musically, it was a departure too, a pastoral tune with a 12-string acoustic guitar lead that was pointedly different from Genesis’ prog-rock.
In 1960, Miriam Makeba recorded the song on her eponymous RCA album. Eventually, she knew she had to go home, but the money she was saving disappeared, and the singer laments that there isn’t a “grain of truth” in any of the stories people tell about the House of the Rising Sun. In the case of “The House of the Rising Sun”, it is claimed to have a resemblance to “The Unfortunate Rake”, a 16th-century folk song which over time has evolved into a huge number of variants. The earliest known variant of “The Unfortunate Rake” laments for a young man dying of syphilis.
Dylan promptly recorded a version of the song, using Van Ronk’s arrangement, before asking permission. He also suggested that the ‘location of the house’ changed from England to New Orleans by white southern performers. Burdon’s journey in music is like a river, meandering through landscapes of blues, rock, and soul. Born in Newcastle, England, he grew up in a city steeped in the hardships of post-war Britain. This backdrop, a canvas of grey industrial skies, shaped his raw, emotive singing style.
These folk singers eventually figured out that singing your own songs was patently more authentic, but it’s easy to see how the lure of ‘House of the Rising Sun’ persisted when the times started a-changing rather rapidly. “House of the Rising Sun” has become one of the most iconic and recognized songs in American music history, with countless covers and renditions from different artists and genres. Its legacy is significant, as it continues to inspire musicians and listeners around the world. Joan Baez is one of the most well-known folk singers in American history. Civil rights and social causes were as much a part of her upbringing as any basic human necessity. Baez claims she was gifted with a big beautiful voice and chose to use it to help fight for justice.
The oldest known recording is by Clarence Ashley and Gwen Foster in 1933. Alan Lomax produced several field recordings of locals singing their version during the 1940s. We appreciate your time and dedication in reading our article to its conclusion. For more of the finest classic rock music, make sure to follow our Facebook page, “Classic Rock Guitar”. Thank you once again for your continued support and readership.
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