Feature Song: “The House of the Rising Sun”
Although this is the first time featuring this song on this page, it did make an appearance on my “musings” page (Nov. 2022), “So You Want To Be A Rock Star,” which is about my personal experience with this song: (https://quadzillabynorth.com/2022/11/27/so-you-want-to-be-a-rockstar/). For me, “The House of the Rising Sun” (THotRS) is one of those songs that I can listen to over and over again, and it never gets old. One of the reasons for this is that even though most people associate the song with Eric Burdon and The Animals from their 1964 album “The Animals,” the song is actually a traditional folk song, sometimes called “Rising Sun Blues,” that has a long, rich history. It tells of a person’s life gone wrong in the city of New Orleans. Many versions also urge a sibling or parents and children to avoid the same fate. As a traditional folk song recorded by an electric rock band, it has been described as the “first folk rock hit.” The song was first collected in Appalachia in the 1930s, but probably has its roots in traditional English folk.
Like many folk songs, “THotRS” is of uncertain authorship. Musicologists have stated that it is based on the tradition of “broadside ballads,” and thematically it has some resemblance to the 16th-century ballad; “The Unfortunate Rake,” yet there is no evidence suggesting that there is any direct relation. Alan Lomax (folk song collector of note) suggested that the melody might be related to a 17th-century folk song, “Lord Barnard and Little Musgrave,” also known as “Matty Graves,” but yet again there is no clear relationship between the two songs. In other words, nobody knows where it came from, but we do love to speculate! Lomax also noted that “Rising Sun” was the name of a bawdy house in two traditional English songs, and a name for English pubs, and proposed that the location of the house was relocated from England to the US by White Southern performers.
It has been said that “THotRS” was known by American miners in 1905. The oldest published version of the lyrics were those printed by Robert Winslow Gordon in 1925, in a column titled, “Old Songs That Men Have Sung” in Adventure magazine. The lyrics of that version begin: “There is a House in New Orleans, it’s called the Rising Sun/It’s been the ruin of many poor girl/Great God, and I for one.” The oldest known recording of the song, under the title “Rising Sun Blues,” is by Appalachian artists, Clarence “Tom” Ashley and Gwen Foster, who recorded it in September of 1933. Roy Acuff, and apprentice of Clarence Ashley’s, learned it from him and recorded it as “Rising Sun” in 1938. Fast forward to 1961 when Bob Dylan recorded the song for his debut album, released in 1962. That release did not have a songwriting credit, but the liner notes (remember those!) indicate that Dylan learned this version of the song from Dave Van Ronk who recorded it soon thereafter for his album Just Dave Van Ronk.
An interview with Eric Burdon revealed that he first heard the song in a club in Newcastle, England, where it was sung by the Northumbrian folk singer, Johnny Handle. The Animals were on tour with Chuck Berry and chose the song because they wanted something distinctive to sing. This is how it ended up on their debut album, “The Animals,” in 1964. Since that release there have been well over 300 cover versions of the song, two of which you will find below.
How did I manage to narrow it down to two covers with so many to choose from? Let’s just say it wasn’t easy. I chose the Mumford & Sons cover for several reasons. Firstly, it is a live performance by a British folk rock group, which is in keeping with the songs roots. Secondly, it is live at the New Orleans Jazz Fest, which was a no-brainer. And lastly, it features three amazing guests: Trombone Shorty (ah, trombone!), Celisse (guitar, and when you see her shred her solo I promise you will be in awe), and Jean Batiste (Melodica/Pianica). As mentioned, Mumford & Sons are a British folk rock band in London in 2007. The band consists of Marcus Mumford (lead vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, drums), Ted Dwayne (vocals, bass guitar, double bass), Ben Lovett (vocals, keyboards, piano) and Winston Marshall (banjo, lead guitar). They have released four albums, the most recent in 2018.
My second choice is also for multiple reasons, some of which are similar to my first choice. The Dead South are a folk-bluegrass musical ensemble hailing from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. The band was initially formed in 2012 as a quartet by Nate Hills (vocals, guitar, mandolin), Scott Pringle (guitar, mandolin, vocals), Danny Kenyon (cello, vocals), and Colton Crawford (banjo). They have released three studio albums between 2014-2018, several EPs, and a live album in 2020. I have to admit that I had never heard of them before searching for covers of “THofRS,” but I am very happy to have found them. They are “quirky,” to say the least, but have a terrific sound, and like Mumford & Sons use instruments normally not associated with rock bands. The other quirky thing about this cover is that it is part of a feature called “Under the Covers” (yeah, a little close for comfort) on a You Tube channel called: “In Bed with * Books & Music,” created by German photographer Katrin Bpunkt. Yes, you read that right! True to their title, you will find the members of The Dead South all sitting on a bed with a white duvet, hammering out “THofRS!” It really doesn’t get much better than this. First up, The Animals.
The Animals. “The House of the Rising Sun.” 1964
Mumford & Sons. “The House of the Rising Sun” cover. Featuring Trombone Shorty, Jean Batiste, and Celisse. New Orleans Jazz Fest, May 2023.
The Dead South. “The House of the Rising Sun” cover. Featured on “In Bed With Books * & Music,” August 2016.
Los Angeles 2023
Excellent bit of research North. I find your references pretty consistent with my understanding of the history. I actually didn’t know when Burdon first heard the song,so thanks for that tidbit! As the Animals version I felt that their arrangement owed some to the version by Josh White. But based on your findings I have to revisit that theory. I have not heard either of those covers and as usual I’m loving both of them! The Dead South just blew me away!
Thanks Randy! The Dead South are amazing, and Canadian!!
Didn’t know that!
Fascinating back story! The Animals’ version is one of my favorite songs of the 1960s, or all-time for that matter. Just love that mournful organ riff that really makes the song. I also love Mumford & Sons, and that ensemble performance is fire. The Dead South do a fine job too, and I particularly like the banjo. That “In Bed With” series is interesting, and I watched quite a few of their videos.
Thanks! Yeah, it is right up there on my list too. Glad you enjoyed the covers.