What is the House of the Rising Sun?
Summary
TLDRThis video explores the enduring mystery and cultural impact of 'The House of the Rising Sun,' a song with a history as rich and complex as its many interpretations. From its Appalachian origins to its global fame, the song has been a canvas for artists to paint their own narratives of vice and redemption. The Animals' electrifying rendition in 1964 brought the song to new heights, influencing even Bob Dylan's decision to go electric. The video delves into the song's various meanings, from a New Orleans brothel to a metaphor for temptation, suggesting that the 'House' is a universal symbol of the dark allure that draws us back to our own undoing.
Takeaways
- 🎶 The Animals' rendition of 'House of the Rising Sun' was a pivotal moment, capturing the audience's attention by choosing a different approach instead of trying to out-rock Chuck Berry.
- 🏠 The song 'House of the Rising Sun' has a rich history and has been interpreted in various genres, from metal to reggae, becoming one of the most performed songs in music history.
- 🤔 The true meaning behind 'House of the Rising Sun' is a subject of debate, with theories suggesting it could represent a brothel, gambling den, prison, or pub.
- 📚 The song's origins are believed to be from rural Appalachian hills, with its earliest written version dating back to 1925 and titled simply 'Rising Sun'.
- 🎵 Traveling musicians and medicine shows played a crucial role in spreading the song, often modifying it to fit local tastes, making it difficult to trace an original version.
- 🎼 Clarence Tom Ashley's recording is one of the oldest surviving versions, reflecting his own life as a male rambler.
- 🇬🇧 Some music historians trace the song back to an English archetype known as 'The Unfortunate Rake', dating to the 16th century.
- 🌐 Alan Lomax, an ethnomusicologist, helped bring 'House of the Rising Sun' into American popular culture through his field recordings.
- 🎵 Different versions of the song have been influenced by various artists, including Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Lead Belly, each adding their unique style.
- 🔥 The Animals' version of 'House of the Rising Sun' became a transatlantic hit, reaching the top of the UK and US charts in 1964.
- 🔄 The song's popularity has endured, with hundreds of artists covering it over the past 50 years, each putting their own spin on the timeless piece.
Q & A
What was the opportunity that the band 'The Animals' got in May 1964?
-In May 1964, the band 'The Animals' got the opportunity to open for the original rock star Chuck Berry.
What was Eric Burdon's approach when opening for Chuck Berry?
-Eric Burdon, the frontman of 'The Animals', decided not to try to out-rock Chuck Berry. Instead, he took the stage under a single red spotlight and sang the iconic words of 'House of the Rising Sun'.
What is the significance of the song 'House of the Rising Sun' in music history?
-The song 'House of the Rising Sun' has become one of the single most performed songs in music history, with renditions in every genre, making it a key piece of music mythology and a cornerstone of America's folk history.
What are the various interpretations of what 'House of the Rising Sun' might represent?
-The 'House of the Rising Sun' has been interpreted as a brothel, a gambling den, a prison, a pub, or an abstract metaphor. It has also been suggested to reference real historical places.
Where is the song 'House of the Rising Sun' believed to have originated from?
-The song likely originated from the rural Appalachian hills, in the days before radio, where music communities were largely insular and songs spread through traveling musicians and medicine shows.
What is the earliest written version of 'House of the Rising Sun' known as?
-The earliest written version of 'House of the Rising Sun' from 1925 was simply titled 'Rising Sun'.
Who recorded the oldest version of 'House of the Rising Sun' that still survives to this day?
-A traveling musician named Clarence Tom Ashley recorded the oldest version of 'House of the Rising Sun' that still survives to this day.
What is the connection between 'House of the Rising Sun' and English ballads?
-Some music historians have traced the origin of 'House of the Rising Sun' back to an archetype of English ballad known as 'The Unfortunate Rake', which dates back to the middle of the 16th century.
How did Alan Lomax contribute to the popularization of 'House of the Rising Sun'?
-Alan Lomax, an ethnomusicologist, made hundreds of field recordings of folk music, including a version of 'House of the Rising Sun' by Georgia Turner. His recordings helped the song enter the zeitgeist of American music.
What was the impact of Bob Dylan's version of 'House of the Rising Sun'?
-Bob Dylan's version of 'House of the Rising Sun' helped shape the song as it is recognized today, featuring a novel chord progression borrowed from Dave Van Ronk. It also influenced the Animals' version, which became a transatlantic hit.
How did the Animals' version of 'House of the Rising Sun' differ from previous renditions?
-The Animals' version electrified the chords from the Van Ronk arrangement, changed the time signature to 6/8 to lend more urgency, and their lyrics, while similar to Dylan's, were delivered with a perspective that resonated with their audience.
Outlines
🎵 The Legacy of 'House of the Rising Sun'
This paragraph introduces the song 'House of the Rising Sun' and its historical significance in music. It discusses how the Animals, a rock band in 1964, chose to perform this song in a unique manner when opening for Chuck Berry, acknowledging that they couldn't outperform him. The paragraph delves into the song's origins, tracing it back to the Appalachian hills and its spread through traveling musicians. It also mentions the various interpretations of the song's meaning, from a brothel to a gambling den, and its evolution through different renditions and genres, reflecting its status as a cornerstone of American folk history.
🏰 Exploring the Origins and Interpretations
Paragraph 2 continues the exploration of 'House of the Rising Sun,' focusing on its potential origins and interpretations. It discusses the song's possible English heritage, suggesting it could be an old term for a pub. The paragraph also touches on the historical existence of a New Orleans establishment by the same name, which might have been a coffee house that sold alcohol. The narrative then shifts to the influence of Alan Lomax, who helped popularize the song through his recordings and sharing with folk artists like Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger. The paragraph also highlights how the song resonated with black musicians and was adapted by artists like Lead Belly and Nina Simone, each bringing their unique style to the song.
🎸 The Animals' Rendition and Its Impact
Paragraph 3 delves into the Animals' version of 'House of the Rising Sun,' which became a sensation in the 1960s. It describes how the band electrified the song and changed its time signature, contributing to its urgency. The paragraph also discusses Eric Burdon's personal experiences that informed the song's narrative, which may have influenced the theory that the song is about a brothel. The paragraph further explores the song's journey back to its possible roots in the UK and the subsequent accusations of copying between Bob Dylan and Dave Van Ronk. It concludes with the Animals' recording of the song, which became a transatlantic hit and influenced Dylan to go electric, solidifying the song's place in pop music history.
🎥 Skillshare and Creative Learning
The final paragraph shifts focus from the song's history to a sponsorship message about Skillshare, an online learning platform. It encourages viewers to explore the platform by offering a one-month free trial and highlights courses that can help users learn new skills or improve existing ones. The paragraph mentions specific classes, such as one by Philip D'Amico on video editing techniques and another by Thomas Frank on productivity for creatives. The message emphasizes the value of learning and the wide range of courses available on Skillshare, from photography to business, and invites viewers to take advantage of the free trial to explore their interests.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Skillshare
💡The Animals
💡Chuck Berry
💡The House of the Rising Sun
💡Folk Music
💡Alan Lomax
💡Bob Dylan
💡Dave Van Ronk
💡Greenwich Village
💡Folk Music Revival
💡Vice
Highlights
The Animals, a rock band, opened for Chuck Berry by singing 'House of the Rising Sun', a song with a rich history.
The song 'House of the Rising Sun' has been performed in various genres, making it one of the most performed songs in music history.
The origins of 'House of the Rising Sun' are traced back to rural Appalachian folk songs.
The earliest written version of the song dates back to 1925, titled 'Rising Sun'.
Clarence Tom Ashley recorded one of the oldest surviving versions of the song, reflecting his own life as a rambler.
The song's origins may be linked to the English ballad 'The Unfortunate Rake' from the 16th century.
Alan Lomax, an ethnomusicologist, contributed to the song's popularity through his field recordings.
Georgia Turner's version of the song focuses on drinking and the return to New Orleans to wear a 'ball and chain'.
The term 'House of the Rising Sun' was historically used to refer to pubs in England.
In 19th century New Orleans, there was an establishment called the Rising Sun, possibly connected to the song.
Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, influential folk artists, incorporated the song into their repertoire.
Bob Dylan's version of the song helped shape the modern recognition of 'House of the Rising Sun'.
Dave Van Ronk's arrangement of the song influenced Dylan's rendition and was later covered by The Animals.
The Animals' electrified version of 'House of the Rising Sun' became a transatlantic hit in 1964.
The song's meaning varies among artists, with interpretations ranging from a jail to a brothel.
The 'House of the Rising Sun' represents a universal fear of vice and the lure of self-destructive behaviors.
Skillshare offers a variety of courses, including video editing and productivity for creatives.
Transcripts
this video is sponsored by skillshare
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in may 1964 an emerging rock band called
the animals got the opportunity that
every upstart group dreams of
they got a chance to open for the
original rock star chuck berry
but how does one go about opening for a
pioneer and a legend like chuck berry as
animal's frontman eric burden put it i
realized one thing you can't out rock
chuck berry
so the animals went for a different
approach
eric burden took the stage under a
single red spotlight and sang 12 of the
most iconic words in music history
there is a house in new orleans they
call the rising sun
of course eric burden was far from the
first to sing that phrase over the past
century and more those 12 words have
captured the imagination of hundreds of
artists house of the rising sun has
become one of the single most performed
songs in music history with renditions
in every genre you can think of from
metal to reggae to disco but through all
of these versions there's been one oft
debated question
what exactly is the house of the rising
sun common wisdom suggests it's a
brothel but it's also been said to be a
gambling den a prison or even a pub
it's been described as an abstract
metaphor but also a reference to real
historical places and with all of its
rich history and myriad potential
meanings the house of the rising sun has
become a key piece of music mythology
and a cornerstone of america's folk
history
let's take a closer look
to find the origins of house of the
rising sun we need to look back
way back
the song was likely born from the rural
appalachian hills in the days before
radio
at that time music communities were
largely insular made up of folk songs
sung within families churches and small
communities
these songs would only spread through
traveling musicians and medicine shows
where snake oil salesmen would use the
songs to drum up interest and pedal
their wares the musicians in these shows
would pick up bits and pieces of songs
as they traveled adding verses and
changing words to suit each new location
as a result it's impossible to pinpoint
the original author or the exact lyrics
of house of the rising sun
in the earliest written version from
1925
the song was simply titled rising sun
and it was written from the perspective
of a poor woman eight years later a
traveling musician named clarence tom
ashley recorded the oldest version that
still survives to this day
in his the story follows a male rambler
mirroring ashley's own life
[Music]
speaking on the song years later ashley
said that he got it off his grandparents
adding it's too old to talk about
and ashley may have been more right than
he knew
some music historians traced the origin
of rising sun back to an archetype of
english ballad known as the unfortunate
rake the unfortunate rake is a lament
about a life lived in sin and it can be
traced back to the middle of the 16th
century another theory came from
historian alan lomax who thought that
rising sun had more in common with a
song called maddie groves which dates
back as early as 1613
and whatever the song's roots were it
would be lomax himself who planted it
into american popular culture lomax was
an
ethnomusicologist who made hundreds of
field recordings of folk music from the
20th century for the archive of american
folk song at the library of congress
these recording sessions captured the
foundations of the american folk and
blues traditions and ended up
influencing generations of american
musicians to come one of these
recordings was a 1937 session with
georgia turner
[Music]
her version returns to a female
perspective but is actually light on
references to the rising sun itself
the most common theme in her version is
drinking
[Music]
her sweetheart is a drunkard only
satisfied when drunk and the poor girl
is returning to new orleans to wear a
ball and chain
if the ball and chain is metaphorical
this could make the rising sun itself a
pub this interpretation fits with the
english heritage house of the rising sun
was an archaic english term for public
houses or as we now know them today pubs
but the house of the rising sun isn't
singing generally about any pub it seems
to be singing about a specific pub in
new orleans and in the 19th century
there actually was an establishment in
new orleans called the rising sun
it advertised in the 1860s as a
restaurant and a coffee house and at the
time new orleans businesses listed as
coffee houses often also sold alcoholic
drinks
so is that pub what georgia turner was
singing about well it's unclear lomax
never spoke about the specifics of the
recording session but he did write that
the song was unique to him at the time
this seems to suggest it was the first
time lomax heard the song but it
certainly wouldn't be the last
based in greenwich village new york
lomax would share his recordings with a
new generation of folk artists like
woody guthrie and pete seeger both
artists worked it into their repertoire
and eventually recorded their own
versions
woody guthrie's has a bit more of an
upbeat tilt to it while pete seeger's
was darker and foreboding driven by his
iconic banjo
[Music]
alan lomax believed that folklore
flourished when it was adopted by many
cultures and traditions and house of the
rising sun proved the rule
his recordings helped the song enter the
zeitgeist of american music where it
began to
[Music]
the song's lamenting lyrics and roots in
american folklore meant it resonated
with black musicians
12 string virtuoso lad belly recorded
the song twice in one version it's an
upbeat blues with ledbelly singing the
part of the down on his luck rambler
[Music]
in another version he recorded his wife
sings and plays the part of the poor
girl
[Music]
and after these early versions the
legacy of the song continued to grow
by the time the 1960s rolled round the
song was fast becoming a standard
nina simone recorded a live performance
of the song in 1962 released on the
album live at the village gate
[Music]
while that version is a slow dirge she
would also display the versatility of
the song when she recorded it again on
her 1967 album nina simone sings the
blues
[Music]
nina simone's takes on the song were
part of a broader movement that was
happening around her in greenwich
village the folk music revival at the
start of the decade joan baez recorded a
slow haunting version and it became a
staple of the scene after that
and perhaps the most notable version to
come out of that greenwich scene was a
version performed by a 20 year old folk
singer who went by the name bob dylan
there is a house
down in new orleans
[Music]
it's in this dylan version that the song
as you likely recognize it today really
comes into shape
his lyrics sing from the perspective of
a young woman and his vocal performance
is just as haunting as georgia turner's
but his version featured a novel chord
progression for the song though it
wasn't one he came up with himself dylan
borrowed his chord progression from a
close friend dave van ronk who would
record his own version in 1964
[Music]
she's so slow
and not only did van ronk record and
arrange the song he actually had his own
theory about what the titular house of
the rising sun was
in van ronk's mind it was a woman's
prison he claimed to have seen a photo
of a foreboding stone doorway with a
carving on the lintel of a stylized
rising sun
it was the orleans parish woman's prison
[Music]
vanronk's arrangement of the song
performed by dylan helped it grow to be
a hit before too long van ronk found
himself accused of copying the
arrangement of rising sun from dylan's
album
i had to stop singing the song fan wrong
said now that was very very annoying but
i couldn't blame that on him
it was this dylan version that brought
the song back across the atlantic to the
very country where it might have had its
earliest roots
as a traditional folk song house of the
rising sun was in the public domain and
thus it was easy for the animals to put
their own spin on it when they were
looking for something to wow their
audience
they took the chords from the vanronk
arrangement but decided to electrify
them and break them down into an ominous
set of arpeggios
the animals also changed the time
signature from a standard 4-4 beat into
6-8 time which helped lend the tune more
urgency their lyrics are similar to
dylan's arrangement but with the
perspective
[Music]
he was tapping into his own lived
experience he had been born to a lower
middle class family in an english mining
town and at 17 he ran away to paris
where he hung out near bordellos an
experience that he said helped his
research for the song this lends
credence to the theory that the song is
talking about a brothel and that theory
has a new orleans connection as well
there was a small short-lived rising sun
hotel in the french quarter which burned
down in 1822
in a recent search archaeologists found
an unusual amount of rouge pots and
cosmetics on site as well as some
advertisements that may have
euphemistically indicated prostitution
for the animals house of the rising sun
was an instant sensation
it was so well received on tour that
they decided to record it only nine days
after its debut
between tour stops the group popped into
a london recording studio and pounded
out the single version in one take this
version made house of the rising sun a
transatlantic hit it reached the top of
the uk singles chart in july 1964 and
topped the us charts two months later
according to animals drummer john steele
bob dylan told him that when he first
heard the animals version on his car
radio he stopped to listen jumped out of
his car and banged on the bonnet the
song even provided part of the impetus
for dylan to go electric and for dylan
the song came full circle like vanronk
before him the popularity of the
animal's version eclipsed his own and
dylan began to face his own accusations
of theft and after the animals version
the song was truly in the pop music
zeitgeist for the next 50 years hundreds
more artists would cover it each putting
their own spin on it but all of these
disparate versions hold one commonality
the house of the rising sun
so then what is the house for every
artist there's a different answer it's a
jail and a gambling house a brothel and
a pub changing depending on who's
singing the words
but whether it's a rambler a gambler a
prostitute or a pauper the meaning of
the house of the rising sun is always
the same
it's a place of vice a place of darkness
and foreboding and a place that one
desperately wants to avoid yet is
constantly drawn back to
what's important isn't the specifics of
the house it's what the house represents
the house exists for the protagonist and
always will
haunting and beckoning them
tempting them to fall back into their
own demise
and that's why i think it's resonated so
hard through all of its different
versions
it speaks to a universal fear
that we all hold
so long as any vice has its grip on our
hearts the house of the rising sun could
be round any corner for all of us
patiently waiting for the moment when
we're at our most desperate most
vulnerable so it can lure us in and call
us back to our demise
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