House of the Rising Sun
Echoes of Redemption: Tales from the House of the Rising Sun
Lyrics
There is a house in New Orleans
Introduction to a house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun
Referring to the house as the Rising Sun
It's been the ruin of many a poor girl
Noting the house's negative impact on many poor girls
And God, I know I'm one
Expressing personal acknowledgment of being affected by the house
My mother, she was a tailor
Describing the mother's occupation as a tailor
She sewed my new blue jeans
Mentioning the mother sewing blue jeans
And my father was a gamblin' man
Revealing the father as a gambling man in New Orleans
Way down in New Orleans
Locating the father's gambling activities in New Orleans
And the only thing that a gambler needs
Stating the essential needs of a gambler
Is a suitcase and a trunk
Highlighting the importance of a suitcase and a trunk for a gambler
And the only time that he's satisfied
Indicating the gambler's satisfaction when intoxicated
Is when he's on a drunk
Emphasizing the gambler's contentment during drunkenness
Oh mothers, tell your children
Advising mothers to caution their children
Not to do what I have done
Reflecting on personal mistakes and advising against repeating them
Live your life in sin and misery
Encouraging a life free from sin and misery
In the House of the Rising Sun
Connecting sin and misery to the House of the Rising Sun
Got one foot on the platform
Describing a transitional state with one foot on a platform and the other on a train
The other foot on the train
Expressing a journey or decision involving leaving
I'm goin' back to New Orleans
Declaring the destination as a return to New Orleans
To wear that ball and chain
Anticipating wearing a metaphorical ball and chain in New Orleans
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