The House of the Rising Sun
Rising Sun's Cautionary Tale: Nina Simone's Poignant Reflection
Lyrics
There is a house in New Orleans
Refers to a house in New Orleans
They call it the Rising Sun
The house is known as the Rising Sun
And it's been the ruin of many a poor girl
The house has negatively impacted many poor girls
And me, oh Lord, I'm one
The speaker acknowledges being ruined by the house
If I had listened of what my mama said
If the speaker had heeded her mother's advice
I'd be at home today
She would be at home today
Bein' so young and foolish, my Lord
The speaker was young and foolish, influenced by a gambler
Let a gambler lead me astray
Regrets letting a gambler lead her astray
My mother is a tailor
Speaker's mother is a tailor
She sews new blue jeans
Mother sews new blue jeans
And my sweetheart is a drunkard, Lord
Speaker's sweetheart is a drunkard in New Orleans
Drinks down in New Orleans
He indulges in drinking in New Orleans
Go tell my baby sister
Speaker advises her baby sister not to repeat her mistakes
Never do what I have done
Warns against doing what the speaker has done
Shun that house in New Orleans
Suggests avoiding the house in New Orleans
They call it the Rising Sun
Reiterates the negative association of the house as the Rising Sun
Goin' back to New Orleans race is almost won
Expresses the speaker's intention to return to New Orleans
Goin' back to spend my life
Plans to spend the rest of her life there
Beneath, beneath, beneath, oh Lord
Repetition for emphasis on "beneath"
Beneath, oh now, beneath, the rising
Continues emphasis on being beneath the rising sun
Rising sun now, now
Further emphasizes the rising sun
Ain't comin' back ain't comin' back
Declares the speaker's decision not to return
Bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, baby
Repetition of "bye" signals final farewell
Yeah, come-a back, back, back
Encourages someone to come back
Yeah, come-a back yeah, come-a, yeah, come-a
Repetition of encouragement to return
Yeah, come-a back yeah, come-a back
Repeats the invitation to come back
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