House of the Rising Sun
Rising Sun's Lament: A Tale of Regret and Redemption
Lyrics
There is a house in New Orleans they call the Rising Sun
Introduction to a house in New Orleans known as the Rising Sun.
It's been the ruin of many a poor girl me, oh God, I'm one
Acknowledgment that the house has caused the downfall of many, including the speaker.
My mother was a tailor She sewed these new blue jeans
Speaker's mother worked as a tailor and made blue jeans.
My sweetheart was a gambler, Lord, way down in New Orleans
Speaker's sweetheart was a gambler in New Orleans.
Now the only thing a gambler needs is a suitcase and a trunk
Description of a gambler's minimal needs: a suitcase and a trunk.
And the only time he's satisfied is when he's on a drunk
Statement about a gambler's satisfaction being linked to being intoxicated.
He filled his glasses up to the brim and he passed the cards around
Depiction of a scene where the gambler drinks and plays cards with others.
And the only pleasure he gets out of life is ramblin' from town to town
Expression that the gambler's main joy comes from traveling between towns.
Go and tell my baby sister, not to do what I have done
Instruction to inform the speaker's baby sister not to follow the same path.
Go and shun that house down in New Orleans
Admonition to avoid the house in New Orleans, referred to as the Rising Sun.
They call the Rising Sun
Reiteration of the name of the problematic house.
Now it's one foot on the platform and the other foot on the train
Description of the speaker's departure from New Orleans, one foot on the platform and the other on the train.
Now I'm goin' back to New Orleans to wear that ball and chain
Statement about returning to New Orleans with a metaphorical ball and chain, indicating a burden.
Now I'm going back to New Orleans my race is almost run
Acknowledgment that the speaker's life journey is near its end.
I'm goin' back to spend my life beneath the Rising Sun
Intent to return and spend the remainder of life in the troubled Rising Sun house.
There is a house down in New Orleans they call the Rising Sun
Reiteration of the existence of the problematic house in New Orleans.
It's been the ruin of many a poor girl and me, oh God, I'm one
Restatement that the house has been the cause of ruin, emphasizing the speaker's personal connection to it.
Comment