Country Blues > SOTM - Song Of The Month

House of The Rising Sun

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Gary Blue:
I'm interested in the origins of the song 'House of the Rising Sun', the truth in the theory that it refers to a women's prison and in the earliest sources for the song.

Pan:
I believe Clarence Ashley did the 1st recorded version:



Here's the Georgia Turner version recorded by Alan Lomax:



Leadbelly recorded the song several times, in 1939 he played it in straight 4/4 time:



and in 1944 as a waltz:



I suspect that we have Josh White to thank for the modern version played in minor key:



He also accompanied Libby Holman and I suspect the arrangement came from him:



Cheers

Pan

Mr.OMuck:
great collection Pan. I first heard this song these Three and  Leadbelly  though in some different versions...then of course there is Eric Burden & The Animals...pretty good too,

Bunker Hill:
Believe it or not there's a entire book on the subject Chasing the Rising Sun: The Journey of an American Song by Ted Anthony (Simon & Schuster 2007), which I think has been a topic of discussion here. Mine's on loan at present.

Johnm:
Hi all,
Dillard Chandler, a ballad singer form North Carolina that John Cohen recorded and filmed did a version in which he sang "There is a sport in New Orleans they call the Rising Sun".  The notes to the record it was on surmised that "sport" used in this context meant "prostitute".  Chandler's version is well worth seeking out--he was an amazing singer.
All best,
Johnm

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