Weird & Viral news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Who wrote the 1960s classic ‘The House of the Rising Sun’?
The author of ‘The House of the Rising Sun’ is unknown: the song is a traditional folk ballad whose origins were likely shaped by generations of performers. Its enduring reach is clear in The Animals’ 1964 version, which topped charts in the UK, US and Canada and helped make the song a classic.
The song is thought to have appeared in its familiar form in the early 1900s, though some theories trace its roots to older English folk music. Robert Winslow Gordon published lyrics in 1925, and Clarence “Tom” Ashley recorded an early version, ‘Rising Sun Blues’, in 1933; Georgia Turner was recorded singing it in 1937. Proposed links to ‘The Unfortunate Rake’ and ‘Matty Groves’ remain unproven, while the New Orleans setting is generally accepted even though the place described is disputed.
In short
- The song has no confirmed author.
- The Animals’ 1964 recording topped three countries’ charts.
- Its roots may combine English and American folk traditions.
Explained simply
‘The House of the Rising Sun’ is a traditional folk ballad, meaning it was passed between singers over time rather than written by a known songwriter. Its familiar form is thought to date from the early 1900s, though some people have suggested older English folk songs influenced it.
The song has been linked to ballads such as ‘The Unfortunate Rake’ and ‘Matty Groves’, but those connections have not been proved. Its setting is generally understood to be New Orleans, although the place called the Rising Sun has been disputed.
Versions were recorded in the 1930s by performers including Clarence “Tom” Ashley and Georgia Turner. The Animals’ 1964 recording brought the song to a much wider audience, reaching the top of the charts in the UK, US and Canada.