Peak
1
Weeks
11
Score
3,057
Chart Year
1964
An interview with Eric Burdon revealed that he first heard the song in a club in Newcastle, England, where it was sung by the Northumbrian folk singer Johnny Handle. The Animals were on tour with Chuck Berry and chose it because they wanted something distinctive to sing.[33][34] The Animals had begun featuring their arrangement of "The House of the Rising Sun" during a joint concert tour with Chuck Berry, using it as their closing number to differentiate themselves from acts that always closed with straight rockers.[34][35] It got a tremendous reaction from the audience, convincing initially reluctant producer Mickie Most that it had hit potential,[35] and between tour stops the group went to a small recording studio, De Lane Lea Studios on Kingsway in London[35] to capture it.
Traditional Lyrics: There is a house in New Orleans They call the Rising Sun It's been the ruin of many a poor girl And me, O God, for one If I had listened what Mama said I'd be at home today Being so young and foolish, poor boy Let a rambler lead me astray Go tell my baby sister Never do like I have done To shun that house in New Orleans They call the Rising Sun My mother, she's a tailor She sewed these new blue jeans My sweetheart, he's a drunkard, Lord Drinks down in New Orleans The only thing a drunkard needs Is a suitcase and a trunk The only time he's satisfied Is when he's on a drunk Fills his glasses to the brim Passes them around Only pleasure he gets out of life Is hoboin' from town to town One foot is on the platform And the other one on the train I'm going back to New Orleans To wear that ball and chain Going back to New Orleans My race is almost run Going back to spend the rest of my days Beneath that Rising Sun Animals Version: There is a house in New Orleans They call the Rising Sun And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy And God I know I'm one My mother was a tailor She sewed my new blue jeans My father was a gamblin' man Down in New Orleans Now the only thing a gambler needs Is a suitcase and trunk And the only time he's satisfied Is when he's on a drunk Oh mother tell your children Not to do what I have done Spend your lives in sin and misery In the House of the Rising Sun Well, I got one foot on the platform The other foot on the train I'm goin' back to New Orleans To wear that ball and chain Well, there is a house in New Orleans They call the Rising Sun And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy And God I know I'm one Bob Dylan version: There is a house down in New Orleans They call the rising sun And it's been the ruin of many a poor girl And me, oh God, I'm one My mother was a tailor She sowed these new blue jeans My sweetheart was a gambler Lord, down in New Orleans Now the only thing a gambler needs Is a suitcase and a trunk And the only time when he's satisfied Is when he's on a drunk He fills his glasses up to the brim And he'll pass the cards around And the only pleasure he gets out of life Is rambling from town to town Oh tell my baby sister Not to do what I have done But shun that house in New Orleans They call the rising sun Well with one foot on the platform And the other foot on the train I'm going back to New Orleans To wear that ball and chain I'm going back to New Orleans My race is almost run I'm going back to end my life Down in the rising sun There is a house in New Orleans They call the rising sun And it's been the ruin of many a poor girl And me, oh God, I'm one
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 8, 1964 | 60 | 66 |
| 2 | Aug 15, 1964 | 10 | 116 |
| 3 | Aug 22, 1964 | 5 | 121 |
| 4 | Aug 29, 1964 | 2 | 124 |
| 5 | Sep 5, 1964 | 1 | 125 |
| 6 | Sep 12, 1964 | 1 | 125 |
| 7 | Sep 19, 1964 | 1 | 125 |
| 8 | Sep 26, 1964 | 3 | 123 |
| 9 | Oct 3, 1964 | 8 | 118 |
| 10 | Oct 10, 1964 | 19 | 107 |
| 11 | Oct 17, 1964 | 38 | 88 |