To show you how good the musicians were in The Animals, the band didn't have the money for excessive studio time nor did they have money for multiple do-overs. They recorded this song in ONE TAKE. The House of the Rising Sun WAS a bordello in New Orleans.
1954 - i loved the rock/blues era - the Animals were one of my favourites (one of the few who disliked The Beatles - i thought they were crap musically)
I had a brother who brought home this song on a 45 rpm record…I was ten years old…I claimed this instantly…and have never wavered in my love for Eric Burdon…
@@GameStop-li5hp it does. if you wanna play the piano perfectly but you don't have talent don't expect to be playing as good as Alan Price or Peter Nero. the control of vocals chords and the pitch of them is incredibly important, like the control of your fingers over the keyboard.
@@THECONTINENTALMAN You think I don't have any talent, but how do you know? Do you know me personally? Just FYI: I have a Vox Continental and can play House of the Rising Sun perfectly... You've messed with the wrong people, and I've got a collection of The Animals... you young people can't say that I'm supposedly a victim of Generation Z... She's wrong too, I wear 60s clothes and listen to Eric Burdon every day. well
I really like that Devin let’s the song play and then reacts after it’s over. That’s the way to do it. Nobody listens to a song and constantly keeps pausing. You don’t get the true feeling of a song that way. Much props Devin!!!
I kinda like when people stop the song and give their two cents when it's just so unbelievale they have to comment. Now if they are commenting on the lyrics that's a different story.
Same here, Ray. And I can tell that this is his first time hearing it. Too many of the reactions videos I watch where the person says they never heard it, I just don't believe some of them. Not there is anything wrong with reacting to a song, but just be up front and say you have, like "Indian couple reacts."
I do wish he would save reading the synopsis until after he has heard/experienced the song/performance. Without the preconceived ideas from the writer of the blurb.
Mine too, my Husband was a Professional Musician, I would beg him to do this song, he'd refuse because he couldn't hit those high notes, but he killed the bass part. He would sing it for me at band practice, but not on stage! My Husband had that Growly, gravely, voice, did a lot of Bob Seger, Kenny Rodgers, Elvis, if he couldn't do a song exactly how it was done, he wouldn't do it! He taught my girls how to play the keyboard part. Not near as good, but pretty close!
The Animals, among the best to come out of the NE of England......along with The Police (and Sting of course), Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits, David Coverdale (Deep Purple and Whitesnake), Chris Rhea, Brian Johnson (lead singer ACDC), Lighthouse Family, Pet Shop Boys, Dave Stewart (Eurythmics), Bryan Ferry and.......The Buggles, first band on MTV (Radio killed the Radio Star)!
I always thought the song was about the tragedy of the main character to find himself in such a low state that he ends up at the "House of the Rising Son." There is nothing about the nature of what is happening to the women there. It's the guy lamenting where his life has led him. Great reaction!
It’s awesome that you are so young yet are so open to older songs and can appreciate the talent back then. No auto tune, studio gangsters, just pure talent back in the day!!
There's a few more Animals songs to do, We Gotta Get Out Of This Place, Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, Sky Pilot and Eric with War doing Spill The Wine. Great reaction.... and LOVE the decor!
@@namvet6970bd my Uncle loves that song... Thanks for your service. I spent 6 yrs in the Army 86'- 92' I went into Panama with the 82nd, for the CIA. It seems Manuel didn't feel as though he should pay them anymore, for the privilege of shipping cocaine through his Country. So we went down there, again, for the CIA, to prove him wrong. It was, I can assure you no Vietnam, but it was pretty fucking stupid.
I remember the first time I played this song for my little girl she was around six years old, she's now 26 and this song caused her to learn to play the piano/organ❤
Also check some of their other hits like Sky Pilot, Boom Boom (blues cover of the John Lee Hooker song), We Gott Get Out of This Place, Talkin About You, It's My Life, and especially their cover of the Nina Simone song Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood.
It isn't about a woman's prison in this version. It's about a young man whose life has gone wrong. The House of the Rising Sun is (in the song) a brothel and gambling den in New Orleans. His father was a gambler, and he followed him into that lifestyle, which ruined his life. Not clear what the "ball and chain" refers to -- either his addictions to gambling and whatever or he's going to prison.
It isn't a prison reference. It's more like he realizes what his life is going to be from here on out and he won't ever leave.. Think of ball and chain as a metaphor for being stuck tied down.
Exactly, get that prison BS out your head. Starters, this song is over 150 yrs old. The song was first recorded in the 1930's, and even back then, no one knew how far back it went. It an old time bar. Where a man could hang out, drink, get drugs, and go upstairs with a paid lady. Whatever it took to keep you their, loose all your money, and come back when you get more money. The Ball and Chain is just a vice. The thing that keeps you coming back. You can't break free of it.
Spot on, DA. I was going to write the same but you've done it for Devin here, thanks, hope he read your post. He doesn't usually do this, but in this video he makes the same mistake that a lot of first reaction Utubers do, he takes the lyrics too literally and the result is he takes very naïve view. Cheers
I grew up on the music of the 60’s & 70’s & Eric Burdon & The Animals have always been one of my favorite British Invasion bands. They have a ton of songs just waiting for you to discover ❤️🔥 Eric eventually joined a group called War & they had some fantastic bluesy rock songs that you should check out. Eric still performs ( he is in his 80’s now) ❣️😻☮️
Great reaction, your one of the best reactions Channel that I have seen, you really get into it and I like the history information you share concerning the band, the song, etc, Well done sir! PS Love the In God we trust poster.
Eric Burden's voice . . . just something. Fun fact: The Animals' bassist, Chas Chandler, helped Jimi Hendrix to get stardom by seeing him in New York right around the time The Animals were breaking up. You need to react to Hendrix' "Hey Joe" from 1967 in Monterey. One of the very best guitarists of all time and you'll see why. And I'll also suggest "God Only Knows" by the Beach Boys - it's my fave tune by them.
Funny how everyone has their own version of what the House of the Rising Sun was. 'Like many classic folk ballads, "The House of the Rising Sun" is of uncertain authorship. Musicologists say that it is based on the tradition of broadside ballads, and thematically it has some resemblance to the 16th-century ballad "The Unfortunate Rake", yet there is no evidence suggesting that there is any direct relation.[4] According to Alan Lomax, "Rising Sun" was the name of a bawdy house in two traditional English songs, and it was also a name for English pubs.[5] He further suggested that the melody might be related to a 17th-century folk song, "Lord Barnard and Little Musgrave", also known as "Matty Groves",[6][7] but a survey by Bertrand Bronson showed no clear relationship between the two songs.[8] Lomax proposed that the location of the house was then relocated from England to the US by White Southern performers.[5] However, folklorist Vance Randolph proposed an alternative French origin, the "rising sun" referring to the decorative use of the sunburst insignia dating to the time of Louis XIV, which was brought to North America by French immigrants.[8] "House of Rising Sun" was said to have been known by miners in 1905.[6] The oldest published version of the lyrics is that printed by Robert Winslow Gordon in 1925, in a column "Old Songs That Men Have Sung" in Adventure magazine.[9] The lyrics of that version begin:[9][10]'. It was also the name of a brothel in New Orleans from 1862-1874, a hotel in 1820, and is currently in New Orleans, but not a brothel. It's a bed-and-breakfast inn. One more source says it's about a women's prison in New Orleans called the Orleans Parish women's prison, which had an entrance gate adorned with rising sun artwork. This would explain the "ball and chain" lyrics in the song.
Thank you for sharing the excellent research. When I was looking into the history of Seattle, Washington, I read that in the 19th century, when the census was being taken in Seattle, prostitutes would list their profession as "seamstress". It's my personal opinion that is an explanation of "my mother sewed my new blue jeans". A very puzzling phrase in my favorite song of the '60's. I have never heard of any other explanation or even speculation as to the meaning of those words. The singer's mother was a prostitute and his/her father was a drunken gambler, so impossible (nearly) past to overcome. "One foot on the platform.....the other foot on the train. Goin' back to New Orleans..." suggests the "ball and chain" is the lifestyle the singer is returning to, not a prison. So happy to find so many people enjoy this amazing song. Another amazing Eric Burton song that I don't see get enough attention is "When I Was Young".
indeed!my late stepfather would gladly belt along when this was played on my mothers pc and he had some beers!he was born in 1930 and really was slow on keyboard searching stuff, we tried to teach him about yt but he strangely never had patience for sitting back and search in his own time!me and my lil bro would gladly send him yt links to his fav singer of all time!Luciano Paravotti!he was actually mad when we showed him Jonathan and Charlotte on got talent show, because a dog won over them!
He was with Jimmy Hendrix the night he died. He was the egg man in the Beatles song I am the walrus. How he got the egg man nick name was from an orgy that he was at with John Lennon. John had that crazy mustache at the time. At one point they were at the fridge and John dared him to throw some eggs at the girls. Well supposedly he did. Thus the egg man. Hes super wild and cool.
Eric Burdon was 23 when he sang this. Young man, old soul's voice. The bass player ran across Jimi Hendrix before he became a star. He sold all his guitars to get him into the English musical scene and became Jimi's manager. This was the first song I learned to play on the guitar. LOL
Sang this and played (organ) in my brother's band 1000 years ago... *Ball & chain = prison Found you tonight because of your Bee Gee's reactions. I've seen 4 reactions so far and subscribed. Don't let me down. 😊 God bless.
Ball and chain = marriage back in day and many yrs before that . Way before women's lib. His last name is Burdon. Not that I would have minded claiming him. I was in high school when this came out - light yrs ago.
@@barbaraburton8914 - First Ball & Chain meant prison because they literally would put a chain on the man's ankle with a huge iron ball attached to keep them from running away. Then later it was used as a euphemism for "being married to the old ball & chain." I knew it was Eric Burdon but didn't address the name in my post whatsoever.
It was a brothel, but became the original Orleans parish prison. Louisiana, the only state in America to not have counties, they are called parishes. It became the parish jail, for men like me!!! About 20 years before you were born!
I'm absolutely loving your new channel. Can't wait to see what you have in store. You won't be disappointed if you react to Roy Orbison or even Tina Turner's music.
Gratz on the weight loss! I know how tough it is. This, even growing up in the '80s as a metalhead, was always one of my favs. He belts it out without effort and the band's musicianship is amazing. Such a classic. It is so cool to watch the younger generations discover and enjoy this stuff. Yours is not a bad take on the song really.
I got to see The Animals perform live in NYC at a taping of the Hullaballoo TV show. Years later in I was in a movie with Eric Burdon. I cooked bacon for him and his girlfriend, while talking about about music and my mother in a tiny eatery then called The Blue Nun in Silverlake in Los Angeles. He was very nice, self- possessed and funny in the little scene we had together. Movie was called Comeback about a musician making a…comeback! Nice memory. What a talent.
The House of the Rising Sun was for sale a few years back, I have a picture of it but couldn’t load it here. Can you imagine what the walls held there !!
I was born in '96. And every time I watch reaction videos it floors me that people have never heard these songs. I guess I'm very fortunate to have a "classic music taste" and that my parents were able to introduce me to this is genre. I have no taste for pop or rap of today but this genre will forever hold a place in my heart. 💜 God bless you too
Your reaction to this is exactly the same as ours when it first came out ! ‘Twas a fantastic era for music…..such diversity and freedom to experiment. Thanks, I enjoyed this muchly 👍🤗
A bit of musical information-I watched another video of this band and song and in this a discussion about the keyboard came about. it was the first of its kind and the only which, at the time of this recording cost around $30,000 usd. IN equivalency to todays market value, one would pay in the range of $70-85k usd for this. However new technology and materials reduced the cost but amazing how costly this was back 40 or so years ago.
My favorit group from the 60s ,and my all time favorit song Eric Burdon is one of a kind that voice blown me a way he has so much emotions and soul in his voice, it goes into my heart
Love it! My dad grew up in North Dakota. One night his dad (a gambler) brought Lawrence Welk home to meet the family. He played the pump organ in the dining room. If grandma served them anything it would probably have been chicken soup with homemade noodles. We girls used to quarrel over who got a chicken foot in their bowl. I remember watching her scrub their claws with a brush. But first, she had to decapitate the chicken. Yeah, I know this has nothing to do with the song or the reaction, but you stirred up some memories for me.
That's so awesome that you got the impact from this 60s classic! It's one of the most riveting folk/blues songs of all time! Eric really had that deep, dirty New Orleans-style soul down pat! Try 'It's My Life' and 'Don't Let Me Down'.
Sorry, Alan Price did not write this song. He may have done the arrangement for this version. It's a traditional American folk song from the 1930s. Another noted version of this song was sung by Woodie Guthrie back in the 1940s. Cheers.
A few years ago in a London park, I spoke to a Woman for a while and as she was leaving I asked her what she did and she said she was a Singer as her Dad had been in a Band. I asked her which Group and she replied "Jimi Hendrix Experience" and her Dad that she mentioned was...Jimi Hendrix :)
O'yeah, a great band, a great song!!! Keep them coming my friend, I hope you continue to play the music that made music the way it should be sang, no autotune, no junk, just real down to earth music, these bands were what music was all about!!! Later down the road I hope you will stumble upon the group: ***Earth Wind and Fire***...Start out with their song: REASONS...PHILLIP BAILEY IS A PHENOMENAL SINGER... THANK YOU FOR KEEPING GREAT MUSIC ALIVE!!! ☝️☝️☝️☝️
I was 7 when this song came out. THE ANIMALS, "HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN". IT TOOK OVER ME, AND BECAME MY FIRST FAVORITE SONG OF WHAT I CALL YOUNG PEOPLE'S MUSIC.. MORE, "WE GOT TO GET OUT OF THIS PLACE"..
You are too much fun to watch reacting to really great music! The music I grew up listening to sounds new again watching you hear it for the first time! Thanks! YOU ROCK! GOD Bless you, brother...🙏🙏
They added electric to a folk song. First time Bob Dylan heard this they went electric. The song is 150-200 yrs old. Like many folk songs there are as many verses as you want. It originally was written for a women singer. So happy you are listening to this.
The lines you were asking about are: "Now the only thing a gambler needs is a suitcase and a trunk / And the only time he's satisfied is when he is on a drunk"....speaking of his father, unfortunately. Great reaction.
From what I heard was this is actually an old song without knowing the origin. It is speculated that it dealt with a Prison or Brothel but it isn't known.. Several others recorded it but the Animals Owned it. Saw them in person in a small Ag & Tech College in Upstate NY in '70
You know, one of the best things about growing up in the 60's and 70's is some of the best music ever. This is but one example...and doesn't it rip. mark
Well that house is said to be a brothel where a whole lot of drinking, gambling and prostitution went on throughout the years. It just stayed in business for about 12 years and was completely shut down due to neighbors' complaints! that house still stands in New Orleans today and I believe it would be a tourists' destination as well as a landmark!
The keyboardist, Alan Price, was a founder of The Animals. After they broke up he kept busy. He wrote and performed the soundtrack of the Malcolm McDowell movie, "O, Lucky Man!". Here is the title track. Just notice the look of joy on Alan Price's face, joy of singing and of creating joyous sounds... ua-cam.com/video/lK3P97RfVaI/v-deo.html
Eric Burdon, the lead singer of the animals has a great song that he sings with the R&B group War, and the name of that song is spill the wine that is a great song.
This song is about the lives of the working girls, told by a lady of the night. The animals changed some lyrics to fit them where he says boys it was the word girls in the real song .
You are right. A brothel. He was twenty one years old. Made in one take. They could not afford more time to record. The projection of his voice has always been tremendous.
Cool reaction, thanks. There have been many covers of Rising Sun, some with the protagonist being male and some being female. The background you read at the beginning was describing it as sung from the female perspective. This male version is not about a brothel or woman's prison, but more likely the House is a gambling and drug establishment.
It's a song, it's entertainment - doesn't have to mean a thing except whatever the listener wishes to discern from it. When I was growing up, listening to it on the radio, I had no idea who the Animals consisted of nor how many members there were. Perhaps kids with a tv or who purchased magazines had that info, but it still was a catchy tune, well sung and well performed. I would expect it still beats the heck out of almost any "music" I might hear recorded in the past several years. To each his own, of course.
![First Time Hearing RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS - Unchained Melody [REACTION!!!]](/img/n.gif)
To show you how good the musicians were in The Animals, the band didn't have the money for excessive studio time nor did they have money for multiple do-overs. They recorded this song in ONE TAKE.
The House of the Rising Sun WAS a bordello in New Orleans.
What a great voice. Remember no auto tune
100%
I was born in 1957, I was lucky enough to grow up with the greatest music ever recorded!! Enjoy yourself and welcome to my generation!!💖💖💖💖
I'm a 57 too.
1955. We definitely won the lottery on music.
@@patcavanaugh4941 1956, we had the best music
1954 - i loved the rock/blues era - the Animals were one of my favourites (one of the few who disliked The Beatles - i thought they were crap musically)
57 here too. Love seeing this again
I had a brother who brought home this song on a 45 rpm record…I was ten years old…I claimed this instantly…and have never wavered in my love for Eric Burdon…
I was 10 too back then! I remember playing that song over and over again! 🥰🥰🥰🥰🌲🌄🌲🇩🇪🇨🇭🇺🇲💙💙💙💙💙🌲🌄🌲
It was a gambling house/brothel the ball and chain refers to the life he's living, no prison. Great song
Here's the thing... NO AUTOTUNE just pure talent.
Dude, the voice has nothing to do with talent
@@GameStop-li5hp it does. if you wanna play the piano perfectly but you don't have talent don't expect to be playing as good as Alan Price or Peter Nero. the control of vocals chords and the pitch of them is incredibly important, like the control of your fingers over the keyboard.
@@THECONTINENTALMAN You think I don't have any talent, but how do you know? Do you know me personally? Just FYI: I have a Vox Continental and can play House of the Rising Sun perfectly... You've messed with the wrong people, and I've got a collection of The Animals... you young people can't say that I'm supposedly a victim of Generation Z... She's wrong too, I wear 60s clothes and listen to Eric Burdon every day. well
@@THECONTINENTALMAN And I can sing House of the Rising Sun and I have a similar voice to Eric Burdon and I look like him
@@THECONTINENTALMAN i dont need talent ;)
I really like that Devin let’s the song play and then reacts after it’s over. That’s the way to do it. Nobody listens to a song and constantly keeps pausing. You don’t get the true feeling of a song that way. Much props Devin!!!
I kinda like when people stop the song and give their two cents when it's just so unbelievale they have to comment. Now if they are commenting on the lyrics that's a different story.
Same here, Ray. And I can tell that this is his first time hearing it. Too many of the reactions videos I watch where the person says they never heard it, I just don't believe some of them. Not there is anything wrong with reacting to a song, but just be up front and say you have, like "Indian couple reacts."
@@davidlincoln78240 Indeed, perhaps in such cases it should be called a review rather than a reaction.
My pet peeve, for sure.
I do wish he would save reading the synopsis until after he has heard/experienced the song/performance. Without the preconceived ideas from the writer of the blurb.
Greatest song of all time… Love the Animals!!
60S music was fun to grow up in.The Animals are one big reason. ❣️
My all time favorite song. First heard it in 1965 when I was 15 and now, at 71, it’s my iPhone ringtone! Lol
Mine too, my Husband was a Professional Musician, I would beg him to do this song, he'd refuse because he couldn't hit those high notes, but he killed the bass part. He would sing it for me at band practice, but not on stage! My Husband had that Growly, gravely, voice, did a lot of Bob Seger, Kenny Rodgers, Elvis, if he couldn't do a song exactly how it was done, he wouldn't do it! He taught my girls how to play the keyboard part. Not near as good, but pretty close!
hahaha, my ringtone as well
I first heard it played in 1964 by a DJ at my first college dance. Loved it than, love it now. I didn't picture Eric Burden looking like a young boy.
Eric Burdon was 23 when they recorded this song
One of the best songs, and voices everrrr!!!
The Animals, among the best to come out of the NE of England......along with The Police (and Sting of course), Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits, David Coverdale (Deep Purple and Whitesnake), Chris Rhea, Brian Johnson (lead singer ACDC), Lighthouse Family, Pet Shop Boys, Dave Stewart (Eurythmics), Bryan Ferry and.......The Buggles, first band on MTV (Radio killed the Radio Star)!
I always thought the song was about the tragedy of the main character to find himself in such a low state that he ends up at the "House of the Rising Son." There is nothing about the nature of what is happening to the women there. It's the guy lamenting where his life has led him.
Great reaction!
Actually it's a cover of a song whose narrator is a woman. Makes a lot more sense.
"when he's on a drunk"
Thanks for taking us along on your adventure into "the classics"
It’s awesome that you are so young yet are so open to older songs and can appreciate the talent back then. No auto tune, studio gangsters, just pure talent back in the day!!
No studio gangsters?? Just Phil Spector pulling guns in his clients. Your veiled racism is pathetic, you bitch
There's a few more Animals songs to do, We Gotta Get Out Of This Place, Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, Sky Pilot and Eric with War doing Spill The Wine. Great reaction.... and LOVE the decor!
Favorite song of us Nam Vets we gotta get outta this place
They do an amazing cover of Smokestack Lighting
@@namvet6970bd my Uncle loves that song... Thanks for your service. I spent 6 yrs in the Army 86'- 92' I went into Panama with the 82nd, for the CIA. It seems Manuel didn't feel as though he should pay them anymore, for the privilege of shipping cocaine through his Country. So we went down there, again, for the CIA, to prove him wrong. It was, I can assure you no Vietnam, but it was pretty fucking stupid.
@@richardcranium5048 thanks for your service
@@richardcranium5048 I was at Bragg then, but they didn't need M198's for that one.
I remember the first time I played this song for my little girl she was around six years old, she's now 26 and this song caused her to learn to play the piano/organ❤
Also check some of their other hits like Sky Pilot, Boom Boom (blues cover of the John Lee Hooker song), We Gott Get Out of This Place, Talkin About You, It's My Life, and especially their cover of the Nina Simone song Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood.
It isn't about a woman's prison in this version. It's about a young man whose life has gone wrong. The House of the Rising Sun is (in the song) a brothel and gambling den in New Orleans. His father was a gambler, and he followed him into that lifestyle, which ruined his life. Not clear what the "ball and chain" refers to -- either his addictions to gambling and whatever or he's going to prison.
It isn't a prison reference. It's more like he realizes what his life is going to be from here on out and he won't ever leave.. Think of ball and chain as a metaphor for being stuck tied down.
Exactly, get that prison BS out your head.
Starters, this song is over 150 yrs old. The song was first recorded in the 1930's, and even back then, no one knew how far back it went.
It an old time bar. Where a man could hang out, drink, get drugs, and go upstairs with a paid lady. Whatever it took to keep you their, loose all your money, and come back when you get more money.
The Ball and Chain is just a vice. The thing that keeps you coming back. You can't break free of it.
Spot on, DA. I was going to write the same but you've done it for Devin here, thanks, hope he read your post. He doesn't usually do this, but in this video he makes the same mistake that a lot of first reaction Utubers do, he takes the lyrics too literally and the result is he takes very naïve view. Cheers
I grew up on the music of the 60’s & 70’s & Eric Burdon & The Animals have always been one of my favorite British Invasion bands. They have a ton of songs just waiting for you to discover ❤️🔥 Eric eventually joined a group called War & they had some fantastic bluesy rock songs that you should check out. Eric still performs ( he is in his 80’s now) ❣️😻☮️
I was a young guy in camp when this first came out, and have listened to it it ever since. 65 years old now. Devin, just love you.
Great reaction, your one of the best reactions Channel that I have seen, you really get into it and I like the history information you share concerning the band, the song, etc, Well done sir! PS Love the In God we trust poster.
British legends, Great voice he had 👍
This is another iconic band. Many hits. Burton left this group and started singing with the group call, War; another banger band.
You need to check out Eric Burdens front on War's song "Spill the wine", great vocals.
or "Don't let me be Misunderstood"
Pretty much anything from "Black Man's Burdon" is great
This is a great blast from the past, love their sound, his soulful, raw, gritty vocals...Amazing, Thank you, Peace
i think its time people start reacting to Richie Valens
That’s two people
How about some Persy sledge.
Delegation -oh honey.
This was recorded in just one take. It went straight to #1 on the music charts! No auto tune. Just pure talent!
Eric Burden's voice . . . just something. Fun fact: The Animals' bassist, Chas Chandler, helped Jimi Hendrix to get stardom by seeing him in New York right around the time The Animals were breaking up.
You need to react to Hendrix' "Hey Joe" from 1967 in Monterey. One of the very best guitarists of all time and you'll see why. And I'll also suggest "God Only Knows" by the Beach Boys - it's my fave tune by them.
Nice bit of research on your part! Thanks!
Funny how everyone has their own version of what the House of the Rising Sun was. 'Like many classic folk ballads, "The House of the Rising Sun" is of uncertain authorship. Musicologists say that it is based on the tradition of broadside ballads, and thematically it has some resemblance to the 16th-century ballad "The Unfortunate Rake", yet there is no evidence suggesting that there is any direct relation.[4] According to Alan Lomax, "Rising Sun" was the name of a bawdy house in two traditional English songs, and it was also a name for English pubs.[5] He further suggested that the melody might be related to a 17th-century folk song, "Lord Barnard and Little Musgrave", also known as "Matty Groves",[6][7] but a survey by Bertrand Bronson showed no clear relationship between the two songs.[8] Lomax proposed that the location of the house was then relocated from England to the US by White Southern performers.[5] However, folklorist Vance Randolph proposed an alternative French origin, the "rising sun" referring to the decorative use of the sunburst insignia dating to the time of Louis XIV, which was brought to North America by French immigrants.[8]
"House of Rising Sun" was said to have been known by miners in 1905.[6] The oldest published version of the lyrics is that printed by Robert Winslow Gordon in 1925, in a column "Old Songs That Men Have Sung" in Adventure magazine.[9] The lyrics of that version begin:[9][10]'.
It was also the name of a brothel in New Orleans from 1862-1874, a hotel in 1820, and is currently in New Orleans, but not a brothel. It's a bed-and-breakfast inn.
One more source says it's about a women's prison in New Orleans called the Orleans Parish women's prison, which had an entrance gate adorned with rising sun artwork. This would explain the "ball and chain" lyrics in the song.
I really love The Weavers’ version-Ronnie Gilbert just belts this song out beautifully.
Thank you for sharing the excellent research. When I was looking into the history of Seattle, Washington, I read that in the 19th century, when the census was being taken in Seattle, prostitutes would list their profession as "seamstress". It's my personal opinion that is an explanation of "my mother sewed my new blue jeans". A very puzzling phrase in my favorite song of the '60's. I have never heard of any other explanation or even speculation as to the meaning of those words. The singer's mother was a prostitute and his/her father was a drunken gambler, so impossible (nearly) past to overcome. "One foot on the platform.....the other foot on the train. Goin' back to New Orleans..." suggests the "ball and chain" is the lifestyle the singer is returning to, not a prison. So happy to find so many people enjoy this amazing song. Another amazing Eric Burton song that I don't see get enough attention is "When I Was Young".
@@dianadenman5637 I like this interpretation of The Animals stunning version. The earlier recordings sound quite different!
A classic . Period .
indeed!my late stepfather would gladly belt along when this was played on my mothers pc and he had some beers!he was born in 1930 and really was slow on keyboard searching stuff, we tried to teach him about yt but he strangely never had patience for sitting back and search in his own time!me and my lil bro would gladly send him yt links to his fav singer of all time!Luciano Paravotti!he was actually mad when we showed him Jonathan and Charlotte on got talent show, because a dog won over them!
He was with Jimmy Hendrix the night he died. He was the egg man in the Beatles song I am the walrus. How he got the egg man nick name was from an orgy that he was at with John Lennon. John had that crazy mustache at the time. At one point they were at the fridge and John dared him to throw some eggs at the girls. Well supposedly he did. Thus the egg man. Hes super wild and cool.
Eric Burdon was 23 when he sang this. Young man, old soul's voice. The bass player ran across Jimi Hendrix before he became a star. He sold all his guitars to get him into the English musical scene and became Jimi's manager. This was the first song I learned to play on the guitar. LOL
Sang this and played (organ) in my brother's band 1000 years ago...
*Ball & chain = prison
Found you tonight because of your Bee Gee's reactions. I've seen 4 reactions so far and subscribed. Don't let me down. 😊 God bless.
Ball and chain = marriage back in day and many yrs before that . Way before women's lib. His last name is Burdon. Not that I would have minded claiming him. I was in high school when this came out - light yrs ago.
@@barbaraburton8914 - First Ball & Chain meant prison because they literally would put a chain on the man's ankle with a huge iron ball attached to keep them from running away. Then later it was used as a euphemism for "being married to the old ball & chain."
I knew it was Eric Burdon but didn't address the name in my post whatsoever.
Frommy era! I loved loved loved aEric Burdon! What a talent he was. Loved the music back then.
It was a brothel, but became the original Orleans parish prison. Louisiana, the only state in America to not have counties, they are called parishes. It became the parish jail, for men like me!!! About 20 years before you were born!
I'm absolutely loving your new channel. Can't wait to see what you have in store. You won't be disappointed if you react to Roy Orbison or even Tina Turner's music.
Gratz on the weight loss! I know how tough it is. This, even growing up in the '80s as a metalhead, was always one of my favs. He belts it out without effort and the band's musicianship is amazing. Such a classic. It is so cool to watch the younger generations discover and enjoy this stuff. Yours is not a bad take on the song really.
It tells of a person's life gone wrong in the city of New Orleans; many versions also urge a sibling or parents and children to avoid the same fate.
May be sinful, but it feels good!
I would personally say this is probably the right interpretation
Had fun watching. Great song. Thank you.
One of the best bands ever!! ✌️💕
I got to see The Animals perform live in NYC at a taping of the Hullaballoo TV show. Years later in I was in a movie with Eric Burdon. I cooked bacon for him and his girlfriend, while talking about about music and my mother in a tiny eatery then called The Blue Nun in Silverlake in Los Angeles. He was very nice, self- possessed and funny in the little scene we had together. Movie was called Comeback about a musician making a…comeback! Nice memory. What a talent.
The House of the Rising Sun was for sale a few years back, I have a picture of it but couldn’t load it here. Can you imagine what the walls held there !!
I was born in '96. And every time I watch reaction videos it floors me that people have never heard these songs. I guess I'm very fortunate to have a "classic music taste" and that my parents were able to introduce me to this is genre. I have no taste for pop or rap of today but this genre will forever hold a place in my heart. 💜 God bless you too
Your reaction to this is exactly the same as ours when it first came out ! ‘Twas a fantastic era for music…..such diversity and freedom to experiment.
Thanks, I enjoyed this muchly 👍🤗
A bit of musical information-I watched another video of this band and song and in this a discussion about the keyboard came about. it was the first of its kind and the only which, at the time of this recording cost around $30,000 usd. IN equivalency to todays market value, one would pay in the range of $70-85k usd for this. However new technology and materials reduced the cost but amazing how costly this was back 40 or so years ago.
When I was young, we took this sort of music for granted. Every day a great new record would be released. We were spoiled, for sure.
Just a tidbit of info... this song was done in just one take
So cool the lead singer is still alive. Live on brother.
I saw these guys in 1983. Not sure how many of the originals were there, but Eric Burdon was.
Just can't get this song out of my head. When it came out, I knew it was a hit. I loved it then, and I still love it
this is my favorite song. I was 14 when i first heard this in 2004
My favorit group from the 60s ,and my all time favorit song Eric Burdon is one of a kind that voice blown me a way he has so much emotions and soul in his voice, it goes into my heart
I think you’d really like Buddy Holly.
Not Fade Away and That’ll be the Day.
Both are legend. And short.
Don't forget Buddy Holly's Peggy Sue songs
On my 10th birthday my Dad brought home Eric Burton and the guitarist to sing for me and my best friend. Then we all ate pasta.
Love it! My dad grew up in North Dakota. One night his dad (a gambler) brought Lawrence Welk home to meet the family. He played the pump organ in the dining room. If grandma served them anything it would probably have been chicken soup with homemade noodles. We girls used to quarrel over who got a chicken foot in their bowl. I remember watching her scrub their claws with a brush. But first, she had to decapitate the chicken. Yeah, I know this has nothing to do with the song or the reaction, but you stirred up some memories for me.
This was in Chicago.
BurDon
Amazing song.
That's so awesome that you got the impact from this 60s classic! It's one of the most riveting folk/blues songs of all time! Eric really had that deep, dirty New Orleans-style soul down pat! Try 'It's My Life' and 'Don't Let Me Down'.
One of the greatest songs ever made.
The guy on the keyboard is Alan Price he wrote the song.
Sorry, Alan Price did not write this song. He may have done the arrangement for this version. It's a traditional American folk song from the 1930s. Another noted version of this song was sung by Woodie Guthrie back in the 1940s. Cheers.
@@coorparootoo5142 He wrote the music not the lyrics...?? Thanks for the correction.
Pure soul playing that organ. So good :)
Chaz Chandler, the bassist, went on to manage Jimi Hendrix
A few years ago in a London park, I spoke to a Woman for a while and as she was leaving I asked her what she did and she said she was a Singer as her Dad had been in a Band. I asked her which Group and she replied "Jimi Hendrix Experience" and her Dad that she mentioned was...Jimi Hendrix :)
O'yeah, a great band, a great song!!! Keep them coming my friend, I hope you continue to play the music that made music the way it should be sang, no autotune, no junk, just real down to earth music, these bands were what music was all about!!! Later down the road I hope you will stumble upon the group: ***Earth Wind and Fire***...Start out with their song: REASONS...PHILLIP BAILEY IS A PHENOMENAL SINGER...
THANK YOU FOR KEEPING GREAT MUSIC ALIVE!!! ☝️☝️☝️☝️
I was 7 when this song came out. THE ANIMALS, "HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN". IT TOOK OVER ME, AND BECAME MY FIRST FAVORITE SONG OF WHAT I CALL YOUNG PEOPLE'S MUSIC.. MORE, "WE GOT TO GET OUT OF THIS PLACE"..
This is a great old song. A smash hit all around the world in the mid 60's. No version done since comes close to this one.
You are too much fun to watch reacting to really great music! The music I grew up listening to sounds new again watching you hear it for the first time! Thanks! YOU ROCK!
GOD Bless you, brother...🙏🙏
This song is a gem. Eric is a hell.of a singer.
Chas Chandelier discovered Jimi Hendrix in New York and brought him over to the UK and become his manager, and that encounter changed music forever.
They added electric to a folk song.
First time Bob Dylan heard this they went electric.
The song is 150-200 yrs old.
Like many folk songs there are as many verses as you want.
It originally was written for a women singer. So happy you are listening to this.
The lines you were asking about are: "Now the only thing a gambler needs is a suitcase and a trunk / And the only time he's satisfied is when he is on a drunk"....speaking of his father, unfortunately. Great reaction.
Go animals awesome
Thank you for sharing this with me today 😊
Always loved the organist just about setting that thing on fire.
organist is alan price
Hey, your birthdate is no excuse! I was born in 1972 and listened to 1950s and 1960s music all day long. 😁
From what I heard was this is actually an old song without knowing the origin. It is speculated that it dealt with a Prison or Brothel but it isn't known.. Several others recorded it but the Animals Owned it. Saw them in person in a small Ag & Tech College in Upstate NY in '70
It takes tremendous skill to hit those cymbals so lightly for five minutes
Looks like he’s 16...sounds like he’s 60. And I always laugh at that guitar player at the end grinning it up 😄
Keep doing ur thing
All love man ..
Really enjoyed your reaction this classic song, l am so glad l was alive when this music was on the go, god bless you all
I was born in 1964. My only “child” is now 35. My, how the decades fly by!
Don't overthink the story behind The House of the Rising Sun. It's about someone whose life went downhill in New Orleans.
Damn that dude had some power in his voice!
The was a one-take recording now that's what you call talent
I listen to almost anything at some point, but, that church organ rock is my favorite music ever.
You know, one of the best things about growing up in the 60's and 70's is some of the best music ever.
This is but one example...and doesn't it rip. mark
Well that house is said to be a brothel where a whole lot of drinking, gambling and prostitution went on throughout the years. It just stayed in business for about 12 years and was completely shut down due to neighbors' complaints! that house still stands in New Orleans today and I believe it would be a tourists' destination as well as a landmark!
The keyboardist, Alan Price, was a founder of The Animals. After they broke up he kept busy. He wrote and performed the soundtrack of the Malcolm McDowell movie, "O, Lucky Man!". Here is the title track. Just notice the look of joy on Alan Price's face, joy of singing and of creating joyous sounds...
ua-cam.com/video/lK3P97RfVaI/v-deo.html
Eric Burdon, the lead singer of the animals has a great song that he sings with the R&B group War, and the name of that song is spill the wine that is a great song.
The tall gent playing bass is Chas Chandler. He was also the manager for the GREAT Jimi Hendrix.
This song is about the lives of the working girls, told by a lady of the night. The animals changed some lyrics to fit them where he says boys it was the word girls in the real song .
One from my teen years, loved Eric Burton voice, he joined the band War
The organist's name is Alan Price. Check out his live version of "I'll put a spell on you".
You are right. A brothel. He was twenty one years old. Made in one take. They could not afford more time to record. The projection of his voice has always been tremendous.
Cool reaction, thanks.
There have been many covers of Rising Sun, some with the protagonist being male and some being female. The background you read at the beginning was describing it as sung from the female perspective. This male version is not about a brothel or woman's prison, but more likely the House is a gambling and drug establishment.
good on ya. great song.
His fantastic cover of the Bee Gees "To Love Somebody" is my fav version of the song.
One of the best tunes on the planet from back in the day. I remember belting this out way back in the 60s ;)
It's a song, it's entertainment - doesn't have to mean a thing except whatever the listener wishes to discern from it. When I was growing up, listening to it on the radio, I had no idea who the Animals consisted of nor how many members there were. Perhaps kids with a tv or who purchased magazines had that info, but it still was a catchy tune, well sung and well performed. I would expect it still beats the heck out of almost any "music" I might hear recorded in the past several years. To each his own, of course.
I was raised in east Texas, Louisiana border- I’m 67 hrs old and been told since this came out it was about a brothel