☝️ Key Points
- The song is about a famous brothel in New Orleans called The Rising Sun.
- It tells the story of a poor boy who is introduced to the sin and misery of the brothel.
- The singer warns against following the same path and spending one's life in sin and misery.
- The lyrics describe the lifestyle of a gambler and imply that it is not fulfilling.
- The song ends with the portrayal of the singer feeling trapped and lost.
Interpretation
"House of the Rising Sun" is a song by
David Allan Coe about a famous brothel in New Orleans known as "The Rising Sun". The song tells the story of a poor boy who is introduced to the sins and miseries of the brothel by his father, a gambler and pimp. The singer warns the listeners not to follow the same path and spend their lives in sin and misery.
The first verse describes the house known as "The Rising Sun" and how it has caused the ruin of many poor boys. The singer feels himself as one of those unfortunate souls.
The second verse tells about the singer's parents. His mother was a seamstress and sewed his blue jeans, while his father was a gambling man who lived in New Orleans and gambled.
The third verse describes the lifestyle of a gambler. All he needs is a suitcase and a trunk, and he is only satisfied when he's drunk. The lyrics imply that this way of living is not fulfilling and only leads to sin and misery.
The fourth verse is a warning from the singer to the children not to follow the same path as him. He asks the mother to warn her children not to share his fate and spend their lives in sin and misery.
The last verse shows that the singer intends to return to New Orleans and continue his life in the brothel. He feels trapped and metaphorically carries a ball and chain as a symbol of his life in sin and misery.
Overall, the song lyrics of "House of the Rising Sun" are about the consequences of a sinful life in the infamous brothel in New Orleans. It warns against following this path while also expressing the singer's feelings of being trapped and lost."