Macidol Mac music community

Song Information:

I have been brushing up on some covers this is my take on one of them.

According to folklorist Alan Lomax in his book Our Singing Country (1941), the melody of "The House of the Rising Run" is a traditional English ballad and the lyrics were written by Georgia Turner and Bert Martin (both from Kentucky). The song was first recorded in the 1920s by black bluesman Texas Alexander and later covered by Leadbelly, Charlie Byrd, Roy Acuff, Woody Guthrie, the Weavers, Peter, Paul & Mary, Henry Mancini, Dolly Parton, David Allan Coe, John Fahey, Waylon Jennings, Tim Hardin, Buster Poindexter, Marianne Faithful, Tracy Chapman and Bob Dylan . . . just to name a few.

Song Lyrics:

There is a house in New'a'lins
They call the Rising Sun.
It's been a ruin of many a poor boy,
and me, O God, for one.

If I'd of listened to what Mamma said,
I'd 'a' been at home today.
Being so young and foolish, poor boy,
let a rambler lead me astray.

Go tell my baby sister
not do like I have done
to shun that house in New'a'lins
they call the Rising Sun.

My mother she's a tailor;
she sowed those new blue jeans.
My father's he's a drunkard Lawd,
drinks down in New'a'lins

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.

One foot is on the platform
the other one on the train.
I'm going back to New'a'lins
to wear that ball and chain.

Going back to New'a'lins,
my race is almost run.
Going back to spend the rest of my days
beneath that Rising Sun.

(repeat last two verses)

©2007 RC Andrews