What is "The House of the Rising Sun"?

Question

What is the house of the rising sun? (From the song)

One mate said it was a brothel, another said it was "The Devils" House

Anyone know what they (The Animals) Are referring to by "The house of the rising Sun"?

Answer 1

The "House of the Rising Sun"; is a "House, where the sun never sets." To sum it up..it is a Brothel.

Answer 2

I always thought it was a casino.

Answer 3

Although it is generally assumed that the singer is referring to a brothel, there is actually nothing in the lyrics that indicate that the 'house' is a brothel. Many knowledgeable persons have conjectured that a better case can be made for either a gambling hall or a prison; however, to paraphrase Freud: sometimes lyrics are just lyrics.

Answer 4

it could be considered "the devils house" because of the sin that goes on in there,

but yes it was a brothel.

Answer 5

It was, as others have said, a brothel.  I just thought it worth adding that the song's a traditional American folk song.  The Animals sang a cleaned up, excellent cover version which, at a guess, they may well have gotten from Bob Dylan's first LP.

Update

<<Although it is generally assumed that the singer is referring to a brothel, there is actually nothing in the lyrics that indicate that the 'house' is a brothel.>>

"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...

... Go tell my baby sister never do like I have done,

To shun that house in New Orleans they call the Rising Sun..."

Answer 6

Here's a much more authentic version of the song. And Odetta's emotional delivery seems to imply that it was indeed a brothel. Or at least she thought so. There is degradation and shame in her voice.

Don't get me wrong, I loved the Animals but their version is "bubblegum" music by comparison.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsV0kTXgY...

Answer 7

This is about a brothel in New Orleans. "The House Of The Rising Sun" was named after Madame Marianne LeSoleil Levant (which means "Rising Sun" in French) and was open for business from 1862 (occupation by Union troops) until 1874, when it was closed due to complaints by neighbors. Hope that cleared things up