"The House of the Rising Sun" is a song famously performed by The Animals, though it is a traditional folk song with various interpretations and versions. The lyrics you provided are a part of The Animals' rendition. The song tells the story of a troubled individual, who narrates his personal experiences and expresses regret for the choices he has made. The House of the Rising Sun is portrayed as a place of ruin and despair, where many have fallen victim to their vices and sufferings. The narrator acknowledges that he too has been brought down by the temptations associated with this house. The song begins with the narrator introducing himself as a poor boy, implying his humble background. He mentions his mother, who was a tailor and made his new blue jeans, and his father, a gambler in New Orleans. The references to his parents' occupations suggest a difficult and unstable upbringing. The gambler's lifestyle is depicted as one that requires only a suitcase and a trunk, indicating a life on the move, but his satisfaction only comes when he is indulging in alcohol (being "on a drunk"). It is a self-destructive cycle that the gambler cannot break free from. The narrator then pleads with his mother to warn her children not to follow in his footsteps and live a life of sin and misery in the House of the Rising Sun. He acknowledges the consequences he has faced and urges others to avoid the same fate. The song concludes with the narrator describing his decision to leave town, with one foot on the platform and the other on the train. He plans to return to New Orleans, accepting that his actions have led him to wear a metaphorical "ball and chain," symbolizing the burden of his mistakes. Overall, "House of the Rising Sun" serves as a cautionary tale about the destructive effects of indulging in vices and the regret that follows. It portrays the struggles of a troubled individual, emphasizing the importance of making better choices in life to avoid the ruinous fate suffered by many others in the House of the Rising Sun.
