Learn English with Songs: “House of the Rising Sun”

Hello!

How are you today? Happy, excited and ready for learning? Excellent.

The song we will be singing along to this lovely July day is House of the Rising Sun. Nobody knows exactly who created this song, often called Rising Sun Blues, but the version we will listen to is by The Doors.

You have to love The Doors.

And “House of the Rising Sun”, of course.

Ok, let’s go:

1. Read the lyrics
2. Understand the vocabulary
3. Sing!

Lyrics

There is a house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun
And it’s been the ruin of many a poor boy
And God I know I’m one

My mother was a tailor
She sewed my new bluejeans
My father was a gamblin‘ man
Down in New Orleans

Now the only thing a gambler needs
Is a suitcase and trunk
And the only time he’s satisfied
Is when he’s on a drunk

Oh mother tell your children
Not to do what I have done
Spend your lives in sin and misery
In the House of the Rising Sun

Well, I got one foot on the platform
The other foot on the train
I’m goin’ back to New Orleans
To wear that ball and chain

Well, there is a house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun
And it’s been the ruin of many a poor boy
And God I know I’m one

Vocabulary

Ruin – something that badly damages someone physically, morally, economically, or socially.

Tailor – a person who makes men’s clothes (such as suits and jackets) that are measured to fit a particular person.

Gamblin‘ – the practice or activity of betting money : the practice of risking money in a game or bet.

Gambler – to play a game in which you can win or lose money or possessions : to bet money or other valuable things.

Trunk – a large, strong box used for holding clothes or other things especially for traveling.

Sin – an action that is considered to be wrong according to religious or moral law.

Misery – extreme suffering or unhappiness.

Ball and chain –

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