In 1970, the hard rock band Frijid Pink released another version, making the song one of the few songs to become a million-seller in two different versions. In the song, a woman speaks to God in the first person about a house in New Orleans called Rising Sun, which had been the ruin of her and many other poor girls.
The results of research into the location in New Orleans sung about in the song are uncertain.
The first linguistic clues are provided by “Rising Sun”, a colloquial expression for a brothel.
Two addresses in particular have been the subject of recent research.
The earliest mention of a “Rising Sun” can be found in the Louisiana Gazette newspaper.
Most likely is a house – long since demolished – that was located at 826-830 St. Louis Street.
Between 1862 and 1874, it belonged to a certain Marianne LeSoleil Levant, whose surname can be translated from French as “Rising Sun”.
In October 1862, the Union troops occupied New Orleans; in 1874, the establishment was closed due to complaints from the neighborhood.
As with many traditional folk songs, the origin of this song is disputed.
The oldest known recording, titled Rising Sun Blues, was made by Clarence Ashley & Gwen Foster on September 6, 1933 for the Vocalion label.
I like the song because of its beautiful intro, which offers plenty of space for chord breaks and beautiful piano figures.