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As far as folk songs are concerned, few have enjoyed the success or longevity of ‘The House of the Rising Sun’. First popularised by The Animals, who topped singles charts in the UK, US and Canada with their rendition in 1964, a wide range of artists from Alt-J to Five Finger Death Punch have recorded versions of the track over the years. A traditional narrative folk song, ‘House of the Rising Sun’ tells the tale of a place in New Orleans, usually theorised to be either a pub or a brothel, which acts as the catalysts for a young man’s...

"The House of the Rising Sun" is a folk song from the United States. Also called "House of the Rising Sun" or occasionally "Rising Sun Blues", it tells of a life gone wrong in New Orleans. Depending on the version, the song may be sung from the perspective of a woman or a man. The most successful version was recorded by the English rock group The Animals in 1964, which was a number one hit