
“The House of the Rising Sun” is a popular folk song that has been covered by various artists over the years.
The most famous version of the song was recorded by the English rock band The Animals in 1964.
The Original Music Video to Play Along!
About the Song
“House of the Rising Sun” is a traditional folk song that has been popularized in many different versions over the years.
The song tells the story of a young man who is led down a path of vice and ruin by his visits to a brothel called the “House of the Rising Sun.”
While the song’s origins are unclear, it is believed to have originated in the British Isles and was brought over to the United States by early settlers.
The earliest known recording of “House of the Rising Sun” was made in 1933 by folklorist Alan Lomax, who recorded a version sung by a woman named Georgia Turner.
The song gained wider recognition in the 1940s when folk music scholars John and Alan Lomax included it in their book “Our Singing Country.”
It was also recorded by Lead Belly and Woody Guthrie during this time.

The song reached the height of its popularity in the 1960s, when it was covered by British rock band The Animals.
The Animals’ version, which featured a distinctive electric guitar riff and Eric Burdon’s soulful vocals, became a huge hit and is now considered a classic of the rock genre.
Over the years, “House of the Rising Sun” has been covered by many other artists, including Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Dolly Parton, and Muse.
Its enduring popularity is a testament to its haunting melody and powerful storytelling.
Baritone Ukulele Version in A Minor
Chords Used in Baritone Tuning (DGBE):
Am![]() | C![]() | D![]() | F![]() | E![]() | E7![]() |
Dm![]() |
[Intro]
Am C D F
Am E
Am
[Verse 1]
E Am C D
There is a house in New Orleans
F Am C E7
They call the Rising Sun
Am C D F
And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy
Am E Am
And God I know I'm one
[Interlude]
C D F Am
E Am
[Verse 2]
E Am C D
My mother was a tailor
F Am C E7
She sewed my new blue jeans
Am C D F
My father was a gamblin' man
Am E Am
Down in New Orleans
[Interlude]
C D F Am
E Am
[Verse 3]
E Am C D
Now the only thing a gambler needs
F Am C E7
Is a suitcase and a trunk
Am C D F
And the only time he's satisfied
Am E Am
Is when he's on a drunk
[Interlude]
C D F Am
E Am E
[Solo]
Am C D F
Am C E Am
C D F Am
E
[Interlude]
Am C D F
Am E Am
[Verse 4]
E Am C D
Oh mother tell your children
F Am C E7
Not to do what I have done
Am C D
Spend your lives in sin and misery
F Am E
In the House of the Ri-sing Sun
[Interlude]
Am C D F
Am E Am
[Verse 5]
E Am C D
Well I got one foot on the platform
F Am C E
The other foot on the train
Am C D F
I'm going back to New Orleans
Am E Am
To wear that ball and chain
[Interlude]
C D F Am
E Am
[Verse 6]
E Am C D
There is a house in New Orleans
F Am C E
They call the Rising Sun
Am C D F
And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy
[Solo]
Am E Am C D F Am E Am Dm
And God I know I'm one
[Outro]
Am Dm Am Dm
Am Dm Am Dm
Am
Chords Tutorial Video (in A Minor)
Here’s a great tutorial of the chords, similar to the chords above, but in video format so you can hear/play along with the uke.
ADF#B Tuning Version in A Minor
D-tuning, also known as “high D” or “re-entrant” tuning, is a popular alternative tuning for the ukulele. In D-tuning, the strings are tuned to the notes A-D-F#-B, with the A string tuned an octave higher than the usual G string.
Chords Used in D Tuning (ADF#B):
Am![]() | C![]() | D![]() | F![]() | E![]() | E7![]() |
Dm![]() |

Left-Hand Chords in Standard C Tuning (A Minor)
Playing the ukulele left-handed means that the player uses their left hand to fret the strings and their right hand to strum or pluck the strings. T
his is the opposite of the traditional right-handed method where the player uses their right hand to fret the strings and their left hand to strum or pluck.
To play the ukulele left-handed, you will need to re-string the instrument so that the strings are reversed, with the thickest string (usually G) on the top and the thinnest string (usually A) on the bottom.
This will also require adjusting the placement of the nut and saddle on the instrument.
Left-Handed Chords Used in Standard C Tuning (GCEA):
Am![]() | C![]() | D![]() | F![]() | E![]() | E7![]() |
Dm![]() |
[Intro]
Am C D F
Am E
Am
[Verse 1]
E Am C D
There is a house in New Orleans
F Am C E7
They call the Rising Sun
Am C D F
And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy
Am E Am
And God I know I'm one
[Interlude]
C D F Am
E Am
[Verse 2]
E Am C D
My mother was a tailor
F Am C E7
She sewed my new blue jeans
Am C D F
My father was a gamblin' man
Am E Am
Down in New Orleans
[Interlude]
C D F Am
E Am
[Verse 3]
E Am C D
Now the only thing a gambler needs
F Am C E7
Is a suitcase and a trunk
Am C D F
And the only time he's satisfied
Am E Am
Is when he's on a drunk
[Interlude]
C D F Am
E Am E
[Solo]
Am C D F
Am C E Am
C D F Am
E
[Interlude]
Am C D F
Am E Am
[Verse 4]
E Am C D
Oh mother tell your children
F Am C E7
Not to do what I have done
Am C D
Spend your lives in sin and misery
F Am E
In the House of the Ri-sing Sun
[Interlude]
Am C D F
Am E Am
[Verse 5]
E Am C D
Well I got one foot on the platform
F Am C E
The other foot on the train
Am C D F
I'm going back to New Orleans
Am E Am
To wear that ball and chain
[Interlude]
C D F Am
E Am
[Verse 6]
E Am C D
There is a house in New Orleans
F Am C E
They call the Rising Sun
Am C D F
And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy
[Solo]
Am E Am C D F Am E Am Dm
And God I know I'm one
[Outro]
Am Dm Am Dm
Am Dm Am Dm
Am
Fingerstyle Ukulele Version
Fingerstyle ukulele is a technique of playing the ukulele where the player uses their fingers to pluck or strum the strings, instead of using a pick or plectrum.
It is a popular technique among ukulele players, particularly those who play folk, blues, jazz, and other genres where fingerpicking is common.
About The Animals (Band)
The Animals were a British rock band that emerged in the early 1960s and became one of the most influential and successful groups of the British Invasion.
The band’s lineup consisted of Eric Burdon on vocals, Alan Price on keyboards, Hilton Valentine on guitar, Chas Chandler on bass, and John Steel on drums.
The band was formed in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1962, and quickly gained a reputation for their energetic live performances and gritty, bluesy sound.
They were signed to EMI’s Columbia label and released their debut single, a cover of the traditional song “The House of the Rising Sun,” in 1964.
The song became a massive hit and reached the top of the charts in both the UK and the US, catapulting the band to fame.
The Animals went on to release a string of hit singles, including “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood,” “We Gotta Get Out of This Place,” and “It’s My Life,” and became known for their passionate, soulful style.
However, the band experienced frequent lineup changes and tensions between the members, and ultimately disbanded in 1969.
Despite their relatively short career, The Animals’ influence on rock music has been enduring.
They helped to popularize the bluesy, R&B-inflected sound that would become a hallmark of the British Invasion, and paved the way for bands like The Rolling Stones and The Yardbirds.
Eric Burdon went on to have a successful solo career, and The Animals’ music has continued to be celebrated and influential in the decades since their heyday.