there is a house in new orleans you call the rising sun it s been the ruin of many a poor soul and me oh god i m one if i d listened to what mama said be at home today being so young and foolish poor girl i let a gambler lead me astray my mother she s a tailor sews those new blue jeans my sweetheart he s a drunkard lord god he drinks down in new orleans he fills his glasses to the brim passes them around the only pleasure that he gets out of life is a hoboin from town to town the only thing a drunkard needs is a suitcase and a trunk only time that he s half satisfied is when he s on a drunk go and tell my baby sister never do like i have done shun that house down in new orleans that they call that rising sun it s one foot on the platform one foot on the train i m going back down to new orleans to wear my ball and my chain my life is almost over my race is almost run going back down to new orleans to that house of the rising sun