Lyrics Miriam Makeba

Miriam Makeba

House Of The Rising Sun

There is a house in New Orleans

They call the Rising Sun

And it's been the ruin of many a poor girl,

And me, oh Lord is one

If I had listened to what my mother said

I'd have been at home today,

But I was young and foolish, Oh God

Let a gambler lead me astray

My mother is a taylor

She sews those new blue jeans

My sweetheart is a drunkard, Lord

Down in New Orleans

The only thing a drunkard needs

Is a suitcase and a trunk

The only time he's satisfied

Is when he's on a drunk

He'll fill his glasses to the brim

He passes them around

And the only pleasure he gets out of life

Is bumming from town to town

Go tell my baby sister,

Never do what I have done

To shun that house in New Orleans

They call the Rising Sun

It's one foot on the platform

And the other one on the train

I'm going back to New Orleans

To wear that ball and chain

I'm goin' back to New Orleans

My race is almost run

I'm goin' back to spend my life

Beneath that Rising Sun