Au début du xxe siècle, l'expression Rising Sun peut avoir été employée comme euphémisme pour un bordel ou maison de prostitution, et on ne sait pas si cette « maison » décrite dans les paroles est fictive ou non.
La mélodie serait empruntée à une ballade anglaise traditionnelle et les paroles à un couple du Kentucky, Georgia Turner et Bert Martin. c'est un énorme succès qui permet au groupe The Animals de faire jeu égal avec les Beatles et les Rolling Stones.
En 1964 Johnny Hallyday chante une version française intitulée Le pénitencier. Au même titre que les Rolling Stones, The Animals ont contribué à importer en Europe le rythm and blues noir américain.

There is a house in New Orleans,
They call the rising sun.
And it's been the ruin of many a poor Boy,
And God I know I'm one.

There is a house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun.
It's been the ruin of many a poor girl,
And me, O God, for one.

If I had listened what Mamma said,
I'd 'a' been at home today.
Being so young and foolish, poor boy,
Let a rambler lead me astray.

Go tell my baby sister
Never do like I have done
To shun that house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun.

My mother she's a tailor;
She sold those new blue jeans.
My sweetheart, he's a drunkard, Lord, Lord,
Drinks 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.
Fills his glasses to the brim,
Passes them around
Only pleasure he gets out of life
Is hoboin' from town to town.
One foot is on the platform
And the other one on the train.
I'm going back to New Orleans
To wear that ball and chain.
Going back to New Orleans,
My race is almost run.
Going back to spend the rest of my days
Beneath that Rising Sun.