The Rising Sun Blues
© 2022 Trad. Arr / J. Merritt, B. Merritt & P. Fulham

This is a new version of our six year old previous post adding Peter on guitar and Bud on bass.

With a melody dating back to British 1700's tavern songs and a lyric suggesting a “house of ill repute” this public domain tune (thus we we own all rights for our interpretation) has been, in our opinion, too often presented from the male perspective (as started by the Animals’ interpretation in 1964) and/or as a “pretty” folk song. Janice and I tried after extensive lyric research to re-create (via writing several new verses) what we think was likely the original intention, i.e, the story of a young prostitute. Keeping with the New Orleans setting we arranged the song with a “jump blues” feel fitting the location. We feel the song has long begged for a blues interpretation and hope we did it justice. The SC photo is by Bud of Janice. All comments are welcome and your time is appreciated. And big thanks to PG Music.

Janice: vocal > Rodes NT1 mic > BlueIcicle USB > Logic Pro X > Izotope Nectar
Bud: upright bass > MXL mic > Waves Bass Rider > Neuton 3
Peter: guitar RT (whatever the man adds) & sax note tweaks.

Guitar Rhythm: RT 2436 New Orleans Shuffle > Waves CLA Unplugged

Piano Rhythm: RT 2437 New Orleans Shuffle > Waves CLA Unplugged

Piano Fills: RT 2123 Country Shuffle > Waves ClA Unplugged (comped from multiple regens for turnarounds and fills)

Sax: RT 2134 Blues Shuffle > EMT 140 Plate Reverb Sim via Nectar 2

Drums: RD BluesRockShuffle > Waves CLA Drums
Snare: From the above RD audio file kit > Waves CLA Drums
Cymbals: From the above RD audio file kit > Waves JPL Percussion

Mastering: Ozone EQ > Ozone Dynamic EQ > Ozone Imager > Ozone Maximizer > Izotope Tonal Balance 2 > Logic Pro X Loudness Meter

Rising Sun Blues

there is a house in New Orleans
they call it the Rising Sun
it's been the ruin of many a poor girl
and me, oh God, I am one

i could have a good man and family
if I hadn’t fallen into a life of sin
and now I'm working at the house
just trying to please all them men

mama works all day at the mill
she sews those new blue jeans
and my daddy was a gambler, Lord
he lost his life down in New Orleans

somebody, go tell my baby sister
tell her not to do what I done
stay away from that house 
the one they call the Rising Sun

I ain't gonna leave New Orleans
my race is almost run
yeah, I gave up all my young life
beneath, beneath, the rising sun

beneath, beneath, the rising sun

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