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 my mother was a tailor she sewed my new bluejeans my father was a gamblin' man down in new orleans now the only thing a gambler needs is a suitcase and trunk and the only time he's satisfied is when he's on a drunk oh mother tell your children not to do what i have done spend your lives in sin and misery in the house of the rising sun well, i got one foot on the platform the other foot on the train i'm goin' back to new orleans to wear that ball and chain well, 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