There is a house in New Orleans They call the Rising Sun And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy Lord knows I was one My father was a gambler He lived by the gun He swore some day he'd take me to play At the House of the Rising Sun My mother was a lady She never hurt no one She cursed the day I went to play In the House of the Rising Sun She said "you're like your daddy, boy Livin' on the run Some day you'll draw a dead man's hand At the House of the Rising Sun" So listen all you gamblers Don't do what I have done You'll lose the things that you love the most In the 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 boy And I guess I was one