"The House of the Rising Sun" is an American traditional folk song, often called "Rising Sun Blues". Its origins are murky, likely rooted in 17th-century English ballads before being collected in Appalachia in the 1930s. While the most famous version by The Animals (1964) features a male narrator warning of gambling and alcoholism, the earliest recorded versions, such as Georgia Turner’s 1937 recording, were told from a woman’s perspective, warning of a "house" that was likely a brothel.
Released as part of the Sons of Anarchy Season 4 finale, The White Buffalo (Jake Smith), alongside The Forest Rangers, reimagines the song with a gritty, modern noir aesthetic. The House of The Rising Sun - The White Buffalo
This paper explores the White Buffalo's interpretation of "The House of the Rising Sun," its lyrical shifts, and its cultural impact through the lens of the television series Sons of Anarchy . "The House of the Rising Sun" is an