Like many classic folk ballads, the authorship of "The
House of the Rising Sun" is unknown. Some musicologists
believe it is based on the tradition of broadside
ballads such as the "Unfortunate Rake" of the 18th
century which were taken to America by early settlers.
Many of these had the theme of "if only" and after a
period of evolution, they emerge as American songs like
"Streets of Laredo". The most successful commercial
version was recorded by the English rock group The
Animals in 1964. (Wik...(+)
Like many classic folk ballads, the authorship of "The
House of the Rising Sun" is unknown. Some musicologists
believe it is based on the tradition of broadside
ballads such as the "Unfortunate Rake" of the 18th
century which were taken to America by early settlers.
Many of these had the theme of "if only" and after a
period of evolution, they emerge as American songs like
"Streets of Laredo". The most successful commercial
version was recorded by the English rock group The
Animals in 1964. (Wikipedia)
SHEET MUSIC