There is a house down in New Orleans
They call the risin' sun.
An' it's been the ruin of many a poor girl
And me, oh God, I'm one.

My mother was a tailor
She sewed these new blue jeans
My sweetheart was a gambler, Lord
Down in New Orleans.

Now the only thing a gambler needs
Is a suitcase and a trunk
And the only time he's satisfied
Is when he's on a drunk.

He'll fill his glasses up to the brim
And he'll pass the cards around
And the only pleasure he gets out of life
Is ramblin' from town to town.

Oh tell my baby sister
Not to do what I have done
But shun that house in New Orleans
They call the risin' sun.

And it's one foot on the platform
And the other foot on the train
I'm goin' back to New Orleans
To wear that ball and chain(1).

I'm going back to New Orleans
My race is almost run(2).

I'm goin' back to end my life
Down in the risin' sun.

There is a house in New Orleans
They call the risin' sun.
It's been the ruin of many a poor girl
And me, oh God, I'm one.

(1) Prisoners were controlled by chaining them to a heavy iron ball
(2) Slang term for coming to the end of her life