Oh mother tell your children/
Not to do what I have done.

The Animals’ “The House of the Rising Sun” is the original Hotel California. The details are slightly different, but the story is about a man who spends his time and money in a brothel, and he is advising others against it. Specifically, he mentions that mothers should tell their children not to do as he has done, “Spend your life in sin and misery in the House of the Rising Sun”. The song ends with narrator admitting that he is going back to New Orleans to wear that ball and chain.

This song is an old folk song—The Animals weren’t the first to record it, but their version is probably the best and the most famous. It may have been written as far back as 1905. The Animals helped begin the era of folk-rock which included electric guitars with folk music. The Animals version featured the organ prominently.

Interestingly Dylan had a good cover of the song that was more folksy, several years prior. While most people cover Bob Dylan, early in his career he did do a couple covers and his cover of House of the Rising Sun is excellent.

House of the Rising Sun Lyrics

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 blue jeans;
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 all 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.