House Of The Rising Sun / Amazing Grace Medley (public domain)

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This is a song that I've had my eye on for a while now. It is a medley which combines 'House Of The Rising Sun' and 'Amazing Grace'. Both original songs are in the public domain. Jack Marti claims to be the first to combine the two, and the claim could well be true. Anyways check out his website, he does a very nice version.

The origin and authorship of 'House Of The Rising Sun' is uncertain. It is a classic folk ballad, brought to America by English immigrants. The song was one of those collected by Alan Lomax in 1937 performed by the 16 year old daughter of a coal miner, Georgia Turner. The oldest recording appears to have been made in 1934 by Clarence Ashley and Gwen Foster. If you've never heard the Clarence Ashley version, you just have to google it, it has a really haunting, eerie sound of the mountains.

I like the Animal's version, it really has become iconic, but there are some others that I really like (in no particular order): Odetta; Pete Seeger; Bob Dylan; Dolly Parton; Joan Baez.

In my mind, this song pairs very fittingly with Amazing Grace, that classic old hymn by English renegade sailor and slave-trader, turned clergyman and songwriter. Published in 1779, it truly captures the essence of the human condition. 'Rising Sun' captures the warning of tragedy and despair, while 'Amazing Grace' captures the hope of God's grace.

The slide guitar is new for me, so it's a bit of a work-in-progress. I thought it suits the song. I used my Epiphone DR100, because I have old strings on it, and I wanted the combination of boomy bass and kind of funky, which this guitar offers up.

Lyrics/ Chords:
There (Am) is a (C) house in (D) New Orleans (F)
they (Am) the (C) rising (E)sun
And it's (Am) been the (C) ruin of (D) many a poor boy (F)
and (Am) me, oh (E) Lord, I'm (Am) One

(Am) Amazing (C) Grace, how (D) sweet the (F) sound,
That (Am) saved a (C) wretch like (E) me....
I (Am) once was (C) lost but (D) now am found (F),
Was(Am) blind, but (E) now, I (Am) see.

My mother was a tailor, she sewed these new blue jeand
My father was a gamblin man, way down in New Orleans

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear. And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear, the hour I first believed.

Now the only thing a gamber needs is a suitcase and a trunk
And the only time he's satisfied is when he's on a drunk

Through many dangers, toils and snares we have already come.
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far and Grace will lead us home.

Now, mother, tell your children, not to do what I have done
But shun that house in New Orleans they call the Rising Sun.

Amazing Grace.......