Lyrics for singles by Eric Burdon And The Animals

House of the Rising Sun
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
We've Gotta Get Out Of This Place
It's My Life
Don't Bring Me Down
San Franciscan Nights
Sky Pilot
Ring Of Fire



House of the Rising Sun

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 bluejeans
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 on a drunk

------ organ solo ------

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




Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood

Baby, do you understand me now?
Sometimes I feel a little mad
But don't you know that no one alive can always be an angel
When things go wrong I feel real bad

I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood

Baby, sometimes I'm so carefree
With a joy that's hard to hide
And sometimes it seems that, all I have to do is worry
And then you're bound to see my other side

I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood

If I seem edgy, I want you to know
That I never mean to take it out on you
Life has its problems, and I get my share
And that's one thing I never mean to do

'Cause I love you
Oh

Oh, oh, oh, baby - don't you know I'm human
I have thoughts like any other one
Sometimes I find myself, Lord, regretting
Some foolish thing, some little simple thing I've done




We've Gotta Get Out Of This Place

In this dirty old part of the city
Where the sun refuse to shine
People tell me it ain't no use in trying

My little girl you're so young and pretty
And one thing I know is true
You're gonna die before your time is due

See my daddy in bed and tired
See his hair turning gray
He's been working and slaving his life away, I know

'Cause he's been working, yeah
Every day
Saving his life away
He been working, baby
He's been a-working
Work, work, work

We gotta get out of this place
If it's the last thing we ever do
We gotta get out of this place
Girl, there's a better life for me and you
Mmm yeah

My little girl you're so young and pretty
And one thing I know is true
You'll be dead before your time is due, yes you will

See my daddy in bed and tired
See his hair been turning gray
He's been working and slaving his life away
Yes I know

He's been working
He's been working yeah
Whoa
He's been working
Work, work, work

We gotta get out of this place
If it's the last thing we ever do
We gotta get out of this place
Girl, there's a better life for me and you
Ooh baby

We gotta get out of this place
If it's the last thing we ever do
We gotta get out of this place
Girl, there's a better life for me and you
Oh, you know it baby, and I know it too babe, ohh yeah




It's My Life

It's a hard world to get a break in
All the good things have been taken
But, girl, there are ways
To make certain things pay
Though I'm dressed in these rags
I'll wear sable some day
Hear what I say

I'm gonna ride the serpent
No more time spent sweatin' rent
Hear my command
I'm breakin' loose
It ain't no use
Holdin' me down
Stick around

But, baby, (baby)
Remember, (remember)
It's my life and I'll do what I want
It's my mind and I'll think what I want
Show me I'm wrong, hurt me sometime
But some day I'll treat you real fine

[Instrumental break.]

There'll be women
And their fortunes
Who just want to mother orphans
Are you gonna cry
When I'm squeezin' them dry?
Takin' all I can get, no regrets
When I, openly lie

And live on their money
Believe me honey, that money
Can you believe
I ain't no saint
No complaints
So, girl, throw out
Any doubt

And, baby, (baby)
Remember, (remember)
It's my life and I'll do what I want
It's my mind and I'll think what I want
Show me I'm wrong, hurt me sometime
But some day I'll treat you real fine

(It's my life and I'll do what I want.)
Don't push me
(It's my mind and I'll think what I want.)
It's my life
(It's my life and I'll do what I want.)
I can do what I want
(It's my mind and I'll think what I want.)
[Fades.]
You can't tell me
(It's my life and I'll do what I want.)




Don't Bring Me Down

When you complain and criticize
I feel I'm nothing in your eyes
It makes me feel like giving up
Because my best just ain't good enough
Girl, I want to provide for you
And do all the things that you want me to, but

Oh! Oh no, don't bring me down
I'm beggin' you darlin'
Oh! Oh no, don't bring me down

Sacrifices, I will make
I'm ready to give as well as take
One thing I need is your respect
One thing I can't take is your neglect
More than anything, I need your love
Then troubles are easy to rise above

Oh! Oh no, don't bring me down
Oh, no no no no no
Oh! Oh no, don't bring me down

You complain and criticize
I feel I'm nothing in your eyes
It makes me feel like giving up
Because my best just ain't good enough
Girl, I want to provide for you
Do all the things that you want me to, but

Oh! Oh no, don't bring me down
No no no no no no no
I'm beggin' oh no, don't bring me down
Oh no no, baby

Please! Oh no no, don't bring me down
I need your tender lovin'
So please, don't bring me down
Oh, baby baby baby don't hurt me
Don't bring me down
Oh no, please don't bring me down

Please baby, don't bring me down
You know I need you, oh woman
You can't do that to me, because, 'cause I love you
Don't hurt me, don't hurt me, please, I need you




San Franciscan Nights

[spoken]
This following program is dedicated to the city and people of
San Francisco, who may not know it but they are beautiful and so
is their city this is a very personal song, so if the viewer
cannot understand it particularly those of you who are European
residents save up all your brand and fly trans love airways to
San Francisco U.S.A., then maybe you'll understand the song, it
will be worth it, if not for the sake of this song but for the
sake of your own peace of mind


Strobe lights beam create dreams
walls move minds do too
on a warm San Franciscan night
old child young child feel alright
on a warm San Franciscan night
angels sing leather wings
jeans of blue Harley Davisons too
on a warm San Franciscan night
old angels young angels feel alright
on a warm San Franciscan night

I wasn't born there
Perhaps I'll die there
there's no place left to go
San Franciscan

Cop's face is filled with hate
Heavens above he's on a street called love
When will they even learn
Old cop young cop feel alright
On a warm San Franciscan night

The children are cool
They don't raise fools
It's an American dream
Includes Indians too




Sky Pilot

He blesses the boys as they stand in line
The smell of gun grease
and the bayonets they shine
He's there to help them all that he can
To make them feel wanted he's a good holy man
Sky pilot
Sky pilot
How high can you fly?
You'll never, never, never reach the sky

He smiles at the young soldiers
Tells them it's all right
He knows of their fear in the forthcoming fight
Soon there'll be blood and many will die
Mothers and fathers back home they will cry
Sky pilot
Sky pilot
How high can you fly?
You'll never, never, never reach the sky

He mumbles a prayer and it ends with a smile
The order is given
They move down the line
But he'll stay behind and he'll meditate
But it won't stop the bleeding or ease the hate

As the young men move out into the battle zone
He feels good, with God you're never alone
He feels tired and he lays on his bed
Hopes the men will find courage
in the words that he said
Sky pilot
Sky pilot
How high can you fly?
You'll never, never, never reach the sky

You're soldiers of God, you must understand
The fate of your country is in your young hands
May God give you strength
Do your job real well
If it all was worth it
Only time it will tell

In the morning they return
With tears in their eyes
The stench of death drifts up to the skies
A soldier so ill looks at the sky pilot
Remembers the words
"Thou shalt not kill."
Sky pilot
Sky pilot
How high can you fly?
You'll never, never, never reach the sky




Ring Of Fire

(Aaaa...)
(Aaaa...)
Love is a burnin' thing
And it makes a fiery ring
Bound by wild desire
I fell into your ring of fire

I fell into that burnin' ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames got higher
And it burns, burns, burns
That ring of fire
The ring of fire

The taste of love is sweet
When souls like ours meet
I fell for you like a little child
Oh, and the flames got wild

I fell into that burnin' ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames, they got higher
And it burns, burns, burns
That ring of fire
The ring of fire

(Aaaa...)
(Aaaa...)
(Aaaa...)
(Aaaa...)

I fell into that burnin' ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames, they got higher
And it burns, burns, burns
That ring of fire
That ring of fire
I fell into that burnin' ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames, they got higher
And it burns, burns, burns
That ring of fire
That ring of fire

(Aaaa...) Well...burn
Let me burn in your ring of fire
(Aaaa...) Look out, baby
And the flames get higher and higher and higher, yeah
(Aaaa...) Let me burn in your ring of fire
God knows I'm burnin', baby
(Aaaa...) And the flames get higher
And the flames get higher
(Aaaa...) And the flames get higher and higher and higher, yeah
In the ring of fire
(Aaaa...) In the burnin' ring of fire
Burnin' ring of fire
(Aaaa...) The fire that burns is the fire that learns
(Aaaa...) Oh, burnin' right now, baby
Burnin' up in the ring of fire, yeah
(Aaaa...)Well, I'm burnin', baby
Said, I'm burnin', baby