Dr. John began making his own idiosyncratic music in the 1960s. Along with Professor Longhair, Dr. John is heir to the rich New Orleans tradition. He is perhaps best known for "Right Place, Wrong Time", an international hit in 1973, reissued and used on soundtracks many times since.
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, his professional musical career began as a session musician in New Orleans in the 1950s. Early on he also played guitar and was often known as Mac Rebennack. He switched to the bass ("the lowest time of my life"), and then the piano after his index finger was nearly shot off protecting his bandmate and longtime friend Ronnie Barron. He gained fame beginning in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with music that combined New Orleans-style rhythm and blues with psychedelic rock and stage shows that bordered on voodoo religious ceremonies, including elaborate costumes and headdress. For a time he was billed as Dr. John, The Night Tripper. The name "Dr. John" came from a legendary Louisiana voodoo practitioner from the start of the 19th century.
Dr. John has also done vocals for Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits' "Luv dat chicken..." jingle, as well as the theme song ("My Opinionation") for the early-1990s television sitcom Blossom. His movie credits include Martin Scorsese's documentary The Last Waltz (in which he joins The Band for a performance of his song "Such a Night") and Blues Brothers 2000 (in which he joins the fictional band The Louisiana Gator Boys to perform the song "New Orleans"). In the 2009 Disney film The Princess and the Frog, Dr. John sings the opening tune, "Down in New Orleans".
In January 2008 Mac Rebennack, Dr. John, was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame.
"Right Place Wrong Time"
Dr. John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd have said the right thing but I must have used the wrong line
I been in the right trip but I must have used the wrong car
My head was in a bad place and I'm wondering what it's good for
I been in the right place but it must have been the wrong time
My head was in a bad place but I'm having such a good time
I been running trying to get hung up in my mind
Just need a little brain salad surgery
Got to cure my insecurity
I been in the wrong place but it must have been the right time
I been in the right place but it must have been the wrong song
I been in the right vein but it seems like the wrong arm
I been in the right world but it seems wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong
Slipping dodging sneaking creeping hiding out down the street
See me life shaking with every ho' I meet
Refried confusion is making itself clear
Wonder which way do I go to get on out of here
I been in the right place but it must have been the wrong time
I'd have said the right thing but I must have used the wrong line
I'd have took the right road but I must have took a wrong turn
Would've made the right move but I made it at the wrong time
I been on the right road but I must have used the wrong car
My head was in a good place and I wonder what it's bad for
The lyrics to "Right Place Wrong Time" by Dr. John describe a feeling of being out of sync with the world. The singer describes moments in his life where he was in the "right place" but for some reason, it just didn't feel right. He feels like he has all the right ingredients, but he's somehow mixed them up in the wrong way. The lyrics are a reflection on the singer’s perceived failures and missed opportunities throughout his life.
Despite these struggles, the singer seems to be enjoying life. He's having a "good time" even though he feels like everything seems to be going wrong. He recognizes that he needs to work on his own insecurities and do some "brain salad surgery" but even with that acknowledgement, he's still enjoying himself. The last few lines of the song suggest that the singer is in a better place mentally, wondering what his bad past was even good for.
Overall, "Right Place Wrong Time" is a song about feeling like you're out of sync with the world, but still managing to find happiness and enjoyment despite those feelings. It's a song about resilience, acceptance, and the human ability to persist even in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
I been in the right place but it must have been the wrong time
I have been in the right place, but it seems that it was not the right time for me to be there.
I'd have said the right thing but I must have used the wrong line
I meant to say the right thing but my choice of words failed me.
I been in the right trip but I must have used the wrong car
I had the right intentions but I made use of the wrong resources.
My head was in a bad place and I'm wondering what it's good for
I was feeling low and I pondered about the usefulness of such a mindset.
My head was in a bad place but I'm having such a good time
Even if I feel down, I am still enjoying myself.
I been running trying to get hung up in my mind
I have been in a hurry, trying to sort out my thoughts.
Got to give myself a good talking-to this time
I need to have a serious conversation with myself this time.
Just need a little brain salad surgery
I just need a little help to fix up my thoughts.
Got to cure my insecurity
I have to address my lack of confidence.
I been in the wrong place but it must have been the right time
Even if it seemed like it was not the right place for me to be, it turned out to be the right time for me.
I been in the right place but it must have been the wrong song
Even if I'm in the right place, the music I'm listening to is not to my liking.
I been in the right vein but it seems like the wrong arm
I'm on the right track, but something about it doesn't feel right.
I been in the right world but it seems wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong
Even if I am in the right place, something is not quite right about the world I am in.
Slipping dodging sneaking creeping hiding out down the street
I am trying to avoid something by sneaking around the streets.
See me life shaking with every ho' I meet
I am troubled by every person I see.
Refried confusion is making itself clear
My confusion is becoming more evident.
Wonder which way do I go to get on out of here
I am unsure of which direction to take to get out of this situation.
I'd have took the right road but I must have took a wrong turn
I should have taken the right path, but I made a bad decision along the way.
Would've made the right move but I made it at the wrong time
Even if my decision was correct, it was done at the wrong moment.
I been on the right road but I must have used the wrong car
I have been moving in the right direction, but I have been using inadequate resources.
My head was in a good place and I wonder what it's bad for
Even if my mind was in a positive state, I question if it has any benefit.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MALCOLM REBENNACK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@robertkennett4622
Not a lot to say, I just love this song. It has such a good feel, you can just put everything else aside and jam.
@MichaelGarrone-cv7hr
Who the fuck is Dr Snuggles?
@user-gj7oq1el7w
Back when I smoked pot, this was it.
@mbfg-mobettafitnessgenerat6058
So this Jizzie just pops into my head and immediately I'm ushered back to the early 70s where myself, Yvette Wright Gauff , Tshlene Henreid , Carole Burgess and many more girls in Sheila Sweet's Dance Troupe would practice to master all our routines- and We Did, then we took it across the city, even to Shelton & McNeil Island: and that's all omma say about that part‼️ We were good. Each of us had our own unique & special thing and as a group- Hey BaeBae💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾‼️
Thanks for pouring into us, Sheila👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🤗
@armchairgravy8224
Early '70s funk is some of the most fun you'll ever have in music. Stank face and body moving all on its own.
@KarenStokes-wo1yf
Yep! There was a rich variety of music in the 70s, and funk is my favorite!😊
@JohnBrownsBody64920
Born in 1998. Love this music. Such a fun sound!
@knifelyfe6565
The Meters backing up Mac on this.They are the NOLA King's of Funk.
W H O D A T
@knifelyfe6565
@@JohnBrownsBody64920 Mac turned me onto Melinda's Habanero Sauce.I still have a gri gri charm of the Superdome he gave me.
@d.pinit7796
This is one of those songs that stops me dead in my tracks to listen and bust a smile. Great tune !