Dr. John (born Malcolm John Rebennack on 20 November 1941; died 6 June 2019… Read Full Bio ↴Dr. John (born Malcolm John Rebennack on 20 November 1941; died 6 June 2019) was an American singer, pianist, guitarist, and songwriter whose music combined blues, boogie woogie and rock and roll. The winner of six Grammy awards, Rebennack was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by singer John Legend on Monday, March 14, 2011. He was variously known as Mac Rebennack, Dr. John Creaux, Dr. John, the Night Tripper.

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.

A Little Closer to Home
Dr. John Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've been runnin'
Lookin' for a mirror
Just to see my hope fade
'Cause I know that even my own company
Beats bein' alone in this old lonely place
That's why I'm headin'
Woah, a little closer to my home
I'm headin', oh a little closer to my home

I'm headin' a little closer to my home
'Cause this Earth ain't no place
I'm proud to call my own

I look in the mirror
Strange eyes look back at me
Oh and I wonder
What can the matter be?
Sorrow my own, my own
Loneliness so far from home
And I'm wonderin' where
In my life I've gone wrong

But I'm gonna sit in pity
Oh, a little closer to my home
I'm headin' a little closer to my home
I'm headin', oh, a little closer to my home
'Cause this old Earth ain't no place that I'm proud to call my own

Just headin', woah, a little closer to my home
I'm headin' a little closer to my home
I'm headin' a little closer to my home

Because this Earth ain't no place I'm proud to call my, my own

Overall Meaning

In Dr. John's song A Little Closer to My Home, the lyrics explore the feelings of loneliness and isolation that the singer is experiencing. He has been searching for a mirror hoping to catch a glimpse of himself, but instead, finds that his reflection only brings his hope down. Despite being in his own company, he still feels the pangs of loneliness and admits that being alone in this world is a worse fate. The singer expresses his dissatisfaction with Earth as a whole, not feeling proud to call it his own. He wonders where his life has gone wrong, but instead of indulging in self-pity, he decides to head a little closer to his home. The song highlights the theme of longing for a sense of belonging, a sense of home and it encourages the singer to seek sanctuary there.

The song beautifully touches upon the basic human need for connection and how being alone is a fate worse than death. The singer is in search of home, a place where he can be at peace, and not feel the weight of the world on his shoulders. He realizes that being closer to home, a place where he feels comfortable and secure, could be the antidote to his suffering. The song suggests that loneliness can be cured by connecting with your roots and being closer to one's foundation can ease the burdens of life. By accepting his loneliness and heading back to his home, he is accepting who he is and where he comes from, creating peace with his present and past.

Line by Line Meaning

I've been runnin'
I have been traveling aimlessly,

Lookin' for a mirror
Searching for something to reflect upon myself,

Just to see my hope fade
Only to realize that my optimism was slowly diminishing,

'Cause I know that even my own company
Since I am aware that spending time alone is worse than spending time with myself,

Beats bein' alone in this old lonely place
It's better than being alone in this place that is filled with sadness and emptiness,

That's why I'm headin'
That's why I am moving

Woah, a little closer to my home
I am going a bit closer to my dwelling

I'm headin', oh a little closer to my home
I am heading near to the place where I belong

I'm headin' a little closer to my home
I am getting closer to my abode

'Cause this Earth ain't no place
Because this world is not

I'm proud to call my own
A place that I can proudly say is mine