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.

Basin Stree Blues
Dr. John Lyrics

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Won't you come along with me
To the Mississippi
We'll take a boat to the land of dreams
Steam down the river, down to New Orleans

The band's there to meet us
Old friends there to greet us
Where all the proud and elite folks meet

Heaven on earth, they call it Basin Street

Basin Street is the street
Where the best folks always meet
In New Orleans, land of dreams
You'll never know how nice it seems,
Or just how much it really means

Glad to be, oh yes-sirree
Where welcome's free and dear to me
Where I can lose, lose my Basin Street Blues

Basin Street, oh Basin Street

Is the street, mama
New Orleans, land of dreams

Overall Meaning

Dr. John's song "Basin Street Blues" is an enchanting tune that takes us on a journey to the land of dreams, New Orleans. The song is a reminiscent of the old days when the Mississippi River was the main mode of transportation, and steamboats were the most common vessels. The singer invites a companion to take a boat ride to the land of dreams- New Orleans- where the band is there to welcome them, and old friends are there to greet them.

The singer describes New Orleans as heaven on earth, a place where proud and elite folks meet. It is a place where the best folks always meet, and one can never know how nice it seems. The street known as Basin Street is the heart of New Orleans, and it is where the best folks always meet. The singer is glad to be there, where the welcome is free and dear to him. He sings of losing his Basin Street Blues, which likely refers to the melancholic and mournful feelings caused by missing the city's rich culture and history.

The song's upbeat and playful melody contrasts with the Bluesy feel and evocative lyrics, providing a vivid portrayal of New Orleans's vibrant musical spirit. Basin Street is where jazz music was born, and Dr. John's song pays homage to the city's musical heritage.

Line by Line Meaning

Won't you come along with me
Would you like to join me

To the Mississippi
To the river

We'll take a boat to the land of dreams
We'll travel by boat to a place where dreams come true

Steam down the river, down to New Orleans
Travel on the steamboat along the river to reach New Orleans

The band's there to meet us
A musical band will be there to receive us

Old friends there to greet us
Our old friends will welcome us

Where all the proud and elite folks meet
A place where the rich and important people gather

Heaven on earth, they call it Basin Street
They refer to Basin Street as a paradise on earth

Basin Street is the street
Basin Street is the name of the street

Where the best folks always meet
It's the place where the most remarkable people gather

In New Orleans, land of dreams
A place where you can achieve all dreams