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.
Black Widow
Dr. John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Said Mighty Gwen
Are you ready to play
I've buried seven husbands
They all loved me well
I sucked their bones dry
Now they're burning in hell
Come into the bedroom
Wont you lay down in my fine feather bed
The bed was a web to catch fools in
And the widow was fixing to catch Jon Gwen
Mighty Gwen Mighty Gwen
Your blues power is strong
A hundred million women
Could never be wrong
Come into the bedroom
Mighty Gwen she said
Its safe and warm in my fine feather bed
Now poor old Johnny Gwen
Was about to meet his fate
Cause the black widow spider always kills its mate
Jonny poured her some corn liquor
And told her it was tea
The spider took a drink
Johnny Gwen took three
Come into the bedroom
Mighty Gwen he said
Lets go and lay in your fine feather bed
In Dr. John's song "Black Widow Spider," the singer is warning Johnny Gwen about the dangers of a woman known as the Black Widow Spider. The song portrays the Black Widow Spider as a seductive and deadly woman who has already buried seven husbands. She invites Johnny to come lay in her feather bed, which is described as a trap for fools. Despite his knowledge of her deadly reputation, Johnny seems to succumb to her charms and takes a drink with her. It is suggested that this will lead to his demise since the Black Widow Spider is known for killing its mate.
The lyrics of the song paint a vivid picture of the Black Widow Spider as a femme fatale figure. Her seductive powers are contrasted with her deadly intent, and this creates a sense of danger around her. The feather bed is described as a web to catch fools, implying that anyone who falls for her charms is foolish. The singer's warning serves as a reminder of the consequences of being lured by a dangerous woman.
Line by Line Meaning
The widow stopped by his office one day
A woman called the 'widow' visited Jonny Gwen's office
Said Mighty Gwen
The woman introduced herself as 'Mighty Gwen'
Are you ready to play
She asked Jonny if he was ready for some fun
I've buried seven husbands
Mighty Gwen claimed to have had seven husbands who all died
They all loved me well
She said her husbands all loved her
I sucked their bones dry
Mighty Gwen implied that she drained her husbands of their life
Now they're burning in hell
She suggested that her husbands were in hell because of her actions
Come into the bedroom
Mighty Gwen invited Jonny into her bedroom
Mighty Gwen she said
The woman repeated her name
Wont you lay down in my fine feather bed
She asked Jonny to lay down in her comfortable bed, which acted as a trap
The bed was a web to catch fools in
The bed was a trap for fools to fall into and become trapped like a spider's web
And the widow was fixing to catch Jon Gwen
Mighty Gwen intended to catch Jonny in her trap
Mighty Gwen Mighty Gwen
She repeated her name again
Your blues power is strong
Mighty Gwen complimented Jonny's singing abilities
A hundred million women
She suggested that many women would like Jonny
Could never be wrong
The women's attraction to Jonny would never be wrong
Now poor old Johnny Gwen
The lyrics referred to Jonny by his full name and described him as unfortunate
Was about to meet his fate
Jonny was about to suffer a bad outcome
Cause the black widow spider always kills its mate
Mighty Gwen was compared to a black widow spider because they always kill their mates
Jonny poured her some corn liquor
Jonny offered Mighty Gwen corn liquor
And told her it was tea
He lied to her about the type of drink he gave her
The spider took a drink
Mighty Gwen drank the liquor
Johnny Gwen took three
Jonny drank three shots of the same drink
Lets go and lay in your fine feather bed
Jonny suggested that they go to bed again, despite the danger
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: JOHN GUINN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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