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.
Blues In The Night
Dr. John Lyrics
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My mama done tol' me, "Son
A man'll sweet talk and give ya the big eye
But when the sweet talkin's done
A man's a two-face
A worrisome thing who'll leave ya to sing
The blues in the night"
Now the rain's a-fallin'
Hear the train's a callin', whooee
My mama done tol' me
Hear dat lonesome whistle
Blowin' 'cross the trestle, whooee!
My mama done tol' me, a-whooee-ah-whooee
Ol' clickety-clack's a-echoin'
Back th' blues in the night
The evenin' breeze'll start the trees to cryin'
And the moon'll hide it's light
When you get the blues in the night
Take my word, the mockingbird'll sing
The saddest kind o' song
He knows things are wrong
And he's right
From Natchez to Mobile, from Memphis to St. Joe
Wherever the four winds blow
I been in some big towns an' heard me some big talk
But there is one thing I know
A man's a two-face
A worrisome thing who'll leave ya to sing
The blues in the night
The evenin' breeze'll start the trees to cryin'
And the moon'll hide it's light
When you get the blues
Blues in the night
Take my word, the mockingbird'll sing
The saddest kind o' song
He knows things are wrong
And he's right
From Natchez to Mobile, from Memphis to St. Joe
Wherever the four winds blow, winds blow
I been in some big towns an' heard me some big talk
But there is one thing I know
A man's a two-face
A worrisome thing who'll leave ya to sing
The blues in the night
Yes, babe, only, only blues in the night
The song "Blues In The Night" by Dr. John is a poignant reminder of the dangers of falling for a man's sweet talk. The lyrics begin with a reference to the singer's mother warning him about the deceptive nature of men. The phrase "a man's a two-face" is repeated throughout the song to emphasize this point. The song goes on to describe the melancholy atmosphere of a rainy night, with the sound of trains and the clickety-clack of the tracks adding to the mood. The singer notes that even the trees seem to be crying and that the moon hides its light. At this point, he warns that when you feel the blues in the night, it's a sign that something is wrong. The mockingbird, known for its melancholy songs, serves as a metaphor for this feeling.
The lyrics also note that the singer has experienced the blues in many different places, from Natchez to Mobile, from Memphis to St. Joe. He's heard big talk in big towns, but none of it matters when you're caught up in the blues. The song ends with the singer reminding us once again that a man's sweet talk can often lead to heartbreak.
Overall, "Blues In The Night" is a powerful song that speaks to the vulnerability of the human heart. Its themes of deception, heartbreak, and melancholy are universal and timeless.
Line by Line Meaning
My mama done tol' me when I was in pigtails
My mother advised me when I was a child
My mama done tol' me, "Son
My mother told me, "My dear son
A man'll sweet talk and give ya the big eye
Men will flatter and try to impress women
But when the sweet talkin's done
But when the flattering stops
A man's a two-face
Men can have a dual nature or hidden motives
A worrisome thing who'll leave ya to sing
A troubling individual who will abandon and leave you to suffer
The blues in the night"
Resulting in melancholic, bluesy feelings
Now the rain's a-fallin'
Currently experiencing rain
Hear the train's a callin', whooee
Hearing the train whistle in the distance
Hear dat lonesome whistle
Hearing the sad, mournful sound of the train whistle
Blowin' 'cross the trestle, whooee!
Echoing over the elevated bridge
Ol' clickety-clack's a-echoin'
Hearing the sound of the train wheels and tracks
Back th' blues in the night
Bringing back the feelings of sadness and melancholy
The evenin' breeze'll start the trees to cryin'
The wind at night will cause the trees to sway and rustle loudly
And the moon'll hide it's light
The moon will disappear behind the clouds
When you get the blues in the night
When you feel melancholic at night
Take my word, the mockingbird'll sing
Believe me, the mockingbird will produce a sorrowful song
The saddest kind o' song
A very sorrowful song
He knows things are wrong
He recognizes that things are not right
And he's right
His intuition is correct
From Natchez to Mobile, from Memphis to St. Joe
Travelling across different regions
Wherever the four winds blow
Wherever the winds take you
I been in some big towns an' heard me some big talk
Visited some large cities and encountered boastful individuals
But there is one thing I know
But I am certain of one thing
Yes, babe, only, only blues in the night
The only feelings felt are that of melancholy at night
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HAROLD ARLEN, JOHNNY MERCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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