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.
Cabbage Head
Dr. John Lyrics
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I saw a mule in my stable where my mule is supposed to be
I said wake up Sally, explain this stuff to me
Whose mule is that in my stable where my mule is supposed to be
She said hush your mouth you're talking real silly
Open up your eyes and see, that ain't nothing but a milk cow that the farmer man left to me
You I walk all over the world to the Gulf of Mexico
Next night when I come home, tired as a man could be
I saw a hat on my dresser drawer, where my hat is supposed to be
I said wake up Sally, explain this stuff to me
Whose hat is that on my dresser where my hat is supposed to be
She said hush your mouth you're talking real silly
Open up your eyes and see, that ain't nothing but an old cabbage that the grocer man left for me
You I walk all over the world to the Gulf of Mexico
I ain't seen no cabbage with a hat on his head before
The next night when I come home tired as a man could be
I see some guy on the front porch where I am supposed to be
I said wake up Sally, explain this mess to me
Who is this guy on my front porch where I am supposed to be
She said now hush your mouth you're acting real ignorant
Open up your eyes and see, that ain't nothing but a shadow, you're always accusing me
Now I've been all over this world, down to the Gulf of Mexico
But I ain't never stumbled over a shadow in my whole life before
Dr. John's song "Cabbage Head" is a humorous tale of misunderstandings and miscommunications between a man and his partner. The first verse describes the man coming home tired and seeing a mule in his stable where his own mule is supposed to be. He asks his partner Sally to explain, but she tells him he is silly and that the mule is just a milk cow left by a farmer. The second verse continues the story with the man coming home the next night and seeing a hat on his dresser where his own hat should be. Again, Sally dismisses his concern and tells him it's just an old cabbage left by the grocer. Finally, in the third verse, the man comes home to find someone on his front porch where he's supposed to be, and Sally tells him it's just a shadow.
Line by Line Meaning
Last night I come home, tired as a man can be
I returned home exhausted from a laborious day.
I saw a mule in my stable where my mule is supposed to be
A mule was present in my stable where mine ought to have been.
I said wake up Sally, explain this stuff to me
I woke Sally and asked her to elucidate the matter.
Whose mule is that in my stable where my mule is supposed to be
Who is the owner of the mule that is occupying my stable, its rightful place?
She said hush your mouth you're talking real silly
Sally admonished me to cease uttering nonsensical remarks.
Open up your eyes and see, that ain't nothing but a milk cow that the farmer man left to me
She urged me to use my vision and comprehend that the animal was a cow given to her by the farmer as opposed to my mule.
You I walk all over the world to the Gulf of Mexico
She emphasized her extensive travels around the globe, down to the Gulf of Mexico.
But that's the first time I've ever seen a milk cow with a saddle on its back before
However, she expressed an element of novelty given that it was her first encounter with a cow saddled up.
Next night when I come home, tired as a man could be
I arrived home fatigued yet again.
I saw a hat on my dresser drawer, where my hat is supposed to be
My hat's usual spot on the dresser was occupied by another hat.
I said wake up Sally, explain this stuff to me
Once more, I roused Sally from sleep and beseeched her to explicate the matter.
Whose hat is that on my dresser where my hat is supposed to be
Who owns the hat that has infiltrated my space in place of mine?
She said hush your mouth you're talking real silly
Sally told me to be quiet because I was being foolish.
Open up your eyes and see, that ain't nothing but an old cabbage that the grocer man left for me
She implored me to use my eyes properly and notice that it was an old cabbage left by the grocer rather than a hat.
You I walk all over the world to the Gulf of Mexico
She reiterated her extensive world travels, including down to the Gulf of Mexico.
I ain't seen no cabbage with a hat on his head before
Nonetheless, she expressed surprise at the novelty of a cabbage wearing a hat.
The next night when I come home tired as a man could be
Once again, I arrived home dog-tired.
I see some guy on the front porch where I am supposed to be
I observed a stranger on my front porch, a place where he should not have been.
I said wake up Sally, explain this mess to me
I prompted Sally to wake up and describe the situation to me.
Who is this guy on my front porch where I am supposed to be
I expressed confusion on the presence of a random individual on my front porch while I am supposed to be there.
She said now hush your mouth you're acting real ignorant
Sally scolded me for appearing ignorant by questioning her.
Open up your eyes and see, that ain't nothing but a shadow, you're always accusing me
She pointed out that it was merely a shadow instead of a human and that I frequently suspected her.
Now I've been all over this world, down to the Gulf of Mexico
In a similar vein to previous instances, Sally emphasized her worldwide travel experiences, including down to the Gulf of Mexico.
But I ain't never stumbled over a shadow in my whole life before
However, she expressed another element of novelty as she has never stumbled over a shadow before in her entire lifetime.
Contributed by Emma S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Steve
on Holdin' Pattern
Looking for the Lyrics "Holdin' Pattern" by Dr. John.
Perry
on I Been Hoodood (LP Version)
Not The Correct Lyrics Listed