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.

Cruella De Vil "
Dr. John Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Cruella De Vil
Cruella De Vil
If she doesn't scare you
No evil thing will
To see her is to take a sudden chill
Cruella, Cruella De Vil

The curl of her lips

The ice in her stare
All innocent children had better beware
She's like a spider waiting for the kill
Look out for Cruella De Vil

At first you think Cruella is a devil
But after time has worn away the shock
You've come to realize
You've seen her kind of eyes
Watching you from underneath a rock

This vampire bat
This inhuman beast
She ought to be locked up and never released
The world was such a wholesome place until
Cruella, Cruella De Vil

Cruella De Vil
Cruella De Vil
If she doesn't scare you
No evil thing will
To see her is to take a sudden chill
Cruella De Vil

Curl of her lips
Ice in her stare
All innocent children had better beware
She's like a spider waiting for the kill
Look out for Cruella De Vil

At first you think Cruella is a devil
But after time has worn away the shock
You've come to realize
You've seen her kind of eyes
Watching you from underneath a rock

This vampire bat
Inhuman beast
She ought to be locked up and never released
This world was such a wholesome place until
Cruella, Cruella De Vil

So evil even her hair's two faced
Ain't like nothin' you ever seen
She's the dean of mean

I need to mention she's got some dog on bad intentions
Let's face it a person like her could really ruin your whole day

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song "Cruella De Vil" by Dr. John serve as a warning about the villainous character Cruella De Vil from the Disney film "101 Dalmatians." The song portrays Cruella as an incredibly intimidating and evil figure. The repetition of her name throughout the lyrics reinforces her sinister presence. The opening lines suggest that if Cruella doesn't scare the listener, then nothing evil will. Simply seeing her invokes a sudden chill, emphasizing her chilling nature.

The second verse delves deeper into Cruella's character. The curl of her lips and the ice in her stare hint at her malicious intentions, while the mention of innocent children needing to beware further heightens the sense of danger she represents. The comparison to a spider waiting to kill strengthens the image of Cruella as a predatory and dark force.

The third verse introduces a shift in perspective. It suggests that although at first, Cruella may appear to be a devilish figure, over time, the shock she initially creates wears away. This shift invites the listeners to consider how they may have encountered someone like Cruella in their lives, someone who hides their true nature until it is too late. The lyrics suggest that Cruella hides beneath a metaphorical rock, symbolizing her ability to operate in secret and strike unexpectedly.

The lyrics continue to emphasize Cruella's wickedness, describing her as a vampire bat and an inhuman beast. The suggestion that she should be locked up and never released reinforces the notion that she poses a significant threat to society. The song emphasizes the contrast between the world before and after Cruella's existence, portraying her as a corrupting force that has tainted what was once a wholesome place.

Overall, the lyrics of "Cruella De Vil" paint a vivid and cautionary picture of a villainous character whose presence is genuinely menacing. It serves as a reminder to be wary of those who may hide their true intentions and of the potential dangers that lurk beneath seemingly innocent exteriors.

Line by Line Meaning

Cruella De Vil
The infamous character known as Cruella De Vil

If she doesn't scare you
If she fails to instill fear in you

No evil thing will
No other evil creature or entity can

To see her is to take a sudden chill
Seeing her causes an immediate shiver of fear

Cruella, Cruella De Vil
Repeated confirmation of her identity

The curl of her lips
The twisted smirk on her face

The ice in her stare
The chilling and intense gaze she possesses

All innocent children had better beware
All young and innocent individuals should be cautious

She's like a spider waiting for the kill
She resembles a patient predator waiting for her prey

Look out for Cruella De Vil
Be on alert for the presence of Cruella De Vil

At first you think Cruella is a devil
Initially, you perceive Cruella as a wicked being

But after time has worn away the shock
However, as time passes and the initial surprise fades

You've come to realize
You begin to understand and comprehend

You've seen her kind of eyes
You have witnessed the same malicious glare in her eyes

Watching you from underneath a rock
Observing your actions surreptitiously and maliciously

This vampire bat
Referring to her as a vampire-like creature

This inhuman beast
This creature devoid of humanity

She ought to be locked up and never released
She deserves to be confined and never set free

The world was such a wholesome place until
The world used to be a pure and virtuous environment until

So evil even her hair's two-faced
Her wickedness is evident even in her hairstyle

Ain't like nothin' you ever seen
Unprecedented and unlike anything you have witnessed

She's the dean of mean
She is the epitome of cruelty and malevolence

I need to mention she's got some dog on bad intentions
It is important to note that she possesses extremely malicious intentions

Let's face it a person like her could really ruin your whole day
Let's acknowledge that an individual like her is capable of completely spoiling your entire day

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Mel Leven

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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