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.
Don't Leave Me This Way
Dr. John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Bout a break a day
Fell down on my knees
And all you could hear me say
Don't leave me this way
(Don't leave me this way)
Don't leave me this way
Don't leave me this way
(Don't leave me this way)
Don't leave me this way
(Don't leave me this way)
'Cause the woman I love
Is goin' home to stay
Lay down cross in my bed
To rest my achin' head
Tears runnin' from my eyes
All I could do was cry
Don't leave me this way
(Don't leave me this way)
Don't leave me this way
(Don't leave me this way)
Don't leave me this way
(Don't leave me this way)
Don't leave me this way
(Don't leave me this way)
'Cause the woman I love
Is goin' home to stay
I went down to the corner
To buy myself a drink
I thought that it will help me
Because I could not think
Don't leave me this way
(Don't leave me this way)
No oh oh oh
(Don't leave me this way)
Don't leave me this way
(Don't leave me this way)
Don't leave me this way
(Don't leave me this way)
You know the woman I love
Is goin' away to stay
oh oh oh oh
(Don't leave me this way)
oh oh oh oh
(Don't leave me this way)
oh oh oh oh
(Don't leave me this way)
oh oh oh oh
(Don't leave me this way)
You know the woman I love
Is goin' away to stay
The woman I love
Is goin' away to stay
You know the woman I love
Is goin' away to stay
The lyrics of Dr. John's song "Don't Leave Me This Way" express the pain and desperation of being left by a loved one. The song starts with the singer waking up early in the morning, perhaps unable to sleep due to the distress caused by the impending departure of his lover. He falls to his knees and begs her not to leave him, repeating the phrase "Don't leave me this way" several times. The repetition emphasises the depth of his desperation, as he tries to cling on to what he has lost.
As the song progresses, the singer recounts how he tried to cope with the pain by lying in bed and crying. He then goes out to buy a drink, hoping that it will numb the pain, but to no avail. The chorus is repeated between each verse, driving home the message that the woman he loves is leaving him, and he cannot bear it.
Through the lyrics, Dr. John captures the feeling of heartbreak that many people experience. He gives voice to the pain of being left behind and the struggle to let go of the past. The song's emotional intensity is heightened by the slow, mournful pace of the music.
Line by Line Meaning
Woke up early this mornin', 'Bout a break a day
I woke up early in the morning to begin my day
Fell down on my knees, And all you could hear me say
I fell down on my knees and all I could say were these words
Don't leave me this way (Don't leave me this way)
I'm pleading for you to not leave me alone
Cause the woman I love Is goin' home to stay
The woman I love is leaving and not coming back
Lay down cross in my bed, To rest my achin' head
I laid down cross in my bed to soothe my painful head
Tears runnin' from my eyes, All I could do was cry
Tears were flowing from my eyes, and crying was all I could do
I went down to the corner, To buy myself a drink
I went down to the corner to get myself a drink
I thought that it would help me, Because I could not think
I hoped it would help me because my mind was numb
No oh oh oh(Don't leave me this way)
I am appealing to you not to leave me in this state of despair
oh oh oh oh(Don't leave me this way)
My heart is heavy - don't abandon me
The woman I love Is goin' away to stay
The woman I love is leaving permanently
Contributed by Madelyn G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Paul Huffman
Is that Jr. Walker on sax at 1:37?