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.

Glowin'
Dr. John Lyrics

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Glowing in the light of my life,
Singing to the stars in the sky.
Glowing in the light of my life,
Talking in the way that you hear.

It′s true; love feeling is the only cold,
Yes it is. Yes it is.
There ain't no need for all this greed –

′Cause when everything comes down to one,
Baby, thy will be done.

Glowing in the last of the best.
Putting all the charms to the test.
Glowing in the light of my life,
Glowing, the law for happiness.

The plan is for every man to
Be like the tree planted by the stream.
Yes, it is.
With goad understanding and
A lot of patience, you can make n,
Yes you can, beyond your wildest dreams.

"Glowing, glowing, glowing, glowing. "

Cut out all this worrying and complaining,
You go to do it –
Cut out all this fighting and
Screaming, you better know it –
Just live plain old life.

All the eyes of the world are on you,
And they all want to see just what you're gonna do.
Don't commit suicide,

"Gotta keep on – keep on keeping on.

Keep on glowing.

Now there′s the handwriting upon the wall.
Nobody seems to understand what it means at all.
How can we live in the kingdom end never see the throne?
Have all the riches and treasures
And still feel like we′re alone.

Keeping on and glow.

You got to keep the law of the great commandments.
In the jungle or the street we all are defenseless.
This is not the lend of milk and honey –
This is a place where people sell their souls
Out for money, you know they do.

You got to keep on keepin' on

Glowin′

This is the sign of the time of the sign of the time.

Glow, glow, glow how you can

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Dr. John's song "Glowin'" convey a message of finding love and happiness in life amidst the complexities of the world. The song opens with the singer expressing how they feel radiant and illuminated by the presence of their loved one. They sing joyfully to the stars, feeling a deep connection and understanding.

The chorus suggests that love is the only true cold feeling, implying that genuine love brings warmth and fulfillment. The lyrics also touch on the theme of greed and the unnecessary strife it causes. The idea that everything comes down to one emphasizes the importance of unity and collective well-being. The singer concludes by stating that they are glowing in the best moments, testing and cherishing all the charms life has to offer.

The second verse discusses the importance of having a plan and being like a tree planted by a stream, which symbolizes stability and nourishment. The lyrics emphasize the need for understanding and patience to achieve one's dreams. The repetition of "glowing" throughout the song reinforces the idea of radiating positivity and happiness.

Overall, "Glowin'" encourages listeners to let go of worries, live a simple life, and focus on love, unity, and personal growth. It highlights the importance of staying true to oneself and finding contentment in the midst of a challenging world.

Line by Line Meaning

Glowing in the light of my life,
Shining brightly and radiating happiness in the presence of the person who brings joy and meaning to my existence.

Singing to the stars in the sky.
Expressing my emotions and thoughts through melodic voices and reaching out to the universe.

Talking in the way that you hear.
Communicating in a manner that resonates with your understanding and perception.

It's true, love feeling is the only cold,
Affirming that the purity and sincerity of love's emotions can provide solace and comfort even in the absence of material wealth.

Yes it is. Yes it is.
Emphasizing the truthfulness of the previous statement.

There ain't no need for all this greed –
Highlighting the unnecessary and destructive nature of excessive greed and materialistic desires.

'Cause when everything comes down to one,
When all is said and done, and the complexities of life are simplified,

Baby, thy will be done.
Acknowledging that ultimately, one's destiny and fate lie in the hands of a higher power.

Glowing in the last of the best.
Radiating with happiness and contentment in the final moments of something wonderful.

Putting all the charms to the test.
Putting the positive aspects and qualities to the ultimate challenge or trial.

The plan is for every man to
The ideal scenario is for every individual to

Be like the tree planted by the stream.
To be firmly grounded and nourished by a constant source of support and inspiration.

Yes, it is.
Affirming the truthfulness of the previous statement.

With good understanding and
Through possessing sufficient wisdom and comprehension

A lot of patience, you can make it
And a considerable amount of perseverance, one can achieve success

Yes, you can, beyond your wildest dreams.
Affirming that the possibilities for accomplishment are limitless and even surpass one's most extravagant aspirations.

Cut out all this worrying and complaining,
Eliminating the habit of constantly fretting and grumbling

You got to do it –
One must take action and make it happen –

Cut out all this fighting and
Cease engaging in conflicts and

Screaming, you better know it –
Shouting loudly, it is imperative to realize that –

Just live plain old life.
Simply embrace the ordinary and genuine aspects of existence.

All the eyes of the world are on you,
The attention and scrutiny of the entire world are fixed upon you,

And they all want to see just what you're gonna do.
Curious to witness and observe your actions and choices.

Don't commit suicide,
Do not succumb to despair or self-destruction,

Gotta keep on – keep on keeping on.
You must persevere and continue moving forward despite challenges and setbacks.

Keep on glowing.
Continue radiating happiness and positive energy.

Now there's the handwriting upon the wall.
Now there are clear and evident indications of an impending event or revelation.

Nobody seems to understand what it means at all.
Unfortunately, nobody comprehends the significance or implications of these signs.

How can we live in the kingdom end and never see the throne?
How can we reside in a place of potential greatness and never seize the opportunities for power and achievement?

Have all the riches and treasures
Possessing an abundance of wealth and valuable possessions

And still feel like we're alone.
Yet still experiencing a sense of loneliness and isolation.

You got to keep the law of the great commandments.
It is crucial to adhere to and follow the principles and rules of the significant commandments.

In the jungle or the street we all are defenseless.
In any environment or circumstance, we are all vulnerable and without protection.

This is not the land of milk and honey –
This is not a utopian or idyllic world –

This is a place where people sell their souls
Instead, it is a realm where individuals betray their integrity or values

Out for money, you know they do.
In pursuit of monetary gain, as you are well aware.

Glow, glow, glow how you can
Radiate your inner light and positivity as intensely and vibrantly as possible.

Writer(s): John Creaux

Contributed by Abigail J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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