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.
Go Tell the People
Dr. John Lyrics
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Who stole my breath with a single word and gave me wings when she left my side.
“Awake”, that’s what I hear.
But the wind tells so many lies.
My mistake and I never would believe that her voice was a temple on its own, where she stole my breath before I spoke and gave me wings where I had her knife.
Go and tell the moon I arrived, without tears in my eyes.
Go and tell the rain to fall down, while I dream for a while.
Go and ask the wind, why he lied.
Many moons ago I believed, her voice was sure to make me bleed.
But I’ve been deaf for a while, and my thoughts they are loud and unkind to whom stole my breath with a single word and gave me wings where I had her knife.
Go and tell the moon I arrived, without tears in my eyes.
Go and tell the rain to fall down, while I dream for a while.
Go and tell the moon I arrived, without tears in my eyes.
Go and tell the rain to fall down, while I dream for a while.
Go and ask the wind, why he lied.
While I take her wings to the floor, while I take her wings to the floor and I’ll be gone for evermore.
The lyrics to "Go Tell the People" by Dr. John are about a painful past relationship, specifically a woman who held power over the singer. He describes her voice as being able to "steal his breath" and "give him wings" in a metaphorical sense. She is represented by an angel with a dagger, symbolizing her ability to both comfort and harm him. The singer seems to have been freed from her hold, but is also grappling with the memory of her and the pain she caused him. He tells the moon to "go and tell the people" of his arrival, implying that he has come out the other side of this experience stronger, yet still bearing scars.
The lyrics also touch on themes of perception, as the singer learns to see through the lies and illusions that the wind and the woman presented to him. He says that he never believed that her voice could be a "temple on its own" and that he had been deaf for a while. This blindness is what allowed the woman to hold power over him, but now that he can see, he can finally move on.
Overall, the lyrics are a poetic depiction of the complicated emotions that can arise from difficult relationships and how they can leave a lasting impact.
Line by Line Meaning
Many moons ago I found her voice was all that it would take to forget everything that came before I had an angel with a dagger on my back.
Long ago, I discovered that her voice was powerful enough to erase all my past troubles. However, she also had a way of hurting me, just like an angel with a dagger on my back.
Who stole my breath with a single word and gave me wings when she left my side.
She had the ability to take my breath away with a single word, and when she left me, I felt like I could fly.
“Awake”, that’s what I hear.
I hear a voice telling me to wake up or become aware of something important.
But the wind tells so many lies.
I'm overwhelmed by all the falsehoods that the wind seems to whisper to me.
My mistake and I never would believe that her voice was a temple on its own, where she stole my breath before I spoke and gave me wings where I had her knife.
Looking back, I realize that I failed to recognize her voice as a powerful force that both took my breath away and lifted me up, even though she also had the power to hurt me.
Go and tell the moon I arrived, without tears in my eyes.
Tell the moon that I have arrived, and I'm no longer crying or upset.
Go and tell the rain to fall down, while I dream for a while.
Tell the rain to fall while I take some time to dream and reflect on my thoughts.
Go and ask the wind, why he lied.
Ask the wind why it deceived me with all its falsehoods.
So I understood: her temple was a broken truth.
I finally comprehended that her voice, which I once thought was perfect, was actually flawed and deceptive.
Many moons ago I believed, her voice was sure to make me bleed.
In the past, I thought her voice would cause me pain and suffering.
But I’ve been deaf for a while, and my thoughts they are loud and unkind to whom stole my breath with a single word and gave me wings where I had her knife.
But now, I am immune to her voice, and my thoughts are critical and unforgiving towards those who used to have power over me.
While I take her wings to the floor, while I take her wings to the floor and I’ll be gone for evermore.
As I let go of the power she once held over me, I will be gone forever, never to return.
Lyrics © Rossio Music Publishing
Written by: JOHN MERCY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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