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.
God's Sure Good
Dr. John Lyrics
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Better than me to myself
Saved my soul
When it was all I had to sell
Taught me a lesson
Brought me a blessin'
God don't be guessin'
He sure don't
[Chorus]
He showed me how
To live and let live
And I'm so thankful
The breath of life He give
A better way, a better day
God knows I'm okay
God's sure good
God's sure good
God's sure good
God's sure good
Soon I listened to
His still small voice
I believe I made
The perfect choice
Showed every lesson
Bring a blessin'
God got me confessin'
He sure 'nuff do
He show me how
To live in that live in that
And I'm so thankful
The breath away you give
A better way, a better day
God knows I'm okay
God's sure good
God's sure good
God's sure good
God's sure good
God been good to me
Better than me to myself
Pick me up
Open the gates of hell
(Made me well)
Taught me a lesson
Brought me blessings
God don't be resting
He showed me how
To live in that live in that
And I'm so thankful
The breath away you give
A better way, a better day
God knows I'm okay
God's sure good
God's sure good
God's sure good
God's sure good
Mhmmmm
When times was so hard
I had lean up off my God
God's sure good to me
God's so good to me
My sweet Lord
Take me away
I wanna thank you God
In "God's Sure Good," Dr. John praises God for the blessings he has bestowed upon him. He begins by expressing gratitude for God for being better to him than he's been to himself. He credits God with saving his soul when he had nothing else to sell. The lessons he has learned from God, according to the lyrics, have brought him blessings. He is sure that God is never guessing, implying that God is omniscient and has everything under control. The chorus echoes the sentiment of the verse, with Dr. John thanking God for showing him how to live and for the breath of life he has given him, leading him into a better way of living.
In the second verse, Dr. John refers to God's still small voice and his belief that he has made the perfect choice by following God. He suggests that every lesson he has learned has brought him a blessing and that confessing his sins to God has brought him peace. Again, he thanks God for showing him how to live, giving him a better way and better days. The last verse reiterates Dr. John's gratitude to God for providing for him when times were tough, redeeming him from his sins, teaching him valuable lessons, and blessing him. He concludes the song with a hymn of thanksgiving, dedicating the song to God, thanking him and acknowledging his goodness.
Line by Line Meaning
God's been good to me
I have received many blessings from God
Better than me to myself
God has treated me better than I have treated myself
Saved my soul
God has saved me from sin and eternal damnation
When it was all I had to sell
My soul was the only thing of value that I had to offer
Taught me a lesson
God has taught me important life lessons
Brought me a blessin'
God has brought good things into my life
God don't be guessin'
God is omniscient and knows everything
He showed me how
God has taught me how to live a good life
To live and let live
God has taught me to accept others and let them live their own lives
And I'm so thankful
I am grateful to God for everything He has done for me
The breath of life He give
God has given me the gift of life
A better way, a better day
God has shown me a better way to live, resulting in better days
God knows I'm okay
God knows that I am doing fine
God's sure good
God is very good to me
Soon I listened to His still small voice
I began to listen to God's guidance
I believe I made the perfect choice
I believe that following God's guidance was the best choice I ever made
Showed every lesson, bring a blessin'
God has turned every lesson into a blessing
God got me confessin', He sure 'nuff do
God has helped me to confess my sins and seek His forgiveness
He show me how
God continues to teach me how to live a good life
To live in that live in that
God has taught me to live in harmony with others
The breath away you give
God has given me the gift of life
God been good to me
God has been very good to me
Pick me up, open the gates of hell
God has rescued me from the depths of despair
Made me well
God has healed me of my sins and weaknesses
God don't be resting
God is always watching over me
When times was so hard, I had lean up off my God
During difficult times, I had to rely on God for strength and guidance
My sweet Lord
God is loving and kind
Take me away
I am ready to go to Heaven and be with God
I wanna thank you God
I want to express my gratitude to God for all that He has done for me
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAN AUERBACH, LEON MICHELS, NICK MOVSHON, BRIAN OLIVE, MALCOLM REBENNACK, MAXIMILIAN WEISSENFELDT
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