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.
I'll Be Glad When You're Dead You Rascal You
Dr. John Lyrics
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I'll be glad when you dead, you rascal, you!
When you dead in your grave,
No more women will you crave.
I'll be glad when you dead, you rascal, you!
I trust you in my home, you rascal, you.
I trust you in my home, you rascal, you.
You wouldn't leave my wife alone.
I'll be glad when you dead, you rascal, you!
I fed you since last fall, you rascal, you.
I fed you since last fall, you rascal, you.
I fed you since last fall,
Then you got your ashes hauled.
I'll be glad when you dead, you rascal, you!
You asked my wife to wash your clothes, you rascal, you.
You asked my wife to wash your clothes, you rascal, you.
You asked my wife to wash your clothes
And something else I suppose.
I'll be glad when you dead, you rascal, you!
You know you done me wrong, you rascal, you.
You know you done me wrong, you rascal, you.
You know you done me wrong,
You done stole my wife and gone.
I'll be glad when you dead, you rascal, you!
You asked my wife for a meal, you rascal, you!
You asked my wife for a meal, you rascal, you!
You asked my wife for a meal,
And something else you tried to steal.
I'll be glad when you dead, you rascal, you!
Please don't let me find you, rascal, you.
Please don't let me find you, rascal, you!
Please don't let me find you
'Cause you'll leave this world behind you.
I'll be glad when you dead, you rascal, you!
Ain't no use to run, you rascal, you.
Ain't no use to run, you rascal, you.
Ain't no use to run,
I done bought a Gatling gun,
And you still having your fun, you rascal, you!
I'm gonna kill you just for fun, you rascal, you!
I'm gonna kill you just for fun, you rascal, you!
I'm gonna kill you just for fun;
The buzzards gonna have you when I'm done.
I'll be glad when you dead, you rascal, you!
You done messed with my wife, you rascal, you!
You done messed with my wife, you rascal, you!
You done messed with my wife,
And I'm gonna take your life.
I'll be glad when you dead, you rascal, you!
The song “I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead You Rascal You” by Dr. John is a revenge song and is addressed to a man who has betrayed the singer. The song is laid-back and humorous, despite the heavy tone of the lyrics. It expresses the singer’s anger and resentment towards the man who has wronged him, accusing the man of stealing his wife and being untrustworthy in his home. The song is a commentary on the societal mores of the time, where a man’s worth and respect were measured by how he treated and protected his wife.
The song’s lyrics are simple yet effective, and the repetitive nature of the chorus drives home the message of the singer’s glee at the thought of the man’s death. The singer is so done with this rascal that he threatens to kill him just for fun. In each verse, the singer recounts a different way in which the man has wronged him or his wife. The song’s lyrics may seem harsh, but they are indicative of a cultural norm in the early 20th century, where such behavior was unacceptable, and men took matters into their own hands to protect their honor.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll be glad when you dead, you rascal, you!
I will be happy when you die, you scoundrel.
When you dead in your grave, No more women will you crave.
Once you are dead and buried, you will no longer have any desires for women.
I trust you in my home, you rascal, you.
I trusted you in my house, you sneaky person.
You wouldn't leave my wife alone.
You had eyes for my wife and couldn't stay away from her.
I fed you since last fall, you rascal, you.
I have been feeding you since last fall, you dishonest person.
Then you got your ashes hauled.
Then you got what was coming to you.
You asked my wife to wash your clothes, you rascal, you.
You asked my wife to wash your clothes for you, you unscrupulous person.
And something else I suppose.
And I suspect you were up to more than just getting your clothes washed.
You know you done me wrong, you rascal, you.
You know you have mistreated me, you dishonest person.
You done stole my wife and gone.
You have taken my wife and left me behind.
You asked my wife for a meal, you rascal, you!
You asked my wife for a meal, you untrustworthy person.
And something else you tried to steal.
And I think you were trying to take something else without my permission.
Please don't let me find you, rascal, you.
I hope I don't come across you, you sneaky person.
Cause you'll leave this world behind you.
Because you will be gone from this world.
Ain't no use to run, you rascal, you.
There is no point in running away, you dishonest person.
I done bought a Gatling gun,
I have already bought a Gatling gun.
And you still having your fun, you rascal, you!
And you are still enjoying yourself, you sneaky person!
I'm gonna kill you just for fun, you rascal, you!
I will kill you for my own enjoyment, you dishonest person.
The buzzards gonna have you when I'm done.
When I am finished, the buzzards will have your remains.
You done messed with my wife, you rascal, you!
You have meddled with my wife, you sneaky person!
And I'm gonna take your life.
And I am going to end your life.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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