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.

I Know What I've Got
Dr. John Lyrics

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I'm still young, gettin' older by the minute
Reachin' out the millions, believe it
I work hard, I work fast
I'm gonna take it to the top and I'm gonna laugh
I know what I've got so stop
Knockin' at my wagon, 'cause I'm blowin' up spots
Been wherever I go, you know I get mad love

To the east to the west
To the north and the south
They know A.C. and they know I get down
To the east to the west
To the north and the south
Keep my feet on the ground and they know that

Ya don't see me braggin'
But then you wanna come and take a knock at my wagon
Giddy up, giddy up
And hold up, take a look around
Then roll out, roll outta town
''Cause ya don't see me braggin'
But then you wanna come and take a knock at my wagon
Giddy up, giddy up
And hold up, take a look around
Then roll out, roll outta town

I'm not the type of guy to show off for attention
About the fancy cars and jewels
But let me mention
Girls can't get enough of me
Record company lovin' me
Jealousy from all off the guys?
Hmmmm, probably
But that won't get in my way
It ain't stoppin' me
Always reach for the top, that's how it's gotta be
Don't worry 'bout the people that, hmmm, take a pop of me
So on with the show, hit the road here we go

To the east to the west
To the north and the south
They know A.C. and they know I get down
To the east to the west
To the north and the south
Keep my feet on the ground and they know that

Ya don't see me braggin'
But then you wanna come and take a knock at my wagon
Giddy up, giddy up
And hold up, take a look around
Then roll out, roll outta town
''Cause ya don't see me braggin'
But then you wanna come and take a knock at my wagon
Giddy up, giddy up
And hold up, take a look around
Then roll out, roll outta town

Now wait, people wanna know about the way I live
And do my biz
This bright young kid works hard just to make these hits
But never the less, they try to attack me
Just to male me react
But Spectra's got my back
So come on 'cause we're strong
My label's got the ball rollin', they come correct
From hip hop to pop, go look and check

To the east to the west
To the north and the south
They know A.C. and they know I get down
To the east to the west
To the north and the south
Keep my feet on the ground and they know that

Ya don't see me braggin'
But then you wanna come and take a knock at my wagon
Giddy up, giddy up
And hold up, take a look around
Then roll out, roll outta town
''Cause ya don't see me braggin'
But then you wanna come and take a knock at my wagon
Giddy up, giddy up

And hold up, take a look around
Then roll out, roll outta town

Overall Meaning

The song "I Know What I've Got" by Dr. John is all about self-confidence and self-belief. The lyrics convey the message that the singer is aware of what he has, and he is not afraid of showcasing his talents to the world. He emphasizes that he is young but is getting older by the minute, and he believes that he has millions to reach out to. Despite encountering obstacles and challenges, he remains focused and steadfast in his pursuit of success. The confidence he exudes may not always be well received, but he does not let the naysayers bring him down; instead, he encourages them to move on and roll out of town.

Throughout the song, Dr. John uses multiple geographical locations to emphasize his widespread popularity. He reiterates that his fame extends to the east, the west, the north, and the south. He also mentions that girls cannot get enough of him, and his record company loves him, which adds to his confidence in himself and his abilities.

The song's energetic beat reflects the upbeat message, and the lyrics epitomize the spirit of believing in oneself to achieve great things. Dr. John's message is one of confidence and resilience, encouraging listeners to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams, despite criticism and obstacles.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm still young, gettin' older by the minute
I am still relatively young but aging every minute

Reachin' out the millions, believe it
I am working to reach millions of people and succeed

I work hard, I work fast
I am working hard and efficiently

I'm gonna take it to the top and I'm gonna laugh
I will succeed and enjoy my success while doing so

I know what I've got so stop
I am aware of my abilities and accomplishments, so stop trying to bring me down

Knockin' at my wagon, 'cause I'm blowin' up spots
People are trying to bring me down because I am becoming popular

Been wherever I go, you know I get mad love
I am loved and popular everywhere I go

To the east to the west To the north and the south They know A.C. and they know I get down To the east to the west To the north and the south Keep my feet on the ground and they know that
My popularity and skill is known all around the world, and I stay humble

Ya don't see me braggin' But then you wanna come and take a knock at my wagon Giddy up, giddy up And hold up, take a look around Then roll out, roll outta town
I am not one to boast, yet people are still trying to bring me down, but they will ultimately fail

I'm not the type of guy to show off for attention About the fancy cars and jewels But let me mention Girls can't get enough of me Record company lovin' me Jealousy from all off the guys? Hmmmm, probably But that won't get in my way It ain't stoppin' me Always reach for the top, that's how it's gotta be Don't worry 'bout the people that, hmmm, take a pop of me So on with the show, hit the road here we go
I do not show off my material possessions for attention, but people still envy me. However, these challenges will not stop me from pursuing my goals and continuing my success

Now wait, people wanna know about the way I live And do my biz This bright young kid works hard just to make these hits But never the less, they try to attack me Just to male me react But Spectra's got my back So come on 'cause we're strong My label's got the ball rollin', they come correct From hip hop to pop, go look and check
People are curious about my lifestyle and work ethic, and I work hard to create successful music. Despite attempts to bring me down, my team supports me and helps me stay strong. My record label has a variety of successful artists across many genres

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Louis Jordan, Sid Robin

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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