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 Pulled the Cover
Dr. John Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hey little girl is your daddy home
Did he go away and leave you all alone?
I got a bad desire
Oh, oh, oh, I'm on fire

Tell me now pretty baby is he good to you
Can he do to you the things that I do
I can take you higher

Oh, oh, oh, I'm on fire
Oh, oh, oh, I'm on fire

It's like someone took a knife
Edgy and dull and cut a six-inch valley
Through the middle of my skull

At night I wake up with the sheets soaking wet
And a freight train running through the middle of my head
Only you can cool my desire
Oh, oh, oh I'm on fire
Oh, oh, oh I'm on fire
Oh, oh, oh I'm on fire

Ooo-ooo-ooo, ooo-ooo-ooo ...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Dr. John's song "I Pulled the Cover" express the intense longing and desire the singer has for someone who is already in a relationship with another person. The opening lines set the scene, where the singer questions if the girl's father is home or if he has left her alone. This signifies that their interaction may be seen as improper or forbidden.

The chorus emphasizes the singer's intense desire, referring to it as a "bad desire" and stating that they are "on fire" for this person, implying that their passion is consuming them. The repetition of "oh, oh, oh" in the chorus further intensifies this feeling, showcasing the deep longing and excitement they experience in this forbidden romance.

The second verse further delves into the singer's curiosity about the state of the girl's current relationship. They inquire if her partner treats her well or if they can fulfill her desires in the same way they can. This suggests that the singer believes they possess something unique and special that the girl's current partner may lack. The line "I can take you higher" implies that they can provide a level of emotional and physical satisfaction that her current partner cannot.

The bridge introduces a vivid metaphor to describe the singer's emotional state. They portray it as if someone has taken a knife and cut a metaphorical valley through their head, signifying the anguish and agony they feel. This intense imagery emphasizes the depth of their desire and the pain it brings them, likening it to a physical wound.

In the final verse, the singer reveals the impact their longing has on their well-being. They confess that they often wake up at night with their sheets soaked in sweat, as if they are experiencing intense nightmares or erotic dreams. The reference to a freight train running through their head suggests the overwhelming and chaotic thoughts and emotions they experience. The line "Only you can cool my desire" implies that only the person they desire can provide relief and bring them emotional solace.

The repetition of "oh, oh, oh, I'm on fire" in the chorus reinforces the intensity of the singer's longing and the overwhelming nature of their emotions. The ending section, consisting of repeated "ooo-ooo-ooo" sounds, adds an almost primal, guttural expression to the overall yearning and lust depicted in the song.

Overall, these lyrics paint a vivid picture of a narrator consumed by desire for someone they cannot have, showcasing the emotional torment and longing they experience.

Line by Line Meaning

Hey little girl is your daddy home
Hey young woman, is your father present?

Did he go away and leave you all alone?
Did he depart and leave you feeling abandoned?

I got a bad desire
I feel a strong, intense longing

Oh, oh, oh, I'm on fire
I am consumed by passion and burning desire

Tell me now pretty baby is he good to you
Tell me, my beautiful darling, does he treat you well?

Can he do to you the things that I do
Is he capable of satisfying you as I can?

I can take you higher
I can elevate you to new heights

It's like someone took a knife
It feels as though someone has wielded a sharp weapon

Edgy and dull and cut a six-inch valley
Sharp yet not fully sharp, creating a deep six-inch wound

Through the middle of my skull
Slashing through the center of my mind

At night I wake up with the sheets soaking wet
During the night, I arouse with dampened bed sheets