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.
It's All Right With Me
Dr. John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Break my heart but be my girl.
I just want you to be there when i come home.
Drive my new car; smoke my cigar.
Buy you diamonds and your pearls.
Ooh ooh treat me like a dog but throw a little meat on them bones.
And it's all right.
Yes, it's all right.
It's all right with me.
[Chorus]
You can hurt me but don't desert me.
Leave me runnin' but stay all night.
I want you to know your love is what i need.
You can use me but don't refuse me.
Turn me back but do me right.
I just want you to know my love is guaranteed.
[Chorus] three times
The song It's All Right With Me by Dr. John conveys a complex and contradictory relationship between the persona and his lover. In the first verse, he claims he would tolerate anything if his beloved stays loyal to him. He begs her to spend his money, break his heart but still accompany him in his journey of life. The persona acknowledges the mistreatment by his lover as he says, "treat me like a dog but throw a little meat on them bones." This line reveals that the persona is willing to put up with the lover's neglect and mistreatment as long as there is a glimmer of hope in their relationship.
In the chorus, he repeats "It's all right with me" three times, which seems eerily optimistic given the contradictory and paradoxical language in the other verses. It's like he is convincing himself that everything will be all right despite the toxicity and the challenges in the relationship. In the second verse, the persona acknowledges how much he needs his lover's love, even if it means being used and mistreated.
Overall, the song reflects the uncertainty of love and how individuals tend to rationalize their toxic relationships despite knowing the adverse effects. It's a sad reality that some people get trapped in toxic relationships, and they still try to convince themselves that everything is okay.
Line by Line Meaning
Spend my money but love me honey.
You can take my money as long as you still love me.
Break my heart but be my girl.
You can break my heart, but as long as you're still with me, it's okay.
I just want you to be there when I come home.
All I need is for you to be there for me when I come home.
Drive my new car; smoke my cigar.
You can use my possessions, like my car or cigar, as long as you're with me.
Buy you diamonds and your pearls.
I am willing to buy you expensive gifts, like diamonds and pearls.
Ooh ooh treat me like a dog but throw a little meat on them bones.
You can treat me poorly, but at least show me some affection.
[Chorus:] And it's all right. Yes, it's all right. It's all right with me.
Despite everything, I'm okay with it all.
You can hurt me but don't desert me.
It's okay to hurt me, just don't leave me alone.
Leave me runnin' but stay all night.
You can keep me up all night, just don't leave.
I want you to know your love is what I need.
All I need from you is your love.
You can use me but don't refuse me.
It's fine if you use me, just don't reject me.
Turn me back but do me right.
You can change your mind, but please do right by me.
I just want you to know my love is guaranteed.
I promise that my love for you will always be there.
[Chorus] three times
Despite everything, I'm okay with it all.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HIATT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@colebryan5450
When he said, “Sed dains fanessa tha baaaayne and all the fellas”, I felt that.
@theha-hawalls5783
LOL
@salviadivinorum1762
It took decades till I knew what he said about 'thankfulness' lol
@nickglick6322
Lmao
@FrankHudsonbass
@@salviadivinorum1762 So what did he say? Was that New Orleans slang?
@TheGuitarMan71
Dr John is so badass that he made his own language
@anonymous203020
This morning, I stood in front of Dr. John's coffin in the Orpheum Theatre where there was a public viewing before his funeral later this afternoon. It was a dark auditorium with the casket and flowers up front, and above was a screen showing images of Dr. John's life. Mourners trickled in, stood solemnly in front of the good doctor, and paid their final respects. There were more than a few tears being shed. A few hours from now, the second line will send his spirit into the ether for eternity. Rest in Peace, Dr. John.
@pattilee1006
😎💙
@nealhall5997
Do you have a photo?
@JTCurtisMusic
R.I.P. Dr. John! This is one of the best parts of an already incredible film.