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.

It Don't Mean A Thing
Dr. John Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It don't mean a thing
If it ain't got that swing
(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)
It don't mean a thing
All you got to do is sing
(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)

It makes no diff'rence
If it's sweet or hot
Just give that rhythm
Ev'rything you got
Oh, it don't mean a thing
If it ain't got that swing

(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Dr. John's "It Don't Mean a Thing" stress the importance of swing music. The song suggests that without swing, even sweet or hot music would be meaningless. The emphasis is on the rhythm and beat of the music, rather than the melody or lyrics. It's all about keeping the rhythm going and the listeners dancing. The repeated refrain of "doo wah, doo wah" reinforces the notion that the vocals should serve as another rhythmic element in the song.

The song encourages the listener to embrace swing music and to let loose on the dance floor. It suggests that no matter the style or genre of music, it needs to have that swing in order to be considered worth listening to. The lyrics also suggest that the swing feeling is something that a performer needs to possess in order to create an engaging performance.

Line by Line Meaning

It don't mean a thing
Nothing has any significance

If it ain't got that swing
Unless there is a rhythmic sequence, no matter what else it has, it is unimportant

(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
N/A

Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)
N/A

It don't mean a thing
Nothing has any significance

All you got to do is sing
All that's required is to keep the rhythm going through your voice

(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
N/A

Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)
N/A

It makes no diff'rence
It doesn't matter

If it's sweet or hot
Whether it's a soft or hard sound it doesn't matter

Just give that rhythm
Just keep the beat going