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.

Keeps Dragging Me On
Dr. John Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ya keep doubting me I need ya to stop
How you gonna doubt me
When you don’t know things about me
How y’all trying to reroute me
Soon you all will go and scout me
Stop the drama
You ain’t my mama
Why you tryna cause me trauma

Slow it down, here’s a comma
Treat me like the next Obama
When I go big from this song
I will prove all you wrong
I will be where I belong
Then you’ll try to tag along
But then I’ll say so long
Who is this, a ding dong?
I’ll continue rapping strong
I’ll be king, call me Kong
Don’t use my name in vain
Me and you are not the same
If you think that you’re insane
I’m unique and you are plain
Take a hint, stay in your lane
Why you tryna cause me pain
Doubting me with all your brain
I’ll prove you wrong it’s time to gain
Fame faster than a speeding train
This my life, I’m like Bruce Wayne
So why you tryna be the Bane?
You’ll never make it’s all you claim
Y’all doubters you ain’t got no shame
It’s time for me to clean my name
You’ll hear it soon when I have fame
Ya keep doubting me I need ya to stop
Ya keep doubting me I need ya to stop
Keep on doubting me
Then all of you will see
The man that I will be
And you’ll have to take a knee
I been doing this some time
I can spit some bars and rhyme
I can make a catchy chime
I am entering my prime
I don’t do this for the views
When I get em I don’t choose
I ain’t tryna fill no shoes
Only mine that is who’s
Y’all are tryna pop my fuse
But I tell you I don’t lose
I be working while you snooze
You will see me on the news
Don’t tell me how to do what I do
Don’t tell me how to rap like you knew
Don’t tell me cuz you don’t got a clue
Don’t tell me I ain’t tryna be like you
Don’t tell me I won’t make it, that ain’t true
Don’t tell me that my channel never grew
Don’t tell me all these rappers to view
I already got a life, I don’t need two
For pity’s sake
I know I ain’t no Drake
John Riley that I’ll take
My name I wanna make
I’ll never be a fake
Come on give me a break
Y’all giving me an ache
The beast is now awake
Ya keep doubting me I need ya to stop
Ya keep doubting me I need ya to stop
You’re doubts are motivation
I will blow up in your nation
Before it was a temptation
But now it’s an obligation
There is no negotiation
This the start of my reputation
I’m building up the foundation
And this song is the creation
Ya keep doubting me and ya need to stop
Stop rerouting me my music’s a bop
Stop surrounding me I ain’t gonna flop
You’ll be scouting me and I’ll be on top
Ya keep doubting me I need ya to stop

Ya keep doubting me I need ya to stop
Ya keep doubting me but ya don’t know John Riley’s on top

Overall Meaning

The song "Keeps Dragging Me On" by Dr. John is about the artist's frustration with people who doubt his talent and ability to succeed in music. He addresses these doubters in the lyrics, explaining that they don't know him well enough to judge him and that he will prove them wrong in the end. He asks them to stop causing him trauma and pain, reminding them that he is unique and will make it in the industry. He also mentions that their doubts are a source of motivation for him and that he is determined to succeed.

The artist starts by addressing the fact that people doubt him, asking how they could doubt someone they don't know well enough. He finds it frustrating that they would try to reroute him and cause him trauma when all he wants to do is make music. He tells them to slow down and treat him like the next Obama, urging them to have faith in his abilities. Dr. John then mourns the fact that people will try to tag along when he becomes successful, but he won't let them bring him down.

Throughout the song, Dr. John asserts his uniqueness and tells those who doubt him that they are plain, reminding them that they are not the same. He repeats the phrase "ya keep doubting me I need ya to stop" multiple times, emphasizing the theme of the song. Finally, he says that he will make it to the top of the industry, regardless of what the doubters say.

Overall, "Keeps Dragging Me On" is a message of perseverance and determination in the face of doubt and adversity. Dr. John urges those who doubt him to stop, reminding them that he is unique and will make it in the end. Through this song, he inspires others to follow their dreams no matter what others may think.

Line by Line Meaning

Ya keep doubting me I need ya to stop
Dr. John needs those who doubt him to stop.

How you gonna doubt me
Dr. John questions why people doubt him.

When you don’t know things about me
Dr. John believes that those who doubt him do not know him.

How y’all trying to reroute me
Dr. John believes that people are trying to reroute him with their doubts.

Soon you all will go and scout me
Dr. John believes that those who doubt him will soon come to scout him.

Stop the drama
Dr. John wishes to stop any unnecessary drama.

You ain’t my mama
Dr. John tells those who doubt him that they are not his mother.

Why you tryna cause me trauma
Dr. John questions why people try to cause him trauma with their doubts.

Slow it down, here’s a comma
Dr. John suggests that everyone take a break and relax.

Treat me like the next Obama
Dr. John wishes to be treated with respect and recognition.

When I go big from this song
Dr. John believes that this song will help him become successful.

I will prove all you wrong
Dr. John will prove those who doubt him wrong.

I will be where I belong
Dr. John believes that he will be successful and belong on top.

Then you’ll try to tag along
Dr. John knows that those who doubted him will try to join him when he is successful.

But then I’ll say so long
Dr. John will leave those who doubted him behind.

Who is this, a ding dong?
Dr. John does not recognize those who doubt him and considers them insignificant.

I’ll continue rapping strong
Dr. John will continue to rap well.

I’ll be king, call me Kong
Dr. John believes he will be successful and powerful like a king.

Don’t use my name in vain
Dr. John does not want people to use his name in a disrespectful or harmful way.

Me and you are not the same
Dr. John and those who doubt him are not the same.

If you think that you’re insane
Dr. John questions why those who doubt him might think they are insane.

I’m unique and you are plain
Dr. John believes he is unique and those who doubt him are plain.

Take a hint, stay in your lane
Dr. John suggests that those who doubt him should stay in their own lane or area of expertise.

Why you tryna cause me pain
Dr. John questions why people try to cause him pain with their doubts.

Doubting me with all your brain
Dr. John believes that those who doubt him are thinking too much about it.

I’ll prove you wrong it’s time to gain
Dr. John will prove those who doubt him wrong and gain success.

Fame faster than a speeding train
Dr. John believes that he will become famous very quickly.

This my life, I’m like Bruce Wayne
Dr. John believes that his life is like that of Bruce Wayne, a famous and successful fictional character.

So why you tryna be the Bane?
Dr. John questions why those who doubt him are acting like the villain Bane from the Batman series.

You’ll never make it’s all you claim
Dr. John believes that those who doubt him will not be successful like they claim.

Y’all doubters you ain’t got no shame
Dr. John believes that those who doubt him should be ashamed of themselves.

It’s time for me to clean my name
Dr. John wants to prove himself and make his name more respected.

You’ll hear it soon when I have fame
Dr. John believes that those who doubt him will hear of his success when he becomes famous.

Keep on doubting me
Dr. John belives that people keep doubting him.

Then all of you will see
Dr. John believes that everyone will soon see his success.

The man that I will be
Dr. John believes that he will become a better and more successful person.

And you’ll have to take a knee
Dr. John believes that those who doubt him will have to accept his success and bow to him.

I been doing this some time
Dr. John has been rapping for a while.

I can spit some bars and rhyme
Dr. John is talented at rapping and creating rhymes.

I can make a catchy chime
Dr. John can create music that is memorable and catchy.

I am entering my prime
Dr. John believes that he is entering the best part of his career.

I don’t do this for the views
Dr. John does not care about getting views on his videos.

When I get em I don’t choose
Dr. John does not choose who views his videos.

I ain’t tryna fill no shoes
Dr. John is not trying to replace anyone.

Only mine that is who’s
Dr. John is only focused on himself.

Y’all are tryna pop my fuse
Dr. John believes that people are trying to make him angry.

But I tell you I don’t lose
Dr. John believes that he will not fail.

I be working while you snooze
Dr. John works hard while others sleep.

You will see me on the news
Dr. John believes that he will become famous and be on the news.

Don’t tell me how to do what I do
Dr. John does not want people to tell him how to make music.

Don’t tell me how to rap like you knew
Dr. John does not want people to give him advice on how to rap.

Don’t tell me cuz you don’t got a clue
Dr. John believes that those who doubt him have no idea what he is capable of.

Don’t tell me I ain’t tryna be like you
Dr. John believes that he is not trying to be like those who doubt him.

Don’t tell me I won’t make it, that ain’t true
Dr. John believes that he will make it despite those who doubt him.

Don’t tell me that my channel never grew
Dr. John does not want people to talk about his lack of growth on his channel.

Don’t tell me all these rappers to view
Dr. John does not want to hear about other rappers to view.

I already got a life, I don’t need two
Dr. John is happy with his current life and does not want a second one.

For pity’s sake
Dr. John wishes people would not give him pity.

I know I ain’t no Drake
Dr. John believes he is not the same as the famous rapper Drake.

John Riley that I’ll take
Dr. John is happy with his own name, John Riley.

My name I wanna make
Dr. John wants to make a name for himself.

I’ll never be a fake
Dr. John promises to never fake his success.

Come on give me a break
Dr. John wishes people would give him a break from their doubts.

Y’all giving me an ache
Dr. John's doubts are causing him emotional pain.

The beast is now awake
Dr. John is ready to take on his doubts and become successful.

Stop rerouting me my music’s a bop
Dr. John does not want his doubts to reroute him because his music is great.

Stop surrounding me I ain’t gonna flop
Dr. John believes that he will not fail and wants people to stop doubting him.

Ya don’t bring me down
Dr. John wants people to stop bringing him down with doubt.

Ya keep doubting me I need ya to stop
Dr. John needs people to stop doubting him so that he can become successful.

You’re doubts are motivation
Dr. John believes that the doubts of others are motivating him to become successful.

I will blow up in your nation
Dr. John believes that his success will be widespread.

Before it was a temptation
Dr. John was tempted to give up on his music when he encountered doubts.

But now it’s an obligation
Dr. John feels obligated to prove himself and become successful despite his doubts.

There is no negotiation
Dr. John will not negotiate with those who doubt him, he will prove them wrong.

This the start of my reputation
Dr. John believes that this song will be the start of his successful reputation.

I’m building up the foundation
Dr. John believes that he is building a strong foundation for his success.

And this song is the creation
This song is a creation that will help build his reputation according to Dr. John.

Ya keep doubting me but ya don’t know John Riley’s on top
Dr. John wants those who doubt him to know that he will eventually be successful and on top of the music industry.

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