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.
Lazy Bones
Dr. John Lyrics
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How you spect to get your day's work done?
You can't get your day's work done
Sleepin' in the noon day sun
Lazybones, layin' in the shade
How you gonna get your cornmeal made?
You can't get no cornmeal made
When taters need sprayin', I bet you keep prayin'
The bugs'll fall off of the vine
And when you go fishin' I bet you keep wishin'
Them fish don't grab your line
Lazybones, loafin' all the day
How you spect to make a dime that way?
You won't make no dime that way
Loafin' in the shade all day
In the song "Lazy Bones," Dr. John addresses the notion of laziness and questions how one expects to accomplish anything by sleeping in the sun or laying in the shade all day. The lyrics highlight the idea that productivity is essential to success and living a fulfilling life. Dr. John emphasizes the sentiment that one cannot expect to achieve anything by remaining idle and offers a humorous take on the subject.
The lyrics continue to paint a picture of someone who is idle, but needing to accomplish tasks nonetheless. The singer suggests that when the character needs to spray the taters, they hope the bugs will just fall off the vine, and when they go fishing, they wish the fish won't grab their line. The lyrics are playful in their approach, but the message is clear, emphasizing the importance of hard work and effort.
To conclude, the song "Lazy Bones" conveys the importance of hard work, effort, and productivity. The lyrics offer a humorous take on characters who prefer to idle away their days and showcases that ultimately, one must put in the work to achieve their goals.
Line by Line Meaning
Lazybones, sleepin' in the sun
Hey, Lazybones, what's up? Why are you sleeping in the sun? Do you expect to finish your work like this?
How you spect to get your day's work done?
How do you think you can complete your daily work schedule by sleeping in the sun? It's not possible!
You can't get your day's work done
Sleeping in the sun will prevent you from accomplishing your day's work. It's impossible!
Sleepin' in the noon day sun
If you keep sleeping during the day, especially in the heat of the noon sun, you won't accomplish anything.
Lazybones, layin' in the shade
Hey, Lazybones! Now you're just lying in the shade. How do you plan on making your cornmeal?
How you gonna get your cornmeal made?
You can't produce your cornmeal by lying around in the shade. How will you get it done?
You can't get no cornmeal made
If you keep laying around in the shade, you won't be able to create any cornmeal. It's just not feasible!
Sleepin' in that evening shade
When you start sleeping, even during the cooler evening shade, you won't be able to get anything done.
When taters need sprayin', I bet you keep prayin'
I bet when your potatoes need to be sprayed, you start hoping that the bugs will fall off by themselves.
The bugs'll fall off of the vine
You wish for bugs to fall off the vine, so you don't have to do any work. But it's highly unlikely!
And when you go fishin' I bet you keep wishin'
I'm sure when you go fishing, you're wishing that the fish won't take the bait and you'll have an excuse to not do anything.
Them fish don't grab your line
You want the fish to avoid biting your line so you can relax and not do anything. It's just wishful thinking!
Lazybones, loafin' all the day
Hey, you're lazying around every day. You think you can earn money and achieve something like this?
How you spect to make a dime that way?
It's impossible to earn anything if you keep loafing around every day. You won't make a single dime!
You won't make no dime that way
If you keep laying around all day and not doing anything, you will not achieve anything. You won't even make a single dime!
Loafin' in the shade all day
You won't achieve anything substantial or productive by just lying around idly in the shade.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HOAGY CARMICHAEL, JOHNNY MERCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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