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.
Life
Dr. John Lyrics
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Dormir, sortir, que faire de ma night!
Est-ce que je dois profiter de ma life!
Bien avant que ma vie s'écoule!
Dormir, sortir, que faire de ma night!
Soit je m'isole ou soit j'deviens fou!
Tu veux tout tout de suite!
C'est une course poursuite!
Moi je m'épuise!
Wesh gava, tu t'pavannes, t'as sorti la go va et les pravas
T'es de passage, c'est le bazar,
T'as provoqué les passants même en bas âge
On te connaît, t'aime rigoler,
Mais personne n'aime te croiser quand t'as trop picolé
Tu vois une équipe, tu veux embrouiller l'un d'eux,
Akhi t'es mon gars sûr mais on se verra à main-de
Est-ce que je dois profiter de ma life!
Bien avant que ma vie s'écoule!
Dormir, sortir, que faire de ma night!
Soit je m'isole ou soit j'deviens fou!
Tu veux tout tout de suite!
Trop de sottises!
C'est une course poursuite!
Moi je m'épuise!
Ouh, je veux pas la baraque à cred'
Je veux mon terrain au bled ou bien barricadé
Ah, demande à Barrack A.D,
Le dream c'est la famille et tout le reste est gâté
Petit je voulais tout tout de suite!
J'voyais les chose en grand fallait pas que je touche le SMIC!
Petit ferme ta bouche, parler d'argent ici en France c'est tabou!
On est pas dans le pays d'Obama,
Si t'as réussi ta vie on te regarde mal!
N'essaye pas de débattre ici les gens parlent mal!
Bienvenue akhi ici c'est bien Paname!
Est-ce que je dois profiter de ma life!
Bien avant que ma vie s'écoule!
Dormir, sortir, que faire de ma night!
Soit je m'isole ou soit j'deviens fou!
Tu veux tout tout de suite!
Trop de sottises!
C'est une course poursuite!
Moi je m'épuise!
Je suis entouré de biff, de meufs, de 'teille
Bof, que faire?
Dis moi que faire?
Finir à T.K.O en Maybach, il faut le faire!
Il faut le faire!
Tu es sorti du lit, t'as pas le temps
Deux, trois potos qui t'attendent
Un beau mytho pour madame, ça passe elle va mir-dor, ça t'arrange!
Bouteille à ta table, t'es refait en place avec tous tes re-frés!
Deux jolies métisses, que faire?
Les yeux fatiguent, j'te serre!
Vous connaissez les refrains, fonce-dé jusqu'à demain!
Tu crois déchirer, être au dessus des hommes?
Mais t'es déchiré tu dors sur le sol!
Est-ce que je dois profiter de ma life!
Bien avant que ma vie s'écoule!
Dormir, sortir, que faire de ma night!
Soit je m'isole ou soit j'deviens fou!
Tu veux tout tout de suite!
Trop de sottises!
C'est une course poursuite!
Moi je m'épuise!
Qui a sous estimé le Wa, c'est le del-bor
Qui t'as surestimé toi, peu importe!
Trop de talent in the air, comme la NBA!
Feeling in the air, laisse moi profiter de ma life!
Avant que tout s'éteigne, de ma life!
Avant que tout s'éteigne, laisse moi profiter de ma life!
Avant que tout s'éteigne, de ma life!
Avant que tout s'éteigne.
The song "Life" by Dr. John looks at the different emotions, events, and experiences that make one high on life. From the start, he wants to enjoy every moment of life without the hangovers and regrets. He craves for the sense of success, but not the recognition that comes with it. Dr. John points out the judgmental nature of people and how it is harmful to those affected. "Stay sweet and take it easy cause the stuff's too much. Sometimes it's just an F and that is just enough." The F represents the good times that people share, which are sometimes underrated.
Dr. John then shifts to talking about love, adding to the theme of positivity. He seems to want to reframe the public perception of love by stating, "I'm gonna tell you 'bout making love cause that's the top these days. I am high on life now so all I do is stop the hate" He mentions that despite his failings, he still feels high on life because he hasn't stopped trying to do great things.
Dr. John then proceeds to mention the natural beauty in life, creating a sense of positivity in the listener. "Can you feel the wind blowing through your latest tan? Can you smell the salt on your upper lip? Yes, I can. Evening sun makes more beautiful than any make-up can. Get up early, get out there, make a day, stay up then." He emphasizes how important it is for individuals to live in the present and appreciate the world around them. Dr. John finishes by emphasizing his overall happiness in life so far and how he intends to focus on the good times in the future.
Line by Line Meaning
Hand me the cup and get me some sun on my face
Let's start the day early, hydrated, and feeling good
We're starting early, don't wanna be hungover late
Let's avoid partying too hard and regret it later
I don't wanna keep rolling at a stumbling pace
Let's avoid being drunk or drugged out all the time
Sometimes I need the Lambo, not the humble and great
Sometimes I want to indulge in luxurious things instead of being modest
Somebody save them cause we judge too much
We should stop judging others and try to help them instead
It's not important, chill out and we stop the rush
Let's relax and stop being in a hurry all the time
Stay sweet and take it easy cause the stuff's too much
Let's stay positive and not get overwhelmed by life's challenges
Sometimes it's just an F and that is just enough
Sometimes we don't need the best, but just enough to get by
I know you tell me 'bout the bitches that you fuck all day
I don't want to hear about your promiscuity and disrespect of women
Guess that is bullshit, 'cause gentlemen shut up and play
Real men don't brag about their sexual conquests
I'm gonna tell you 'bout making love cause that's the top these days
I want to promote love and intimacy as the ultimate goal in relationships
I am high on life now so all I do is stop the hate
I am happy and content with my life, so I try to spread positivity and love
Man I'm fucking late, am I ever gonna learn that?
I'm always running late, will I ever change my ways?
Of course I will, it's the PhD I earned that
I have earned the knowledge and discipline to improve my habits
You never heard that? You just wanna surf that?
You haven't heard of my success, but you just want to ride on my coattails
Once you dropped in, It's impossible to turn back
Once you commit to something, it's hard to go back on your word
No I don't even know why (Know why)
I don't know why I am feeling happy, but that's okay
But I know that it feels right (Feels right)
I just know that I am content with my life right now
Yeah, If I did it all twice (If I did it all twice)
If I had the chance to live my life again, I wouldn't change a thing
If I got to do it all twice (If I got it all twice)
If I could have double the experiences, I would be grateful
No, I wouldn't roll the dice 'cause
I wouldn't take any risks or gamble, because
I'm way too high on life
I am too content with my life to want more than what I have
Imagine, all the things are happening gradually
We should embrace the slow and steady progress of life
We can't control 'em, so you sure you wanna be mad at me
Life is unpredictable, so why be angry at someone else for it?
Listen to this badass beat, put your feet in my lap
Let's enjoy the music and relax
And lean back in in the passenger seat
Let me take control and drive, while you relax
I'm over here driving, trying to explain all that is happening to me
I am trying to understand my life and share my experiences through music
I'm tryin' it in the music that I passionately need
Music is my outlet to express what I need to say
I know it ain't about the cash but they will casually see
Money isn't everything, but people will judge you based on it anyway
That there is cash in the beat
Music can still be profitable, even if it's not the main focus
Can you feel the wind blowing through your latest tan?
Let's appreciate the natural sensations of life
Can you the smell the salt on your upper lip? Yes, I can
Let's indulge in the sensory pleasures of life
Evening sun makes more beautiful than any make-up can
The natural beauty of the sunset is more captivating than any cosmetic
Get up early, get out there, make a day, stay up then
Let's wake up early, seize the day, and stay awake for as long as we can
If some day your face has more lines than Pablo Escobar
If someday you look older and more weathered than someone infamous like Pablo Escobar
I already know it'll always have been the best so far
I know that you will always have lived your best life so far, no matter what happens in the future
Like dippin' it into the beginning of the pesto jar
Like savoring the best part of something
High on life, and we call it amor
Feeling happy and content with life, and calling it love
Alright, muscles are sore, it's been hardcore
Okay, our muscles are sore and we've done some hard work
Drive to go home, stop by the corner store
Let's stop by the store on the way home
Scan the barcode, mate bottles on the car floor
We're buying drinks and leaving them on the car floor
High on life, and we call it amor
Feeling happy and content with life, and calling it love
I'm way to high on life
I am too content with my life to want more than what I have
High on life, yeah
Feeling happy and content with life
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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