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.
Lissen
Dr. John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who advises the advisor
And nobody thinks for their-self Who Thinks for everybody else
Gotta listen to learn
Learn to listen
If you ever want to know all that stuff your missin
Listen close take heed
Listen up listen at me
Better learn to listen
Better learn to listen
If your use to someone lookin over your shoulder
How you gonna grow any wiser and older
Now if you don't listen close at
Your teacher how can they understand and reach ya
Gotta listen to learn and
Learn to listen
If you ever wanna know all that stuff your missin
Listen close take heed
You might hear something you need
Listen up listen at me
Learn to listen
Better learn to listen
Facts of life come
Down to common sense
Now what you don't learn in school you might learn from experience hard knocks could
Break a head hard as wood
Open mind gonna catch anything
It understood
Gotta listen to learn
Got to learn to listen
If you ever wanna know all that stuff your missin
Put down that beer, turn off the TV, turn off that FM and the CD better listen at me
Better learn to listen
Take that cotton out your ear
Stuff it in your mouth
Crack back, chill out, that's what I'm talkin about
Turn down that VH1 and MTV
Turn off your Walkman turn down the B E T. Learn to listen
You gotta listen to learn
Sometime you act like a know it all, better be real.
The song "Lissen" by Dr. John is a call to listeners to pay close attention to what is going on around them and to be open to learning. It highlights the importance of listening in the process of gaining knowledge and wisdom. The song emphasizes that everyone needs an advisor, but even the advisor needs guidance, and those who think for themselves have an edge over those who rely solely on others.
The lyrics also touch on the importance of independent thinking and the need to break away from those who may be holding you back. It suggests that if you are used to someone looking over your shoulder, you will not be able to grow wiser and gain experience. The song alludes to the idea that some things can only be learned through experience and are not necessarily taught in school.
The song's message is timeless and can apply to anyone, from children learning from their teachers to adults navigating their professional and personal lives. The use of rhyme and catchy melody adds to the song's appeal and makes it an excellent example of how music can be used to educate and motivate listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody has an advisor
Everyone seeks guidance from someone else in their life.
Who advises the advisor
Even those who give advice still seek advice from someone else.
And nobody thinks for their-self
Most people are not independent and do not think for themselves.
Who Thinks for everybody else
There is a lack of individual thinking because everyone seeks advice from others.
Gotta listen to learn
You must listen in order to gain knowledge.
Learn to listen
In addition to listening, you must learn how to listen effectively.
If you ever want to know all that stuff your missin
To gain a full understanding of any topic, you must be an active listener.
Listen close take heed
Listen carefully and pay attention to what is being said.
You might hear a little something that you need
By being an active listener, you may gain important information or insights.
Listen up listen at me
Listen to what I have to say.
Better learn to listen
It is important to develop effective listening skills.
If your use to someone lookin over your shoulder
If you are accustomed to being monitored, you may struggle to think independently.
How you gonna grow any wiser and older
Without independent thinking, you will not be able to achieve personal growth.
Now if you don't listen close at your teacher how can they understand and reach ya
In order for a teacher to effectively communicate, the student must actively listen.
Facts of life come down to common sense
Life truths are based on logical and practical information.
Now what you don't learn in school you might learn from experience
Not all knowledge can be acquired from formal education, but instead by practical experience.
Hard knocks could break a head hard as wood
Difficult experiences can harm even the most resilient individuals.
Open mind gonna catch anything it understood
An open mind can absorb any new information that is easily comprehensible.
Put down that beer, turn off the TV, turn off that FM and the CD better listen at me
Eliminate all distractions and focus on actively listening.
Take that cotton out your ear
Remove any barriers to effective listening.
Stuff it in your mouth
Make sure you are not speaking while someone else is communicating.
Crack back, chill out, that's what I'm talkin about
Relax and take a step back to focus on active listening.
Turn down that VH1 and MTV, Turn off your Walkman turn down the B E T
Eliminate all distractions to focus on the singer.
Sometime you act like a know it all, better be real
Do not pretend to know everything, but instead be honest about your knowledge and seek to learn more.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MAC REBENNACK, MALCOLM J. REBENNACK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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