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.

Litanie Des Saints
Dr. John Lyrics

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(phonetic)

Ero mante te que le mama
damba la metres
Ero mante te que le papa
damba la moi ido
Ero mante te que le mama
Santa Maria

Ero mante te que le mama
Ero mante te que le papa
Doce goche goche que le mama
mama oceon

Ero mante te que le mama
yia malia
Ero mante te que le papa
obea obea
Ero mante te que le mama
ooh bacalia

Ero mante te que le mama
Ero mante te que le papa
Doce goche goche que le mama
sambeau sambeau

Ero mante te que le mama
ooh coumalieh
Ero mante te que le mama
mamzelo zoulie zoulie zoulie
Ero mante te que le papa
papa ledvah

Ero mante te que le mama
Ero mante te que le papa

Doce goche goche que le mama
San Cecilia

Overall Meaning

"Litanie Des Saints" is a spiritual song performed by Dr. John, the famous New Orleans pianist and singer. The song is sung in phonetic language and has an African rhythm, primarily incorporating rhythms of the Congo and Cuba. The lyrics of the song are not easy to decipher, but the meaning of the song is interpreted as a prayer to different Saints and religious figures.

The lyrics “Ero mante te que le mama damba la metres Ero mante te que le papa damba la moi ido” seems to be a plea to Mother Earth to provide divine guidance by invoking the blessings of the Saints. The lyrics are repeated throughout the song, and it appears that each repetition represents a different prayer to various figures. At the end of each verse, the singer repeats "Santa Maria" or "San Cecilia," demonstrating a continuation of the prayer to these holy figures.

The song is characterized by an unrelenting beat that begins softly and gradually increases in intensity until the end. The lyrics are mysterious, and the melody is haunting, making "Litanie Des Saints" an unforgettable spiritual song.

Line by Line Meaning

Ero mante te que le mama
I implore you, mother

damba la metres
Bless us all

Ero mante te que le papa
I implore you, father

damba la moi ido
Bless me, too

Doce goche goche que le mama
May the Holy Ghost bless the mother

mama oceon
Mother of oceans

yia malia
Good mother

obea obea
Obeah, Obeah (West African Voodoo term)

ooh bacalia
A plea for mercy and blessings

sambeau sambeau
A call to dance and celebration

ooh coumalieh
A call for peace and harmony