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.
Marie Laveau
Dr. John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In New Orleans, Louisiana – named Marie Laveau.
Believe it or not, strange as it seem,
She made her fortune selling voodoo, and interpreting dreams.
She was known throughout the nation as the Voodoo Queen.
Folks come to her, from miles and miles around,
She sure know how to put that, that voodoo down.
To the voodoo lady they all would go,
The rich, the educated, the ignorant and the poor.
She'd snap her fingers, and shake her head,
She'd tell them 'bout their lovers – livin' or dead.
Now an old, old lady named widow Brown,
Asked why her lover, stopped comin' around
The voodoo gazed at her and squawked
I seen him kissin' a young girl, up at Shakespeare's Park
Hanging on an oak tree, in the dark.
Oh Marie Laveau, Oh Marie Laveau,
Oh Marie Laveau, Oh Marie Laveau,
Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen,
From way down yonder in New Orleans.
Ya, ya, ya – ya, ya, ya – ya, ya, ya – yaaaaa
Now old, old lady, she lost her speech,
Tears start to rollin' down her checks,
Voodoo say, "Hush my darlin don't you cry,"
I make him come back, by and by.
Just sprinkle this snake dust, all over your floor,
I'll make him come back Friday mornin', when the rooster crow.
Now Marie Laveau she held em in her hand,
New Orleans, Louisiana was her promised land.
Quality folks, come from far and near,
This wonder woman, for to hear.
They was afraid to be seen, at her gate,
They'd creep through the dark, just to hear their fate.
Holdin' dark veils, over their head,
They would tremble to hear, what Maria would say.
Marie Laveau, Oh Marie Laveau,
Marie Laveau, Oh Marie Laveau,
Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen,
From way down yonder in New Orleans.
Ya, ya, ya – ya, ya, ya – ya, ya, ya – yaaaaa
And she made gris-gris, with an old ram horn,
Stuffed with feathers, shuck from a corn.
A big black candle, and a catfish fin,
She make a man get religion, and give up his sin.
Sad news got out one mornin', at the break of day,
Marie Laveau had done pass away.
St. Louis cemetery, she lay in her tomb,
She was buried one night, on the wake of the moon.
Marie Laveau, Oh Marie Laveau,
Oh Marie Laveau, Oh Marie Laveau,
The folks still believe, in the Voodoo Queen,
From way down yonder in New Orleans.
Oh Marie Laveau, Oh Marie Laveau,
Oh Marie Laveau, Oh Marie Laveau,
Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen,
From way down yonder in New Orleans.
Marie, Marie Laveau, Oh Marie Laveau,
Marie Laveau, the Marie Laveau,
Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen.
Dr. John’s song “Marie Laveau,” pays tribute to the famous voodoo queen of New Orleans, Marie Laveau. The song describes the power Laveau possessed, as people from all walks of life came to her for help with their problems. The lyrics speak of her as a conjure-lady, who made a fortune selling voodoo and interpreting dreams. According to the song, she was known as the Voodoo Queen and was sought out by the rich, the educated, the ignorant, and the poor.
The lyrics continue to describe how Laveau would snap her fingers and shake her head to tell people about their lovers, living or dead. The song also tells the story of an old lady named widow Brown, who went to Laveau to ask why her lover had suddenly stopped coming around. Laveau sought out her voodoo power, gazed at Brown, and informed her that she had seen him kissing a young girl in the dark of Shakespeare’s Park.
Line by Line Meaning
Now there lived a conjure-lady, not long ago,
In New Orleans, Louisiana – named Marie Laveau.
In the past, back in New Orleans, Louisiana, there was a woman who practiced conjuring, known as Marie Laveau.
Believe it or not, strange as it seem,
She made her fortune selling voodoo, and interpreting dreams.
Despite how unusual it may appear, Marie Laveau earned her wealth by selling voodoo and analyzing dreams.
She was known throughout the nation as the Voodoo Queen.
Marie Laveau had a national reputation as the Voodoo Queen.
Folks come to her, from miles and miles around,
She sure know how to put that, that voodoo down.
People from far and wide would seek her out because of her proficiency in the practice of voodoo.
To the voodoo lady they all would go,
The rich, the educated, the ignorant and the poor.
Marie Laveau had a diverse clientele, attracting people of all classes and levels of education.
She'd snap her fingers, and shake her head,
She'd tell them 'bout their lovers – livin' or dead.
Marie Laveau had a gift for divination, using a snap of her fingers and a shake of her head to communicate messages about her clients' lovers, even if they had passed away.
Now an old, old lady named widow Brown,
Asked why her lover, stopped comin' around
The voodoo gazed at her and squawked
I seen him kissin' a young girl, up at Shakespeare's Park
Hanging on an oak tree, in the dark.
Widow Brown consulted Marie Laveau to inquire about her absent lover. Marie Laveau replied that she had witnessed him kissing another woman in the park, under an oak tree, in the dark.
Oh Marie Laveau, Oh Marie Laveau,
Oh Marie Laveau, Oh Marie Laveau,
Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen,
From way down yonder in New Orleans.
This chorus is an ode to Marie Laveau, hailed as the Voodoo Queen from New Orleans.
Now old, old lady, she lost her speech,
Tears start to rollin' down her checks,
Voodoo say, "Hush my darlin don't you cry,"
I make him come back, by and by.
Just sprinkle this snake dust, all over your floor,
I'll make him come back Friday mornin', when the rooster crow.
Marie Laveau instructed Widow Brown to sprinkle snake dust on her floor and promised to bring Brown's lover back on the next Friday morning.
Now Marie Laveau she held em in her hand,
New Orleans, Louisiana was her promised land.
Quality folks, come from far and near,
This wonder woman, for to hear.
They was afraid to be seen, at her gate,
They'd creep through the dark, just to hear their fate.
Holdin' dark veils, over their head,
They would tremble to hear, what Maria would say.
Marie Laveau had a substantial influence on New Orleans, drawing educated and affluent individuals from nearby and far away to seek her out. Despite some clients being ashamed of being seen visiting her, they would still come in secrecy to hear her predictions.
And she made gris-gris, with an old ram horn,
Stuffed with feathers, shuck from a corn.
A big black candle, and a catfish fin,
She make a man get religion, and give up his sin.
Marie Laveau created gris-gris, a voodoo amulet made from a ram horn filled with feather and corn shucks, a black candle, and a catfish fin. This amulet had the power to help a person religiously repent and abandon their sinful behavior.
Sad news got out one mornin', at the break of day,
Marie Laveau had done pass away.
St. Louis cemetery, she lay in her tomb,
She was buried one night, on the wake of the moon.
Marie Laveau had passed away, and her death had spread early in the morning one day. She was buried in St. Louis cemetery in her tomb on the night of a full moon.
The folks still believe, in the Voodoo Queen,
From way down yonder in New Orleans.
Although Marie Laveau had passed away, people in New Orleans still believe in her abilities as the Voodoo Queen.
Marie, Marie Laveau, Oh Marie Laveau,
Marie Laveau, the Marie Laveau,
Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen.
This repetition of Marie Laveau's name amplifies her legend and emphasizes her significance as the Voodoo Queen.
Contributed by Arianna L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Steve
on Holdin' Pattern
Looking for the Lyrics "Holdin' Pattern" by Dr. John.
Perry
on I Been Hoodood (LP Version)
Not The Correct Lyrics Listed