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.
Qualified
Dr. John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Better hurry up and check it out
Looky here, looky here
Your steak ain't no hipper than my pork chop
Your Cadillac ain't no hipper than my bus stop
Your champagne ain't no hipper than my soda pop
Have no fear, I'm already here
I'll Tell you now (I'm qualified)
You know that I'm qualified
(You know that I'm qualified)
Your top hat ain't no better than my ginger brown
And your sharp skin ain't no badder than my Levis Jim
The money you got, it ain't no better than a higher spending man's
All I've got is a little bit of common sense
I believe in my heart, the best e.d. is experience
I'll tell you now (I'm qualified)
You know that I'm qualified
(You know that I'm qualified)
You may find me in a project slum
Be hanging out with all the skid row bums
I may be sick and I may seem dumb
That don't mean you know where I'm coming from
Look out kid
Just make a little room for
Your social life ain't no better than my hot dog stand
Your edu-ma-cation ain't no hipper than what you understand
Your woman that you got she ain't no hipper than a hot loving band
I got the power to control
I can see clean through your blind mole?
And I want to tell you now (I'm qualified)
You know that I'm qualified
(You know that I'm qualified)
Look at me, I'm filling up in class
And you better watch out, I'm stepping up fast
And I ain't a jacket on me, I've been hanging out in the projects
Hangin' out with all you rednecks
you rubbernecks and rejects
In his song "Qualified," Dr. John challenges the idea of social hierarchies and asserts his qualifications to succeed despite them. He begins the song by calling attention to the superficial markers of status that people use to assert their superiority over others. He argues that someone's steak, car, or drink of choice does not make them any more qualified than someone who drinks soda or rides the bus. Instead, Dr. John asserts that his "common sense" and experience make him just as, if not more, qualified than those who rely on their wealth and possessions.
Throughout the song, Dr. John uses irony and wordplay to twist common idioms and phrases to make his point. For example, when he says "Your top hat ain't no better than my ginger brown," he is using "ginger brown" to mean a type of hat that is just as good as a top hat. Similarly, he uses "edu-ma-cation" to make it clear that someone's education does not necessarily make them any smarter than someone without formal education who has worked to gain knowledge.
Dr. John's message in this song is that people should be judged based on their abilities and character, not on their possessions or social status. He asserts his own worth and qualifications, saying that he is just as capable as anyone else, and that he will not allow himself to be held back by societal expectations or prejudices.
Line by Line Meaning
Looky here
Pay attention to what I'm about to say
Better hurry up and check it out
You don't want to miss this
Your steak ain't no hipper than my pork chop
Don't think that just because you have something expensive, it's better than what I have
Your Cadillac ain't no hipper than my bus stop
Just because you have a fancy car, it doesn't mean you're cooler than me
Your champagne ain't no hipper than my soda pop
Don't act like drinking champagne is so much better than soda
Looky here, I'm ready to take care of business
I'm ready to handle whatever comes my way
Have no fear, I'm already here
You can count on me to tackle the situation
You know that I'm qualified
I have the skills and experience necessary to do this
Your top hat ain't no better than my ginger brown
Don't think you're more fancy or formal than me just because of what you're wearing
And your sharp skin ain't no badder than my Levis Jim
Your appearance doesn't make you tougher or cooler than me
The money you got, it ain't no better than a higher spending man's
Having a lot of money doesn't necessarily make you better or more successful
All I've got is a little bit of common sense
I may not have a lot of fancy things, but I have practical knowledge and wisdom
I believe in my heart, the best e.d. is experience
I value real-world experience more than formal education
You may find me in a project slum
I may not come from privilege, but that doesn't define me
Be hanging out with all the skid row bums
I'm not above associating with people who are down on their luck
I may be sick and I may seem dumb
Don't underestimate me because of my appearance or status
That don't mean you know where I'm coming from
You can't judge or understand me just by looking at me
Just make a little room for
Be prepared for me to make my mark
Your social life ain't no better than my hot dog stand
Just because you have a more active social life, it doesn't make you inherently better than me
Your edu-ma-cation ain't no hipper than what you understand
Your education doesn't mean much if you don't truly comprehend what you learned
Your woman that you got she ain't no hipper than a hot loving band
Having a girlfriend or wife doesn't make you any cooler or happier than being part of a passionate group
I got the power to control
I have the ability to take charge and make things happen
I can see clean through your blind mole?
I can see through your facade or lies
And I want to tell you now (I'm qualified)
I need to emphasize that I have what it takes to succeed
Look at me, I'm filling up in class
I'm rising to the top despite not coming from privilege
And you better watch out, I'm stepping up fast
I'm quickly making moves upward
And I ain't a jacket on me, I've been hanging out in the projects
I may not look like I belong among the elite, but I have the skills and grit to succeed
Hangin' out with all you rednecks, you rubbernecks and rejects
I have no problem mingling with people from all walks of life and backgrounds
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MAC REBENNACK, JESSIE HILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
zapwatt
This drummer is one of the best I have ever heard.
julie rieger
Can't get enough of Dr. John!!! An attitude adjustment in every song! There is no way to hold back my dancing when I hear the first note!!!!!
Ruth Mckay
Your edumacation ain't no hipper than what you understand.
I love Dr. John.
Philip Halpenny
Dig..
2 Men In A Bunker
Hands down favorite Dr John track! That groove ! ....
C A
Can confirm. Is Qualified. 10/10, Also is Nite Tripper. 10/10
observer42
I absolutely LOVE Dr. John and his band. They're awesome and timeless.
James Wilson
I used to set my alarm to a radio program that played this song every Monday morning at 7am. It was a harbinger of the work week, so I couldn't help but feel a little disdain for it. But now it's a few years on, and I realize that I've been missing this.
I thought of this tonight while watching the new season of American Horror Story (Hotel), and since everything reminds me of music at all times, the locale made me think of the phrase "skid row bums", so here I am.
D Snodgrass
Mr. Business- if you're in Cleveland, OH, they still play it at that same time. WRUW 91.1 FM "Fat Monday" show. I hear it on my way home from work every week.
TD DT
The Meters as back up band and produced by Allen Toussaint can't go wrong !!!