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.
Revolution
Dr. John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Deaf ears of power
Dumb moves on money
Left us in a desperate hour
Economy
Connin' me out of my sanity
Rebellious revolution
Hands in surrender,
Killed in they tracks
Babies, women raped
Leaders on they back
Religious delusions
Stone confusion
Rebellious revolution
Is this the final solution?
The proof of man's insanity
The truth of war's inhumanity
Let's all just pray on it right now!
Guerrilla warfare
Lady Liberty
Propaganda,
Hypocrisy
Did we lose our Constitution?
Rebellious revolution
Is this the final solution?
Rebellious revolution
Is this the final solution?
The final solution
The lyrics of Dr. John's Revolution deal with the theme of societal unrest and revolution, and criticize the blindness of justice, deaf ears of power, and the dumb moves played on money which collectively left society in a desperate position. The song speaks about the struggles of the people against an oppressive authority that commits atrocities and massacres the same people they are supposed to protect. The lyrics ask whether a rebellious revolution is the final solution to the problems plaguing society.
Dr. John speaks about the pain and suffering of people who have lost their loved ones, as well as their hopes and dreams in the fight against tyranny. He discusses religious delusions and double standards in the leadership which have left the people in confusion. The final verse serves as a call to action, imploring everyone to join the fight against war, inhumanity, hypocrisy, and propaganda. The song ends with a question about whether a rebellious revolution is the final solution.
Line by Line Meaning
Blind eyes of justice,
Justice is not being served, it is being ignored.
Deaf ears of power
Those in power are turning a blind eye to what's going on.
Dumb moves on money
Poor financial decisions have led to desperate times.
Left us in a desperate hour
We're in a dire situation with no easy solution.
Economy
The economy is failing to the point of madness.
Connin' me out of my sanity
The system is manipulating and exploiting the people.
Rebellious revolution
The people are rising up against their oppressors.
Is this the final solution?
Will this rebellion be the only way to solve our problems?
Hands in surrender,
People are giving up in the face of overwhelming force.
Killed in they tracks
People are being stopped and killed for speaking out.
Babies, women raped
The most vulnerable members of society are being brutalized.
Leaders on they back
The people in charge are failing to lead.
Religious delusions
Ideas about religion are being used to harm people.
Stone confusion
People are unsure of what to believe and who to trust.
The proof of man's insanity
War and conflict show that humans are capable of terrible things.
The truth of war's inhumanity
War brings out the worst in people.
Let's all just pray on it right now!
We need divine intervention to solve these issues.
Guerrilla warfare
The people are using unconventional tactics to fight back.
Lady Liberty
Freedom is worth fighting for.
Propaganda,
The government is spreading false information.
Hypocrisy
The government is doing the opposite of what they say.
Did we lose our Constitution?
The government is not following the laws they're supposed to.
The final solution
This rebellion may be the only way to fix our problems.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAN AUERBACH, LEON MICHELS, NICK MOVSHON, BRIAN OLIVE, MALCOLM REBENNACK, MAXIMILIAN WEISSENFELDT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RTB88KEYS
Dr John has gone.
1st Verse the Dr has left the building and across
this mortal plain. I cried tonight from sadness, as he boarded that heavenly
train. He walked on Gilded Splinters with a Zulu staff of light and as he
lifted into to the sky he whispered ‘such a night.’
I wrote a second verse
for Dr. John after viewing the second line in New Orleans. His granddaughter
Steph was in the middle of the crowd. I thought what would he say or do if he
was a ghost watching all this from the side lines and then it came to me.
Verse 2.
I walked across the Levee and through the Treme today. The second
line was waiting for the tubas to start a parade. The trombones slid up on the
trumpets and the drums just felt so tight, was this for Fats, Fess or Toussaint
but something was just not right. I recognized a girl in the middle of the
crowd, it was my granddaughter Steph singing and crying out loud.
Verse 3.
I caught a reflection in a window and the person looking back,
It was then I recognized the man who some call Malcom "Mac"
Rebennack. My feet suddenly left the ground as I slowly rose above, I realized
at once it was for me, all this outpouring of love. I hovered above the music
as I floated with the wind, I heard a gospel choir and that finally drew me in.
The angels surrounded me and rang a golden chime, it’s time to leave the
crescent city and the loves I've left behind. I've never felt so good and sad a
tear ran down my face. I was in the right time as I entered heaven and crossed
over the pearly gates.
Love Richard TBear
Fats refers to Fats Domino Fess is professor Longhair and
Toussaint is Alan Toussaint all had second line parades.
@ceeemm3474
This world was a richer place with you Mac. Sorely missed big fella.
Thank you for the incredible music you gave us.
Rest well. You earned it.
@marleyember2637
Rest in peace, Dr John.
KING of New Orleans.
@the2ndcoming135
🙆🏽♂️🍿
@teopeppe
R.I.P. DR JOHN !!!! YOU' LL BE IMMORTAL WITH YOUR LEGENDARY MUSIC !!!!!
@StreetWearLiveSecondLife
RIP Brother Our city just wont be the same without you. Your music will never die...It IS New Orleans!!
@jbobbylew
Saw Dr. John along with this epic band at BAM this year. So damn awesome.
@YusakuJon3
Glad to see the Doctor is still jamming out there at this time! We don't get much better than this these days. Keep it going, Doc.
@12mulatu
This whole cd is the the best album of the year, musically, by far. Nick Movshon on bass is frickin unreal..he has co wrote hits for Amy Winehouse, toured with the black keys, wrote some of Adeles's shit, played with Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra, Lee Fields, Aloe Blacc, Wu Tang Clan, the list goes on. A modern bass hero, and he and Max, the drummer on this are fuckin amazing together. Dr John is 71 years old and still got mad game.
@MusicDude86
If this was released in the 60's, it would have been a huge hit :)
@karlsand9377
Such a good hook to it. The voice, the horns, you can smell and taste it. Long live Dr John!