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.
St. James Infirmary
Dr. John Lyrics
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They were serving drinks as usual, and the usual crowd was there
On my left stood Big Joe McKennedy, and his eyes were bloodshot red
And he turned his face to the people, these were the very words he said
I was down to St. James infirmary, I saw my baby there
She was stretched out on a long white table,
So sweet, cool and so fair
Let her go, let her go, God bless her
Wherever she may be
She may search this whole wide world over
Never find a sweeter man as me
When I die please bury me in my high top Stetson hat
Put a twenty dollar gold piece on my watch chain
The gang'll know I died standing pat
Let her go, let her go God bless her
Wherever she may be
She may search this wide world over
Never find a sweeter man as me
I want six crapshooters to be my pallbearers
Three pretty women to sing a song
Stick a jazz band on my hearse wagon
Raise hell as I stroll along
Let her go Let her go
God bless her
Wherever she may be
She may search this whole wide
World over
She'll never find a sweeter
Man as me
"St. James Infirmary" is a traditional blues song that has been covered by many artists throughout history, including Dr. John. The song is a haunting tale of a man who visits a hospital and finds his lover dead. The singer mourns his lover's death and asks for God's blessings as she searches for another man as sweet as him.
The song begins with the singer describing a visit to Joe's barroom in the town square. He notices Big Joe McKennedy, whose eyes are bloodshot, and the regular crowd of drinkers. The singer then sings about going down to St. James infirmary, where he saw his lover's lifeless body on a white table. He mourns her loss and asks God to bless her wherever she may be. He claims that she will never find a sweeter man than him, no matter where she looks.
The lyrics then switch to the singer's thoughts about his own death. He requests to be buried in his high top Stetson hat and to have a gold piece on his watch chain as a symbol of his wealth. The singer then asks for six crapshooters to be his pallbearers, three women to sing a song, and for jazz music to accompany his funeral procession as he "strolls along."
Overall, the song is a melancholic reflection on lost love, death, and leaving one's mark on the world. Its haunting melody and lyrics have made it a classic in the blues genre for many years.
Line by Line Meaning
It was down by old Joe's barroom, on the corner of the square
This story happened at Joe's barroom on the corner of the square
They were serving drinks as usual, and the usual crowd was there
As usual, drinks were being served and the regular customers were present
On my left stood Big Joe McKennedy, and his eyes were bloodshot red
Big Joe McKennedy was standing on my left, his eyes were red and bloodshot
And he turned his face to the people, these were the very words he said
Big Joe looked at the people and said these words
I was down to St. James infirmary, I saw my baby there
I went to St. James Infirmary and saw my lover there
She was stretched out on a long white table, So sweet, cool and so fair
My lover was laid out on a long white table and looked so sweet, cool and fair
Let her go, let her go, God bless her
Let my lover go and God bless her
Wherever she may be
May she be at peace wherever she is
She may search this whole wide world over
Even if she searches the whole wide world over
Never find a sweeter man as me
She'll never find a man as sweet as me
When I die please bury me in my high top Stetson hat
If I die, please bury me wearing my high top Stetson hat
Put a twenty dollar gold piece on my watch chain
Put a twenty dollar gold piece on my watch chain as a symbol of how I lived
The gang'll know I died standing pat
My friends will know that I died standing my ground
I want six crapshooters to be my pallbearers
I want six of my gambling buddies to carry my casket
Three pretty women to sing a song
Three attractive women to sing a song at my funeral
Stick a jazz band on my hearse wagon
Play jazz music as they carry my coffin away
Raise hell as I stroll along
Let there be a wild party as they carry me to my grave
Let her go Let her go
One more time, let my lover go
God bless her
May she be blessed by God
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Irving Mills
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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