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.
Tangerine
Dr. John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
After another night of trash sleep
I make my way down the corridor
Sweep up dust bunnies on the floor
That were once under your set of drawers
The little brown ring resides where your morning mug once sat
You stained our kitchen table, it's too late to take back
Turn all the lights on sort the laundry smell the sheets
Tangerine tangerine with a cut on my tongue
Stinging stinging sweetly coming undone
Tangerine tangerine juices are wrung
Stinging stinging we're finally done
Who will it be tonight darling Jekyll or Hyde
Seemingly nothing I can't swallow or compartmentalize
Alcohol you swore you'd handle and have a good time
39 shots from you 1.75 doesn't do much besides barbarize
Just tell em the truth
I invited you in
I let you smash through my doors
And break down my boundaries that I set up and ignore
Not an excuse tell em the truth
I invited you in
I let you smash through my doors
And break down my boundaries that I set up and ignore
Not an excuse tell em the truth
Booze on your breath steamroller eyes
You coming home was like rolling the dice
I minimized you realized said it was nothing but I lied
Learned how to speak my mind as as adult
My value was based on how high I could jump
It's my own fucking fault
That I lay down and roll over for anyone with a pulse
I invited you in
(Tangerine tangerine with a cut on my tongue)
I let you smash through my doors
And break down my boundaries that I set up and ignore
(Stinging stinging sweetly coming undone)
Not an excuse tell em the truth
I invited you in
(Tangerine tangerine juices are wrung)
I let you smash through my doors
And break down my boundaries that I set up and ignore
(Stinging stinging we're finally done)
Not an excuse tell em the truth
The lyrics of Dr. John's song "Tangerine" paint a vivid picture of a person reflecting on a past relationship that has ended. The song begins with the singer waking up to leftover coffee in the kitchen, symbolizing the remnants of their previous life together. The mention of "trash sleep" suggests that the nights have been filled with restlessness and emotional turmoil.
As the singer moves through the chorus, we get a sense of the bittersweet nature of their memories. The line "Your scent is slowly fading from my memory" indicates that time is erasing the presence of their ex-partner from their mind. The use of the tangerine metaphor conveys both the sweetness and the sting of their past love. The cut on the tongue represents the pain and bitterness associated with the relationship, while the juiciness of the tangerine reflects the initial allure and pleasure they experienced.
The second verse delves into the emotional struggles and complexities of the relationship. The mention of Jekyll and Hyde alludes to the unpredictable behavior of the ex-partner, unsure of who they will encounter each night. The mention of alcohol and its negative effects on the relationship suggests that substance abuse played a role in their downfall.
In the bridge, the singer takes responsibility for their actions, admitting to inviting their ex-partner into their life and allowing them to break down their boundaries. The repeated line "Not an excuse tell em the truth" emphasizes the need for honesty and self-awareness.
Overall, "Tangerine" is a poignant exploration of the aftermath of a tumultuous relationship, characterized by both the longing for what was lost and the realization of personal accountability.
Line by Line Meaning
Leftover coffee in the kitchen beckons me
The remnants of our relationship still tempt me, calling me back to the memories we shared
After another night of trash sleep
Following a restless night where thoughts of you plagued my dreams
I make my way down the corridor
I navigate through the paths of my emotions, searching for resolution
Sweep up dust bunnies on the floor
I clean up the remnants of our past, removing the lingering reminders of what once was
That were once under your set of drawers
These memories were hidden, tucked away in the depths of our shared experiences
The little brown ring resides where your morning mug once sat
A faint reminder of the times we spent together, marked by the stain left on our shared space
You stained our kitchen table, it's too late to take back
Your actions and their consequences have permanently altered our relationship, with no possibility of reversal
Turn all the lights on sort the laundry smell the sheets
I immerse myself in the tasks of daily life, desperately trying to mask the fading scent of you
Your scent is slowly fading from my memory
The essence of your presence in my life is gradually diminishing, leaving behind only traces of what once was
Tangerine tangerine with a cut on my tongue
The bittersweet memories of our time together, tinged with pain and regret
Stinging stinging sweetly coming undone
The emotional turmoil caused by our failed relationship, simultaneously painful and liberating
Tangerine tangerine juices are wrung
The emotions and feelings associated with our past are extracted and drained, leaving behind only the residue of what once was
Stinging stinging we're finally done
The intense emotional pain we both experienced has led to the end of our relationship, offering a sense of finality and closure
Who will it be tonight darling Jekyll or Hyde
I question the true nature of the person you were, unsure of which version of you I would encounter
Seemingly nothing I can't swallow or compartmentalize
I convince myself that I can handle and rationalize the hardships and challenges our relationship presents
Alcohol you swore you'd handle and have a good time
You promised to control your alcohol consumption and enjoy yourself, but it only led to chaos and pain
39 shots from you 1.75 doesn't do much besides barbarize
You consumed excessive amounts of alcohol, resulting in destructive behavior and diminishing our connection
Just tell em the truth
I need to be honest about the reality of our relationship, facing the consequences of my choices
I invited you in
I willingly welcomed you into my life and heart, allowing you to become a significant part of my world
I let you smash through my doors
I allowed you to break down the barriers and defenses I had constructed, exposing myself to vulnerability
And break down my boundaries that I set up and ignore
You shattered the limits and safeguards I had established, forcing me to confront the truths I preferred to overlook
Not an excuse tell em the truth
Instead of offering justifications or excuses, I must confront the harsh reality of our failed relationship
Booze on your breath steamroller eyes
The smell of alcohol on your breath and the intensity of your gaze reveal the destructive path our relationship has taken
You coming home was like rolling the dice
Each time you returned to my life, it felt like a gamble, uncertain of the outcome and potential for further harm
I minimized you realized said it was nothing but I lied
I downplayed the significance of your actions, pretending they meant little to me, but deep down, I knew the truth
Learned how to speak my mind as an adult
Through the challenges we faced, I discovered the importance of asserting myself and expressing my true thoughts and feelings
My value was based on how high I could jump
I measured my worth in our relationship by how much I was willing to sacrifice and compromise
It's my own fucking fault
The blame for the failure of our relationship falls squarely on my own shoulders, as I allowed myself to be taken advantage of
That I lay down and roll over for anyone with a pulse
I permitted myself to be submissive and easily influenced by anyone who showed the slightest interest, without considering my own well-being
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Zachary Lane
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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