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.
That Old Black Magic
Dr. John Lyrics
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That old black magic that you weave so well
Icy fingers up
And down my spine
The same old witchcraft when your eyes meet mine
The same old tingle that I feel
Inside
Down and down I go, round and round I go
Like a leaf that's
Caught in the tide
I should stay away but what can I do
I hear your name, and I'm aflame
Aflame with
Such a burning desire
That only your kiss can put out the fire
You are the lover that Ive waited for
The mate that fate had me created for
And every time your lips meet mine
Baby down and down I go,
All around I go
In a spin, loving the spin that I'm in
Under that old black magic called love
The lyrics of "That Old Black Magic" by Dr. John speak of a powerful enchantment that the singer is under, one that he recognizes as a spell. The old black magic is referring to love and how it controls and manipulates people. The spell that the singer is under is one that is weaved by a particular person who he is deeply drawn to. This person has an uncanny ability to draw him in, surrounding him with an otherworldly energy that sends chills up and down his spine. This energy is the same witchcraft that he has experienced before when he met their gaze.
The chorus of the song describes the physical effects that this love has on the singer, affecting him to his very core. The elevator ride represents the physical excitement and rush he feels from being under this spell. He admits that he should stay away, but his desire for this person is too strong. The singer is finding it hard to resist the magic that has such a strong grip on him; he admits that only this person's kiss can douse the fire within him. He believes that this is the lover that he has been waiting for, and he is willing to spin, round and round, in the deep and dark waters of love that he has fallen into, under the old black magic called love.
Line by Line Meaning
That old black magic has me in its spell
The inexplicable power of love that you have over me
That old black magic that you weave so well
The way you effortlessly make me fall in love with you
Icy fingers up
A shiver that runs down my spine as I think of you
And down my spine
The sensation that I feel when I'm in your presence
The same old witchcraft when your eyes meet mine
The way we both get lost in each other's eyes, as if we are under a spell
The same old tingle that I feel
The excitement that I experience when I'm around you
Inside
Within my heart and soul
When that elevator starts its ride
The feeling of my heart racing when I'm close to you
Down and down I go, round and round I go
The feeling of being lost in love, unable to control my emotions
Like a leaf that's caught in the tide
Helplessly carried along by the current of love
I should stay away but what can I do
Even though I know I shouldn't be with you, I can't resist
I hear your name, and I'm aflame
The way my heart races when I hear your name
Aflame with such a burning desire
Overwhelmed with a strong, passionate desire for you
That only your kiss can put out the fire
The only way to extinguish this intense feeling is with your love
You are the lover that Ive waited for
You are the one I've been searching for all my life
The mate that fate had me created for
Destined to be together, fated by a higher power
And every time your lips meet mine
The way my world stops and everything else fades away when we kiss
Baby down and down I go, all around I go
The feeling of falling deeper and deeper in love, completely consumed by the sensation
In a spin, loving the spin that I'm in
The dizzying feeling of being in love, enjoying every moment of it
Under that old black magic called love
Completely under the spell of love, unable to resist its power
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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