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.
The Nearness of You
Dr. John Lyrics
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That thrills and delights me, oh no
Its just the nearness of you
It isn't your sweet conversation
That brings this sensation, oh no
Its just the nearness of you
All my wildest dreams come true
I need no soft lights to enchant me
If you'll only grant me the right
To hold you ever so tight
And to feel in the night the nearness of you
The Nearness of You by Dr. John is a song about feeling complete and fulfilled just by being close to the one he loves. The lyrics start by saying that it is not the pale moon that gets him excited, but rather the nearness of his loved one. He asserts that it is not their sweet conversation that brings him the sensation either, but simply their nearness, how they make him feel complete.
The lyrics go on to say that when he is holding his loved one in his arms and feels them close to him, all his wildest dreams come true. He doesn't need soft lights or any other form of enchantment because simply being near his loved one is enough to make him feel fulfilled. He concludes by asking his loved one to grant him the right to hold them tight and to feel the nearness of them in the night, implying that he can't bear to be without them.
Line by Line Meaning
Its not the pale moon that excites me
It's not the romantic setting or superficial things that excite me.
That thrills and delights me, oh no
Those don't bring me true joy and pleasure.
Its just the nearness of you
It's simply the physical and emotional closeness and intimacy with you that deeply moves and affects me.
It isn't your sweet conversation
It's not just the words you say or the way you talk to me.
That brings this sensation, oh no
Those alone don't create this profound feeling in me.
Its just the nearness of you
It's really just being close to you that stirs these emotions and sensations within me.
When you're in my arms and I feel you so close to me
When we are physically and emotionally together, and I hold you, I'm overwhelmed with feelings of joy and fulfillment.
All my wildest dreams come true
Everything I could ever hope or dream for is realized in that moment.
I need no soft lights to enchant me
I don't need seductive or artificial lighting to be allured or charmed.
If you'll only grant me the right
If you allow me the privilege or opportunity.
To hold you ever so tight
To embrace you tightly and intimately.
And to feel in the night the nearness of you
To experience your closeness and affection during the darkness of night.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Hoagy Carmichael, Ned Washington
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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