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.
Voices in My Head
Dr. John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In my head (Voices)
Whispering in my ear
I got these
Voices in my head
They’re whispering things
In my ear
They’re saying
Some pretty rude ass shit too like
Listen little kid you gotta
Grow the fuck up
You’re not a baby anymore
You’ve been out here busting nuts
And if you fuck up or slip up
You’ll end up with a kid too
Just keep in mind all that shit your sister done been through
Then I begin to think what am I doing here
I got these things I want to do with my life like my career
Your boy is gonna be on TV maybe even the big screen
I pray to God that I get there
I pray that I have the means
Oh so what makes you think that you are gonna do that?
You’re a little lost kid who didn’t graduate now raps
Who are you talking to?
What are you gonna do?
Tell me who are you gonna be?
Who are you changing into?
Shit like that
It kinda makes me crazy
And I’ve been thinking I’ve been thinking lately
If I wanna get outta here I can’t be lazy
Songs like Still Brazy motivate me
But it’s tough I ain’t going to front with you
I’m not gonna lie I’ll be real with you
I’m already changing I can see it too
But Ima stay real like I’m post to
Voices in my head
They’re whispering things
In my ear
They’re saying
All kinds of things to me
Some pretty rude ass shit too like
Listen little kid you gotta
Grow the fuck up
You’re not a baby anymore
You’ve been out here busting nuts
And if you fuck up or slip up
You’ll end up with a kid too
Just keep in mind all that shit your sister done been through
Then I begin to think what am I doing here
I got these things I want to do with my life like my career
Your boy is gonna be on TV maybe even the big screen
I pray to God that I get there
I pray that I have the means
Oh so what makes you think that you are gonna do that?
You’re a little lost kid who didn’t graduate now raps
Who are you talking to?
What are you gonna do?
Tell me who are you gonna be?
Who are you changing into?
Shit like that
It kinda makes me crazy
And I’ve been thinking I’ve been thinking lately
If I wanna get outta here I can’t be lazy
Songs like Still Brazy motivate me
But it’s tough I ain’t going to front with you
I’m not gonna lie I’ll be real with you
I’m already changing I can see it too
But Ima stay real like I’m post to
I got these voices
In my head (Voices)
Whispering in my ear
Listen little kid you gotta
Grow the fuck up
You’re not a baby anymore
You’ve been out here busting nuts
And if you fuck up or slip up
You’ll end up with a kid too
Just keep in mind all that shit your sister done been through
The lyrics to Dr. John's "Voices in My Head" reveal the internal dialogue of a young person struggling to find their way in life. The song highlights the pressures and doubts that come with growing up and the desire to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. The voices in the singer's head are urging them to take responsibility for their actions and warning them about the consequences of their choices. The lyrics also reference the influence of family members, particularly the singer's sister, and how their experiences have shaped their perspective on life.
The song can be interpreted as a reflection of the internal struggles that many individuals face when trying to establish their identity and their place in the world. The lyrics are raw and honest, portraying the harsh realities of growing up in today's society. The references to rapping and making it big in the entertainment industry suggest that the singer may be using music as an outlet to express their thoughts and feelings.
Overall, "Voices in My Head" is a thought-provoking and relatable song that touches on themes of self-doubt, responsibility, and the desire for success.
Line by Line Meaning
I got these voices
The songwriter is experiencing internal conflict.
In my head (Voices)
They are not external voices, but rather thoughts in the songwriter's own mind.
Whispering in my ear
These thoughts are persistent and intrusive.
They’re whispering things
The thoughts are negative and critical.
In my ear
The thoughts are affecting the songwriter's mood and behavior.
They’re saying
The thoughts are taking on a voice of their own.
All kinds of things to me
The thoughts are diverse in their content, but all negative.
Some pretty rude ass shit too like
The thoughts are graphic and vulgar.
Listen little kid you gotta
The thoughts have a condescending tone.
Grow the fuck up
The thoughts are criticizing the songwriter's maturity level.
You’re not a baby anymore
The thoughts are pointing out the songwriter's age and adulthood.
You’ve been out here busting nuts
The thoughts are belittling the songwriter's sexual activity.
And if you fuck up or slip up
The thoughts are threatening the songwriter with negative consequences.
You’ll end up with a kid too
The thoughts are linking the songwriter's behavior with potential negative outcomes, such as unwanted pregnancy.
Just keep in mind all that shit your sister done been through
The thoughts are alluding to a personal experience that the songwriter's sister went through, possibly as a warning or reminder.
Then I begin to think what am I doing here
The negative thoughts are causing the songwriter to question their current life situation.
I got these things I want to do with my life like my career
The songwriter has aspirations for their future.
Your boy is gonna be on TV maybe even the big screen
The singer has a specific goal to achieve in their career.
I pray to God that I get there
The singer has faith in a higher power to help them achieve their goals.
Oh so what makes you think that you are gonna do that?
The negative thoughts are questioning the songwriter's abilities and chances of success.
You’re a little lost kid who didn’t graduate now raps
The thoughts are attacking the songwriter's education and career path.
Who are you talking to?
The thoughts are questioning the songwriter's motivations and audience.
What are you gonna do?
The thoughts are questioning the songwriter's plans and abilities to achieve their goals.
Tell me who are you gonna be?
The thoughts are challenging the songwriter to define their identity and purpose.
Who are you changing into?
The thoughts are questioning the songwriter's personal growth and evolution.
Shit like that
The thoughts are vague and unspecific, but still negative.
It kinda makes me crazy
The singer is acknowledging the negative impact of these thoughts on their mental health.
And I’ve been thinking I’ve been thinking lately
The songwriter has been ruminating on these thoughts for a while.
If I wanna get outta here I can’t be lazy
The songwriter recognizes that action is needed to change their situation.
Songs like Still Brazy motivate me
The songwriter finds inspiration from positive sources, such as music.
But it’s tough I ain’t going to front with you
The songwriter acknowledges that change is difficult.
I’m not gonna lie I’ll be real with you
The songwriter is being honest about their struggles.
I’m already changing I can see it too
The songwriter is making progress towards overcoming these negative thoughts.
But Ima stay real like I’m post to
The songwriter intends to remain true to themselves through this process of change.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Daryl Ryan, Daryl Daniel Rivera Ryan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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