Dr. John (born Malcolm John Rebennack on 20 November 1941; died 6 June 2019… Read Full Bio ↴Dr. John (born Malcolm John Rebennack on 20 November 1941; died 6 June 2019) was an American singer, pianist, guitarist, and songwriter whose music combined blues, boogie woogie and rock and roll. The winner of six Grammy awards, Rebennack was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by singer John Legend on Monday, March 14, 2011. He was variously known as Mac Rebennack, Dr. John Creaux, Dr. John, the Night Tripper.

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.

World I Never Made
Dr. John Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The late show is over
And the city is fast asleep
And I`m lost in a world
That`s just too cold and deep
I`ve turned so many ways
I`m spinning like a top
I wish that I could get off
Or get this world to stop

I`m a stranger and afraid
I`m a stranger and afraid
I`m a stranger and afraid
In a world I never made
I`m always chasing dragons
With a sword that`s made of tin
So I know in my soul
There`s no way I can win
I tried, oh I tried
But there`s no place, no place to go
There`s no one here who knows me
And no one here I know
I`m a stranger and afraid
I`m a stranger and afraid

I`m a stranger and afraid
In a world I never made

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Dr. John's "World I Never Made" speak of the feeling of being lost and alone in a world that seems too cruel and unforgiving. The singer is disconnected from the world around them and feels like they are constantly chasing after something that they can never attain. The line "always chasing dragons with a sword that's made of tin" speaks to the futility of their efforts and the realization that they will never be able to "win" in this world. The repetition of the line "I'm a stranger and afraid" emphasizes the singer's sense of isolation and fear.

Overall, the song speaks to the universal feeling of being lost and alone in the world, and the struggle to find meaning and purpose amidst the chaos. It is a poignant reminder that we are all strangers in this world, trying to navigate our way through the unknown.

Line by Line Meaning

The late show is over
The entertainment is finished and the night is advanced

And the city is fast asleep
The urban area is deserted and the dwellers are resting

And I'm lost in a world
I'm disoriented in an unfamiliar realm

That's just too cold and deep
It's a place that lacks warmth and is difficult to fathom

I've turned so many ways
I've explored different methods and approaches

I'm spinning like a top
I'm dizzy and struggling to find balance

I wish that I could get off
I long to escape from this situation

Or get this world to stop
Alternatively, I'd like to halt the world's incessant movement

I'm always chasing dragons
I frequently pursue unattainable goals

With a sword that's made of tin
My weapon is weak and ineffective

So I know in my soul
I'm intimately aware of the truth