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I look for joy in a strange place
From the back of the bar
From afar
I see the look on my mama's face
When her son's in the corner, undone
She says that my life is over
But boy, you don't know what you got till it's gone
Come put your head upon my shoulder
She gave me her hand, but I ignored her
Oh, Dr. John
What am I doing
What am I doing I wrong?
Cause I keep on trying
Something ain't going
Something ain't going on
Oh, Dr. John
I look for joy in a strange place
From the back of a bar
From afar
I see the look on my daddy's face
When his son's fallin' over, undone
Well Father my life is over
Well I didn't know what I had now it's gone
Can I lay my head upon your shoulder?
If I fall asleep, will it be over?
Oh, Dr. John
What am I doing
What am I doing I wrong?
Cause I keep on trying
Something ain't going
Something ain't going on
Oh, Dr. John
What am I doing
What am I doing I wrong?
Cause I keep on trying
Something ain't going
Something ain't going on
They say I'm a big heartbreaker
But Doctor, I never hurt you
Isn't it obvious?
Oh, Dr. John
What am I doing
What am I doing I wrong?
Cause I keep on trying
Something ain't going
Something ain't going on
(Another day, another break up)
Oh, Dr. John
(Hold on, and on, Hold on, and on)
I keep on trying
(Another day, another wake up)
We hold on, and on
We hold on, and on
Oh, Dr. John
(Another day, another wake up)
We hold on, and on
We hold on, and on
(Another day, another wake up)
(I keep on trying)
We hold on, and on
We hold on, and on
Oh, Dr. John
What am I doing
What am I doing wrong?
I keep on trying
Something ain't going
Something ain't going on
Dr. John
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Dr. John.
From the back of the bar
From afar
I see the look on my mama's face
When her son's in the corner, undone
She says that my life is over
But boy, you don't know what you got till it's gone
Come put your head upon my shoulder
She gave me her hand, but I ignored her
Oh, Dr. John
What am I doing
What am I doing I wrong?
Cause I keep on trying
Something ain't going
Something ain't going on
Oh, Dr. John
I look for joy in a strange place
From the back of a bar
From afar
I see the look on my daddy's face
When his son's fallin' over, undone
Well Father my life is over
Well I didn't know what I had now it's gone
Can I lay my head upon your shoulder?
If I fall asleep, will it be over?
Oh, Dr. John
What am I doing
What am I doing I wrong?
Cause I keep on trying
Something ain't going
Something ain't going on
Oh, Dr. John
What am I doing
What am I doing I wrong?
Cause I keep on trying
Something ain't going
Something ain't going on
They say I'm a big heartbreaker
But Doctor, I never hurt you
Isn't it obvious?
Oh, Dr. John
What am I doing
What am I doing I wrong?
Cause I keep on trying
Something ain't going
Something ain't going on
(Another day, another break up)
Oh, Dr. John
(Hold on, and on, Hold on, and on)
I keep on trying
(Another day, another wake up)
We hold on, and on
We hold on, and on
Oh, Dr. John
(Another day, another wake up)
We hold on, and on
We hold on, and on
(Another day, another wake up)
(I keep on trying)
We hold on, and on
We hold on, and on
Oh, Dr. John
What am I doing
What am I doing wrong?
I keep on trying
Something ain't going
Something ain't going on
Dr. John
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Dr. John.
Lyrics submitted by nightsky13
Track duration: 03:44
"Dr. John" as written by Michael Holbrook Penniman
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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One might take a step further by saying this is not a struggle with alcoholism relationships/sex, but his sexual identity itself. Maybe due to the rejection from his parents about his sexuality...???
Thus, Dr. John, what am I doing wrong...?
...Nothing. You're gay. It's your parents who have the trouble accepting it. Your life isn't over. But the straight boy they thought you were is dead. Maybe if you dream it away the denial will stop along with the rejection? Nope. So stop holding on and on... to the boy they thought they knew.
The interesting part is that the mother seems a bit more accepting while he is struggling with his father whom he is seeking acceptance from the most. Perhaps daddy took it hard?
"You say I'm a big heart breaker. But, Doctor, I've never hurt ya. Isn't it obvious?"
Broke his daddy's heart. But it's not his fault his daddy's heart got broken. It's the father's rejection/denial.
And that, folks, would be my pence worth.
(I look for joy in a strange place
From the back of a bar, from afar
See the look on my momma's face
When her son's in the corner, undone)
He's trying to find solace in his pick-ups, but knows he's not likely to find anything. His loved ones try to support him but he turns them away.
(Oh, Dr. Johhhhn
What am I doing?
What am I doing wrong?
'Cause I keep on trying
Something ain't going
Something ain't going on)
He tries to turn to alcohol (Dr. John - Jack Daniels) to help "cure" him and find the right path in his life, which he realizes is less than ideal. He acknowledges that no matter what he does, he can't seem to find happiness in what he's doing right now.
You can tell that it's not just alcoholism, but a combination of that and a history of one-night-stands from some of the other lines. "Another day, another break-up" in particular. But that's just my take on it.
Hence the bit:
"You say I'm a big heartbreaker;
But, Doctor, I've never hurt ya.
Isn't it obvious?"
Just my .2 cents.
I find it interesting that he rejects his mother but asks his father to put his head on his shoulder and tells his dad what his mum told him. Possibly a realisation and backlash to his mothers didactic musings but I really have no idea on that one maybe his dad can relate better.
Trying to wrap my head around this part too:
'You say I'm a big heartbreaker
But, Doctor, I've never hurt ya
Isn't it obvious?'
This may support the notion that Dr John is his drugs too, he doesn't hurt the drugs but is seeking solace in them and is possibly mad that they can't (and won't) give him all the answers.
Mika is brilliant!