Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
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
Dr. John Lyrics as written by Michael Holbrook Penniman
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Lightpiez is spot on. It's about alcoholism. Dr. John = Jack Daniels. But why...???
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.