Bette Midler

Songwriter: Tommy George

Producer: Aaron Russo Arif Mardin Lew Hahn

"Doctor Long John, my dreams are full of Doctor Long John"
I got a dentist who's over seven feet tall
I have a dentist who's over seven feet tall
His name is Doctor Long John and he answers every call
You know, I went to Long John's office, I said
"Doctor, the pain is killing me"
I went to Long John's office, I said
"Doctor, the pain is killing"
He said, "Don't worry, baby
It's just your cavity needs a little filling"
He took out his trusty drill, told me to open wide
He said he wouldn't hurt me
But he filled my whole inside
Long John, Long John, don't you ever go away, no
'Cause you thrill me when you drill me
And I don't need no Novocain today, oh
When he got done drillin' he said
"Now, Miss Middler, that is going to cost you ten"
"I was prepared to pay twenty"
Yeah, yeah, yeah, when he got done drillin', he said
"Baby, that's gonna cost you ten
But if it ever starts into throbbing
Come back and see old Long John
Again and again and again and again and again
Oh, yeah, oh"
"Long John"
I sold my heart to Doctor Long John
And I will never, never be the same
Oh, that's so heavy I just gotta lay back"

Bette Midler is a Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, comedienne and actress. Named in honor of Bette Davis, Midler’s career began performing off-broadway until she developed the stage persona The Divine Miss M while singing at the world-famous Continental Baths gay bathhouse. A pre-fame Barry Manilow, the venue’s in-house piano player, produced her Grammy-nominated debut album which scored three US top 40 singles including the Grammy-nominated “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”. Midler took home the Best New Artist Grammy that year, her first of three career wins.

Throughout the 1970s, Midler found further success with music, Broadway, television and film. The Rose, Midler’s 1979 acting debut, earned her both Oscar and Academy Award nominations, and its namesake song won her a Golden Globe and another Grammy – also giving Midler her first success overseas.

The early 1980s proved less successful for Midler with four under-performing singles and a box office flop with the film Jinxed. However, the second half of the decade would prove far more fruitful with a handful of very successful films including Down and Out in Beverly Hills, Ruthless People, Outrageous Fortune and Beaches, the latter featuring a chart-topping cover of “Wind Beneath My Wings” that won Midler her third Grammy and is considered one of the greatest songs in American film history.

more tracks from the album

Live at Last

From the album

Live at Last (1977)

Bette Midler popular songs

Long John BluesBette Midler

Bette Midler

Live at Last