Bubblerock was one of many aliases used by British singer, songwriter and p… Read Full Bio ↴Bubblerock was one of many aliases used by British singer, songwriter and pop entrepreneur Jonathan King. Bubblerock reached the British Top 30 in 1972 with a revamped cover version of The Rolling Stones' '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction'. This modest chart triumph was followed by an album called Bubblerock Is Here To Stay in the summer of 1972. It featured twelve classic pop tunes in radical new musical settings.

Satisfaction
Bubblerock Lyrics

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I can′t get no satisfaction
I can't get no satisfaction
′Cos I've tried and I've tried
And I′ve tried and I′ve tried
I can't get no
I can′t get no

Well, I'm drivin′ in my car

And a man comes on the radio
He telling me more and more
About some useless information
Suppose to fire my imagination

I can't get no satisfaction
I can′t get no satisfaction
'Cos I've tried and I′ve tried
And I′ve tried and I've tried
I can′t get no
I can't get no

Well, I′m watching my TV
And a man comes on and tells me
A just how white my shirts can be
But he can't be a man
′Cos he doesn't smoke the same cigarettes as me

I can't get no satisfaction
I can′t get no satisfaction
′Cos I've tried and I′ve tried
And I've tried and I′ve tried
I can't get no
I can′t get no

When I'm a riding around the world
I'm a doing this and I′m a singing that
And I′m a frying to meet some girl
Who tells me baby, baby
Come back a maybe next week
Can't you see?
I′m on a losing streak

I can't get no satisfaction
I can′t get no satisfaction
'Cos I′ve tried and I've tried
And I've tried and I′ve tried
And I′ve tried and I've tried
And I′ve tried and I've tried
And I′ve tried and I've tried
And I′ve tried and I've tried

And I can't get
Get none of that goddam satisfaction.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bubblerock's song Satisfaction express a sense of constant dissatisfaction and frustration with the world. The repeated refrain of "I can't get no satisfaction" emphasizes this feeling and the repetition of "tried" further emphasizes the effort put forth to find it. The verses tell different stories of attempts to gain satisfaction, such as listening to the radio or watching television, but finding only useless information or unrelatable advertisements. The singer even expresses a desire to meet someone who can provide satisfaction, but ultimately feels defeated and on a "losing streak."

The overall theme of the song is a commentary on the commodification of happiness and the emptiness of consumer culture. The images of the man on the radio and the man on the television both represent larger institutions that promote materialism and conformity, leading to a sense of alienation and dissatisfaction for those who do not fit into those prescribed norms. The singer's experiences emphasize the futility of seeking fulfillment through these means.

Line by Line Meaning

I can't get no satisfaction
Despite my efforts, I am unable to find contentment in life.

′Cos I've tried and I've tried
I have made multiple attempts to find satisfaction.

And I′ve tried and I′ve tried
I have tried continuously to find happiness.

I can't get no
I am unable to achieve

Well, I'm drivin′ in my car
I am driving in my car

And a man comes on the radio
I am listening to the radio and there is a male voice on it.

He telling me more and more
He is providing me with increasing amounts of information.

About some useless information
The information being provided is unproductive and irrelevant.

Suppose to fire my imagination
The information is being presented as thought-provoking and imaginative.

Well, I′m watching my TV
I am watching television.

And a man comes on and tells me
A male is speaking on the television.

A just how white my shirts can be
The man is discussing the perceived 'whiteness' of shirts.

But he can't be a man
The person speaking cannot be considered a 'man,' or a peer.

′Cos he doesn't smoke the same cigarettes as me
The singer believes he and the man speaking are different and unable to relate to one another.

When I'm a riding around the world
When I am physically moving around the world to various locations.

I'm a doing this, and I′m a singing that
I am engaging in various activities, including singing.

And I′m a frying to meet some girl
I am attempting to attract the attention of a woman.

Who tells me baby, baby
The female addresses the singer with endearing terms.

Come back a maybe next week
The woman suggests a future meeting instead of the present.

Can't you see?
Do you understand?

I′m on a losing streak
The artist feels that they are continuously losing.

And I can't get
I am unable to achieve

Get none of that goddam satisfaction.
The singer is unable to attain any level of satisfaction and expresses frustration through the use of profanity.

Writer(s): Mick Jagger, Keith Richards

Contributed by Adeline V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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