Guy is known for his showmanship; for example, he plays with drumsticks and walks into the audience whilst playing, the latter being a gimmick he picked up from a local blues guitarist at an early age (joining or leaping into the audience has also long been common in both American popular and gospel music, as in the earlier work of Big Jay McNeely or the Dixie Hummingbirds).
Guy grew up in Louisiana where he learned to play guitar. In the early 1950s he began performing with bands in Baton Rouge. Soon after moving to Chicago in 1957, Guy fell under the influence of "Mighty" Muddy Waters. In 1958 he won a record contract with Artistic Records after beating the West Side guitarists Magic Sam and Otis Rush in a "Head Cutting Contest" at the Blue Flame Club. Soon afterwards he recorded for the Cobra label.
In the early 1960s, Guy was a session guitarist for Chess Records. He recorded on Junior Wells sessions for Delmark Records under the pseudonym Friendly Chap in 1965 and 1966. His career took off during a blues revival period in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and was sparked by Eric Clapton's request that Guy be part of the '24 nights' all-star blues guitar lineup at London's Royal Albert Hall and Guy's subsequent signing with Silvertone Records.
Satisfaction
Buddy Guy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't get no satisfaction
I can't get no satisfaction
And I tried
And I tried
And I tried tried tried tried tried
You know I can't get
Hold it
Hold it right there
Alright
Alright, now, you're about to make me feel good out there
Put your two hands together now
Don't call me back out if you can't put your hands together
Now don't call me back out
Now let's get it let's get it let's get it
Alright
Keep on talking
Keep on talking
Talking 'bout you
I can't get
No no
Hey yeah no
Satisfaction, child
No, I can't get no
Satisfaction
And I tried
And I tried
And I tried tried tried
No, I can't get no
Alright
Hey-hey
Ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah-ah
Hey, baby
Oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh
Get down easy, yeah
Get down easy, yeah
Get down easy, yeah
I can't get no
Satisfaction
I can't get no
Satisfaction
And I tried
And I tried
And I tried, no
And I tried tried tried tried
You know I can't get no
Alright, baby
Everybody
Everybody
Everybody
Everybody
The lyrics to Buddy Guy & Junior Wells's song "Satisfaction" are a clear reference to the frustration and struggle of trying to attain satisfaction in life. The repetition of the line "I can't get no satisfaction" emphasizes the sense of defeat and hopelessness the singer feels, despite his efforts to find happiness. The phrase "And I tried, and I tried, and I tried" echoes the futility of chasing after something that seems impossible to reach. The insertion of the line "You know I can't get" also adds to the sense of resignation and reinforces the idea that the singer has given up on the idea of satisfaction altogether.
The song takes on a more upbeat and communal tone towards the end, with calls for the audience to put their hands together and get involved. The repetition of the phrase "Get down easy" suggests a release of tension, a momentary respite from the struggle of trying to attain satisfaction. The repeated use of the phrase "Everybody" at the end of the song creates a sense of togetherness and unity, suggesting that everyone is in the same boat and shares the experience of feeling unsatisfied.
Line by Line Meaning
Alright
The song is starting
I can't get no satisfaction
I am unable to fulfill my desires
And I tried
I have put effort to achieve my satisfaction
And I tried tried tried tried tried
I have put a lot of effort to achieve my satisfaction
You know I can't get
You already know that I am unable to fulfill my desires
Now wait a minute now wait a minute now wait a minute
Hold on for a while
Hold it
Stop for a moment
Alright
Let's continue now
Alright, now, you're about to make me feel good out there
I am going to enjoy this moment
Put your two hands together now
Clap your hands
Don't call me back out if you can't put your hands together
If you can't clap your hands, don't expect me to perform again
Now don't call me back out
I won't perform again if you cannot clap your hands
Now let's get it let's get it let's get it
Let's continue with the song
Keep on talking
Keep on saying things
Talking 'bout you
Talking about the subject of the song, likely a woman
No no
I am rejecting something
Hey yeah no
I am rejecting something slightly aggressively
Satisfaction, child
Referring to the desired feeling of satisfaction
No, I can't get no
I still cannot achieve satisfaction
And I tried
I have put effort to achieve my satisfaction
And I tried
I have put effort to achieve my satisfaction
And I tried tried tried
I have put a lot of effort to achieve my satisfaction
No, I can't get no
I still cannot achieve satisfaction
Alright
Let's continue now
Hey-hey
An expression of excitement or approval
Ah-ah-ah
A vocalization of pleasure or pain
Ah-ah-ah
A vocalization of pleasure or pain
Ah-ah-ah
A vocalization of pleasure or pain
Hey, baby
Referring to the desired woman
Oh-oh-oh
A vocalization of pleasure or pain
Oh-oh-oh
A vocalization of pleasure or pain
Get down easy, yeah
Performing well with minimal effort
Get down easy, yeah
Performing well with minimal effort
Get down easy, yeah
Performing well with minimal effort
I can't get no
Still unable to achieve satisfaction
Satisfaction
Referring to the desired feeling of satisfaction
And I tried
I have put effort to achieve my satisfaction
And I tried
I have put effort to achieve my satisfaction
And I tried, no
I have put a lot of effort to achieve my satisfaction, but still cannot
And I tried tried tried tried
I have put a lot of effort to achieve my satisfaction
You know I can't get no
You already know that I am unable to fulfill my desires
Alright, baby
Let's wrap up the song
Everybody
Referring to all people present
Everybody
Referring to all people present
Everybody
Referring to all people present
Everybody
Referring to all people present
Contributed by Alice B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.