Greene was born on January 7, 1930, in Maryville, Tennessee. In the early 1950's, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he formed his own band, The Peach Tree Boys as a lead vocalist, drummer, and guitarist. In 1959, he moved back to Tennessee and settled in Nashville and formed his own band, The Tennessee Mountain Boys. One day in 1961, the band opened for Ernest Tubb, and Ernest noticed Jack's talents and asked him to join his band, which he did. For the next few years, he was a drummer, guitarist, vocalist, and M.C. in Ernest Tubb's band, The Texas Troubadors. He soon was starting to open shows for Ernest playing guitar and singing and in 1964, Jack released his first solo record with "The Last Letter" which first appeared on one of Tubb's live albums. The song got attention from Ernest's record label Decca Records who released it as a single. Another single followed in 1965 with "Don't You Ever Get Tired Of Hurtin' Me" but this didn't chart as it came out at the same time as Ray Price's version. Tubb encouraged him to pursue a solo career, and Greene achieved great success right away. His first Top 40 hit came in early 1966 with "Ever Since My Baby Went Away". Later that year, he released a song that put him on top. The song was "There Goes My Everything" and it was a monster hit, staying on top of the Country charts for 7 weeks, and even becoming a crossover hit, the album stayed #1 for an entire year. The success continued into 1967 as well with another number 1 smash in "All The Time" (on top for 5 weeks) and a number 2 hit with "What Locks The Door". In 1967, he received the prestigious awards for Male Vocalist of the Year, Single of the Year, and Album of the Year from the Country Music Association. In all, he has recorded nine number one country hits on various charts including 5 number one Billboard hits. His success continued into 1968 with another number 1 with "You Are My Treasure" and the top 5 hit "Love Takes Care Of Me". In 1969, he had 2 number 1 hits with "Until My Dreams Come True" and "Statue Of A Fool". He completed the year out with the Top 5 "Back In The Arms Of Love".
In 1970, Jack gained a duet and a touring partner in Jeannie Seely, and together they had a number 2 hit with the song "Wish I Didn't Have To Miss You". Jack and Jeannie's stage show became one of the biggest touring acts during the 1970's. Jack continued to have both solo hits and duets with Jeannie Seely. Among the biggest of these hits during the 70's included "Lord, Is That Me" (1970), "There's A Lot About A Woman A Man Don't Know" (1971), and 2 more duets with Jeannie with "Much Oblige" (1972) and "What In The World Has Gone Wrong With Our Love" (1972). Jack's career continued when Decca became MCA Records and he continued to chart with "Satisfaction" (1973), "I Need Somebody Bad" (1973), and "It's Time To Cross That Bridge" (1974). Afterwards, his chart success declined rapidly as another song in 1974 and one song in 1975 were minor hits and he was dropped by MCA Records in 1976.
Jack enjoyed a brief comeback to the charts in 1980 with the Top 30 hit "Yours For The Taking" on Frontline Records. He achieved several more minor hits on Frontline and then on EMH and Step One. He continues to tour regularly and appears on The Grand Ole Opry, where he has been a member since 1967, and 2007 marked his 40th anniversary with the Opry.
He died in Nashville, TN on 15 March, 2013, from complications of Alzheimer's disease. He was 83.
Satisfaction
Jack Greene Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And leave the one that's really meant for us back there in the dust oh what a shame
Now I think I've done this very thing left the shelter now I'm caught in the rain
But I will right this wrong I've done to us if my love don't rust till I get home again
A satisfaction's all I'm searching for I've even looked behind my neighbor's door
And I've looked until my eyes are sore and all I'm searching for is satisfaction
Your love just may as well be on a star because my journey back is almost that far
And I hope that I can stand the test and you can put to rest my urge to roam
Or will you be another empty face in that empty place you call home
A satisfaction's all I'm searching for...
A satisfaction's all I'm searching for...
The lyrics to Jack Greene's song "Satisfaction" speak to the universal human experience of searching for fulfillment and contentment in our lives. The singer reflects on the consequences of their actions, realizing that they have traveled too far and left behind someone who truly meant something to them. Feeling regret and longing for their lost love, they vow to make things right and return to their partner's side.
The search for satisfaction is a recurring theme throughout the song. The singer admits to looking for it in all the wrong places, even going as far as peeking behind their neighbor's door. This suggests a desperation and a sense of being lost, as they hope to find fulfillment elsewhere. However, they realize that true satisfaction can only be found within the love they left behind.
The lyrics capture the mixed emotions of the singer's journey back. They acknowledge the distance and challenges they face in returning, comparing it to reaching a star. There is uncertainty about what awaits them upon their return – will their partner still be there, or will they be just another empty face in an empty place? The longing for satisfaction and the hope for a happy ending drive the narrative of the song.
Overall, "Satisfaction" is a poignant reflection on the desire for contentment and the consequences of our choices. It speaks to the universal themes of love, regret, and the search for meaning in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
In our search for what's right or wrong sometimes we travel much too long
Sometimes we spend too much time trying to figure out what is right or wrong, causing us to lose sight of what truly matters.
And leave the one that's really meant for us back there in the dust oh what a shame
We often overlook the person who is meant for us and end up regretting our actions.
Now I think I've done this very thing left the shelter now I'm caught in the rain
I believe I have made the same mistake by leaving the safety of our relationship and now I am facing the consequences.
But I will right this wrong I've done to us if my love don't rust till I get home again
I promise to fix the mistake I made and ensure that my love for you remains strong until I return.
A satisfaction's all I'm searching for I've even looked behind my neighbor's door
All I desire is to find contentment, even if I have searched in places where I shouldn't have.
And I've looked until my eyes are sore and all I'm searching for is satisfaction
I have searched tirelessly, causing my eyes to become tired, just to find that feeling of fulfillment.
Your love just may as well be on a star because my journey back is almost that far
Your love feels distant, as if it were on a star, because the journey back to you seems incredibly far.
And I hope that I can stand the test and you can put to rest my urge to roam
I hope I can prove myself and show that I am committed to you, so that you can eliminate any concerns about my desire to wander.
When I return I wonder if I'll find just what I thought it was I left behind
I wonder if, upon my return, I will find exactly what I believed I had left behind.
Or will you be another empty face in that empty place you call home
Alternatively, you might just be another person without true emotions in that lonely home you call yours.
A satisfaction's all I'm searching for...
All I am truly looking for is a sense of fulfillment and contentment in my life.
A satisfaction's all I'm searching for...
Once again, I emphasize that all I am seeking is satisfaction and nothing more.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: COCHRAN, LANE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TheGarretdeas
Thanks, Wilbur, for finding this rarely heard but great Jack Greene hit. It showcases the great talent that Jack Greene is, and he was a regular big-hitter on the charts during, the 60's,70's and even into the 80's.
truckerbelly
RIP Mr. Greene. you have given me so many hours of pleasure with your music. weather it be listening, playing along on my guitar as a teenager, or sharing with anybody who would listen as i sang your songs in local bands.
Mark Speck
Wilbur, thanks for posting this...I remember when it came out....I was only eight years old at the time, and I wondered how something intangible like satisfaction could be found behind someone else's door. Of course, when I got older, I figured out what he was singing about...LOL!!
Jared Vick
My favorite Jack Greene song!!!
Wayne Greene
Thanks for posting My Dad loved this song Radio would not play it when it was first recorded. They said it was too risque for the airwave and the Bible belt. So we re released as a single a few years later. Thanks for keeping our country Greene. The Greene boys
David Kelly Mitchell
How did the Bible belt know he was looking for sex? Maybe he was looking for a love that would treat him right. I would think Conway's "I'd love to lay you down" and "We've never been this far before" might imply sex. A person can be not satisfied with the meal they just ate. I'm a Christian but that seems a bit ridiculous. Churches full of Holy people.
Linda Crump
Wonderful song!!
Max Brand
Never heard of this song and Jack Greene had some big records in the mid sixties up to the seventies. He played drums behind Ernest Tubb.
Mortimer Post
Very reminiscent of "Gentle On My Mind" and quite sublime--if you don't mind the (half) rhyme!
Jeff H
I like Jack Greene's recordings from the mid 1960's-mid 1970''s and this one's definitely a winner, and yes it does sound very much like a late 60's Glen Campbell (and I like his music too!) recording from that era.