Like Elvis Presley, he was raised singing the Christian gospel music of integrated southern Pentecostal churches. In 1950 he attended Southwestern Bible Institute in Texas but was expelled for misconduct, including playing rock and roll versions of hymns in church. Pearry Green (then president of the student body) related how during a talent show Jerry played some worldly music. The next morning the Dean of the school called both Jerry and Pearry into his office to expel them both. Jerry then said that Pearry shouldn't be expelled because "he didn't know what I was going to do." Years later Pearry asked Jerry: "Are you still playing the devil's music?" Jerry replied, "Yes, I am. But you know it's strange, the same music that they kicked me out of school for is the same kind of music they play in their churches today. The difference is, I know I am playing for the devil and they don't."
Leaving religious music behind, he became a part of the burgeoning new rock and roll sound, cutting his first record in 1954. Two years later, at Sun Records studio in Memphis, Tennessee, producer and engineer Jack Clement discovered and recorded Lewis for the Sun label, while owner Sam Phillips was away on a trip to Florida. As a result, Lewis joined Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash as stars who began their recording careers at Sun Studios around this same time.
Lewis' first recording at Sun studios was his own distinct version of the country ballad Crazy Arms. In 1957, his piano and the pure rock and roll sound of Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On propelled him to international fame. Great Balls of Fire soon followed, and would become his biggest hit. Watching and listening to Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis said if he could play the piano like that, he'd quit singing. Lewis' early billing was Jerry Lee Lewis and his Pumping Piano.
Lewis was a pioneer of piano rock, not only through his sound by also through his dynamic performance. He would often kick the piano bench out of the way to play standing, rake his hands up and down the keyboard for dramatic accent, and even sit down on it. His frenetic performance style can be seen in films such as High School Confidential (he sang the title song from the back of a flatbed truck), and Jamboree. These performance techniques have been adopted by recent piano rock artists, notably admirer Elton John.
Satisfaction
Jerry Lee Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try
I can't get no, I can't get no
When I'm driving in my car, and the man comes on the radio
He's telling me more and more about some useless information
Supposed to fire my imagination
That's what I say
I can't get no satisfaction, I can't get no satisfaction
'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try
I can't get no, I can't get no
When I'm watching my TV and a man comes on and tells me
How white my shirts can be
But, he can't be a man 'cause he doesn't smoke
The same cigarettes as me
I can't get no. Oh, no, no, no. Hey, hey, hey
That's what I say
I can't get no satisfaction, I can't get no satisfaction
'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try
I can't get no, I can't get no
When I'm riding round the world
And I'm doing this and I'm signing that
And I'm trying to make some girl, who tells me
Baby, better come back maybe next week
'Cause you see I'm on a losing streak
I can't get no. Oh, no, no, no. Hey, hey, hey
That's what I say. I can't get no, I can't get no
I can't get no satisfaction, no satisfaction
No satisfaction, no satisfaction
Jerry Lee Lewis's song "Satisfaction" is a song about feeling unsatisfied and unfulfilled in life. The repetitive chorus of "I can't get no satisfaction" reflects the frustration and disillusionment that the singer is feeling. These feelings are further expressed in the verses of the song, in which the singer talks about being bombarded with useless information on the radio and TV, and feeling unsuccessful in his attempts to find love.
The first verse of the song talks about driving in a car and hearing a man on the radio who is supposed to inspire the singer's imagination. However, the singer finds the information to be useless and unsatisfying, contributing to his overall feeling of discontent. The second verse describes the singer watching TV and being told how to make his shirts whiter, but feeling like the man on TV can't be a real man because he doesn't smoke the same cigarettes as the singer. This highlights the singer's frustration with societal expectations and the pressure to conform to certain standards.
The final verse of the song talks about the singer's attempts to find love, but being repeatedly rejected and told to come back another time. This creates a sense of hopelessness and failure, further contributing to the singer's overall feeling of dissatisfaction.
Overall, "Satisfaction" is a song about the struggle to find meaning and fulfillment in life, and the frustration and disillusionment that can come from feeling like one's efforts are going unrewarded.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't get no satisfaction, I can't get no satisfaction
Despite my efforts, I cannot attain the feeling of contentment.
'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try
Although I keep making efforts to find happiness.
I can't get no, I can't get no
My attempts to be happy are consistently futile, leaving me unfulfilled.
When I'm driving in my car, and the man comes on the radio
While listening to the radio in my car,
He's telling me more and more about some useless information
The announcer shares repetitive, trivial details.
Supposed to fire my imagination
The information is supposed to evoke my creativity but instead annoys me.
When I'm watching my TV and a man comes on and tells me
As I'm watching television, a commercial comes on.
How white my shirts can be
The advertisement boasts of its ability to clean clothes really well and whiten them.
But, he can't be a man 'cause he doesn't smoke
The spokesman does not smoke and is thus not a real man.
The same cigarettes as me
Because he does not indulge in my brand of cigarettes.
When I'm riding round the world
While traveling the world,
And I'm doing this and I'm signing that
And while I'm busy with whatever I must do.
And I'm trying to make some girl, who tells me
And while I'm trying to engage with a woman who lets me know
Baby, better come back maybe next week
That she is unavailable and I should try again another time.
'Cause you see I'm on a losing streak
Because I keep failing to engage with women despite my constant attempts.
No satisfaction, no satisfaction
I am left discontent and unhappy.
No satisfaction, no satisfaction
My search for happiness remains unfulfilled.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc., Cloud9
Written by: Keith Richards, Michael Jagger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind