I can't be satisfied
Johnny Winter / Muddy Waters Lyrics
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Won't be back no more
Goin' back down south, child
Don't you want to go?
Woman I'm troubled, I be all worried in mind
Well baby I just can't be satisfied
And I just can't keep from cryin'
Pistol in your face
I'm gonna let some graveyard
Lord be your resting place
Woman I'm troubled, I be all worried in mind
Well baby I can never be satisfied
And I just can't keep from cryin'
Well now all in my sleep
Hear my doorbell ring
Looking for my baby
I couldn't see not a doggone thing
Woman I was troubled, I was all worried in mind
Well honey I could never be satisfied
And I just couldn't keep from cryin'
Well I know my little old baby
She gonna jump and shout
That old train be late man, Lord
And I come walking out
I be troubled, I be all worried in mind
Well honey ain't no way in the world could we be satisfied
And I just can't keep from crying
The lyrics to Johnny Winter / Muddy Waters' song "I Can't Be Satisfied" speak of a restless, troubled mind and a yearning to leave and never return. The singer cannot be satisfied, no matter what he does or where he goes, and he cannot keep from crying. He feels like snapping and putting a pistol in someone's face, and imagines a graveyard as a peaceful resting place. The singer's sense of restlessness and dissatisfaction is palpable, and the repeated refrain of "I just can't keep from crying" underscores the depth of his despair.
At its core, the song is about a sense of displacement and unease, about feeling like you don't belong anywhere and that no place or person will ever be enough to ease your mind. This theme was likely resonant for many African Americans in the first half of the 20th century, who were often uprooted from their homes and communities due to poverty, racism, and discrimination. "I Can't Be Satisfied" captures the melancholy of this experience in a powerful and haunting way, speaking to the universal human desire for peace, belonging, and contentment.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I'm goin' away to leave
I am leaving and never coming back
Won't be back no more
I won't return again
Goin' back down south, child
I am returning to the south
Don't you want to go?
Do you want to join me?
Woman I'm troubled, I be all worried in mind
I am deeply troubled and worried
Well baby I just can't be satisfied
I cannot find satisfaction in life
And I just can't keep from cryin'
I cannot help but cry
Well I feel like snappin'
I am feeling violent
Pistol in your face
I will aim a gun at you
I'm gonna let some graveyard
I will kill you and bury you in a graveyard
Lord be your resting place
You will rest in peace after death
Well now all in my sleep
Even in my sleep
Hear my doorbell ring
I hear my doorbell ringing
Looking for my baby
I am searching for my lover
I couldn't see not a doggone thing
I can't see anything at all
Well honey I could never be satisfied
I will never be content
And I just couldn't keep from cryin'
And I can't hold back my tears
Well I know my little old baby
I remember my significant other
She gonna jump and shout
She will be overjoyed
That old train be late man, Lord
The train was delayed
And I come walking out
And I emerged from the train
Honey ain't no way in the world could we be satisfied
We will never find contentment
And I just can't keep from cryin'
And I can't help but cry
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Muddy Waters, McKinley Morganfield
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chiladin708
Without this song, there would be no Stones, no Zep, no Doors, no Gun-n-Roses, no Nirvana, no Blink 182, no rock, grunge or heavy metal. Give it up the architects and Chicago Electric Blues. #BlackHistoryMonth
@bishlap
and without early "country" music there would be no MUDDY, etc... everything comes from somewhere.
@TimLangen51
Muddy and Johnny were absolute magic together. Their music will live on forever!
@mikeoak2413
Johnny Winter liked Muddy a lot.
@paulbiesenthal8790
This is an amazing memory of two of the greatest blues men in history Muddy Waters and Johnny Winter Rest in peace both of you
@thebicycleman8062
who else is jus addicted to this song heard EVERY SINGLE cover POSSIBLE of it and every version on Youtube!! Its the first sing I EVER LEARNT how to PLAY and SING - and mannn do i have a bad deep low voice, like my cords r too thick or something, which always annoyed me because I was a musician since I was a child but cod never sing.. but this is the only song i sing so good dont know why.. maybe becaue it is simple or it suits my super low range
@winterguitarkingyea
Wow ! The King of The Blues, Muddy Waters, with the King of Guitar Players Johnny Winter, It doesn't get any better. RIP Super Stars. Thank You for the awesome music Host (y)
@brolfe7524
I got to be a body guard at a concert he played at at Selland Arena in Fresno 1974. Black Oak Arkansas, Brownsville Station and Headliner Johnny Winter. Wow! What a concert!
@muazqamar
Lucky man
@terrylusk9879
WTF