Satisfaction
Otis Redding & Booker T. & The MGs Lyrics


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I can't get no satisfaction
I can't get no satisfaction
I can't get no satisfaction
I have tried, I have tried
I have tried, I have tried

I can't get me no, ha-ha
And I can't get no, uh, now

When I'm driving in my car
And the man comes on the radio
Keep a-tellin' me more and more
About that useless information
He's tryin' to mess up my imagination

And I can get me no, no, no
And I can get me no
Hey, hey, hey, what I say?
You gotta, gotta, gotta-groovy
We gotta have it, we gotta have it
We gotta have it, we gotta have it
Keep on grooving, keep on grooving
We keep on grooving
Got, no, my, yeah, said

I can't get no satisfaction
I can't get no, no satisfaction
I have tried, I have tried
I have tried, I have tried, tried, tried
I can't get me no, no, no
And I can't get me no, no, no, no

We gotta groove it, groove it, oh my now
Keep-keep on knockin', knockin' baby, yeah
Ow, gotta, gotta have it, we gotta
Keep, keep, ah

Not ever, woman, she waits long time
This little girl is tryin' to put me down
I keep on runnin' round in my sleep
I keep on messin' up any beat
I keep on rockin', I try to find me
Somebody to love me
And give me some reaction
And I can find nobody, no, no, nobody
Give me no reaction, 'faction, 'faction got to have it
Satisfaction, we got to have it
Satisfaction, earlier in the morning




Satisfaction, later in the evening
Call it satisfaction, in the midnight hour

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Otis Redding's 'Satisfaction' convey a feeling of frustration and dissatisfaction with the world around him. The repetition of the lines "I can't get no satisfaction" emphasizes the intensity of his unfulfilled desires. The song suggests that consumer culture and the media are responsible for exacerbating this feeling as they bombard him with "useless information" that distracts him from his desires.


The verse about driving in his car and hearing the radio further highlights the idea of how the media shapes our desires and perceptions. Otis Redding feels as if the man on the radio is trying to "mess up my imagination" with the barrage of information and advertising. The song suggests that our desires are not truly our own, but rather they are influenced by external forces.


Throughout the song, Otis Redding searches for someone to love him and give him the "reaction" he seeks. The repetition of the phrase "got to have it" emphasizes the urgency of his desire for satisfaction. The song implies that satisfaction is elusive and difficult to come by in a world that constantly bombards us with distractions.


Line by Line Meaning

I can't get no satisfaction
Despite trying, I am unable to be content and happy


I have tried, I have tried
I've made an effort to seek satisfaction, but to no avail


When I'm driving in my car
While I'm riding in my vehicle


And the man comes on the radio
And an announcer speaks on the radio


He's tryin' to mess up my imagination
The announcer is attempting to impede my creative thinking


We gotta have it, we gotta have it
We must obtain it, it's essential for us


Keep-keep on knockin', knockin' baby, yeah
Persistently keep knocking, hey baby


Not ever, woman, she waits long time
It takes a long time to satisfy a woman


This little girl is tryin' to put me down
This young woman is attempting to belittle me


I keep on runnin' round in my sleep
I am frustrated and restless


I keep on rockin', I try to find me
I am often active, searching for someone to love me


And give me some reaction
And show me any kind of response


Give me no reaction, 'faction, 'faction got to have it
I need reaction; I can't go on without it


Satisfaction, earlier in the morning
I need satisfaction from the moment I wake up


Satisfaction, later in the evening
I need satisfaction until the end of the day


Call it satisfaction, in the midnight hour
I need satisfaction even in the middle of the night




Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: Keith Richards, Michael Jagger

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@bobbynoe1

00:00 Otis Redding: Shake
02:58 Booker T. & The MGs: Green Onions
07:18 Sam & Dave: When Something Is Wrong With My Baby
10:23: Sam & Dave: Hold On I'm Coming
17:38 Otis Redding: Satisfaction
20:40 Otis Redding: Try A Little Tenderness

@lilblackduc7312

Thank you! 🎼 🎀 🎡 🎢 πŸ‘πŸΎ

@denniswarren3211

I went to this when they came to Pensacola, Fl. This was one of the best showcases I have ever seen and experienced. I'll never forget it. All it takes is hearing one of those songs to take right back there.

@ashleyaugust-jones7403

I've heard the music before of the instrumental but have never known the name or who played it, I'm enjoying this with earbuds on at 3:35 am May 20, 2022πŸ˜„πŸ₯°πŸ€©πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘

@bryanwood8050

@Ashley August-Jones Try catching Time is Tight by Booker T - even better.

@ashleyaugust-jones7403

@Bryan Wood Thanks, I'll do just thatπŸ™‚

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@kcramone4854

While Motown was known as Hitsville, Stax was Soulville.

@collectoroffrance

My youth, my music. And that's MUSIC! No large PA and lights, no artifices but real MUSIC from the heart!

@richardwills7768

To today's generation, THIS IS HOW ITS DONE....

@tokowpc

of all the musicians who died young otis redding hurts the most such a great songwriter and stage presence

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