The song was first released as a single in the United States in June 1965 and was also featured on the American version of the Rolling Stones album Out of Our Heads, released in July of the same year. "Satisfaction" was a smash hit, giving the Stones their first number one in the United States. In Europe, the song initially played only on pirate radio stations because its lyrics were considered too sexually suggestive. In Britain the single was released in August 1965, and shot to number one in the United Kingdom; it was the Rolling Stones' fourth UK number one. (The British version of Out of Our Heads, released in September 1965, did not feature "Satisfaction"; it was not standard practice in the United Kingdom at that time to include previously-released singles on albums.)
The lyrics of the song include references to sexual intercourse, and the theme of anti-commercialism caused the song to be "perceived as an attack on the status quo".
Otis Redding, Devo, Blue Cheer, Gloria Trevi, Alejandra Guzmán, Vanilla Ice, Britney Spears, The Residents, The Supremes and Cat Power are among the artists who have covered the song.
Satisfaction
The Rolling Stones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 driving in my car
When a man come on the radio
He's telling me more and more
About some useless information
Supposed to fire my imagination
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 watchin' 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 girl reaction
'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 ridin' 'round the world
And I'm doin' this and I'm signin' that
And I'm tryin' to make some girl, who tells me
Baby, better come back maybe next week
Can't 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
I can't get no
The Rolling Stones's "Satisfaction" is a timeless classic that touches upon the universal human experience of unfulfilled desires. The song speaks to the constant search for satisfaction and how it seems to slip away, no matter how hard one tries to attain it. The lyrics convey a sense of frustration and disillusionment with the world, as the vocalist repeatedly expresses his inability to achieve contentment. The first verse highlights the singer's inability to find satisfaction despite his best efforts, and the chorus serves as a powerful, anthemic refrain that emphasizes the pervasive nature of this feeling of emptiness.
The second verse takes a satirical turn and demonstrates how the media attempts to manipulate and deceive individuals to sell products and ideas by promoting trivial information that supposedly fuels one's imagination. The use of juxtaposition between the singer's desire for genuine fulfillment and the capitalist manipulation employed by the media is ironic and emphasizes the hollowness of materialism. The third verse speaks to the singer's failure at romantic relationships, despite trying hard to win over women, who ultimately reject him. This verse emphasizes the theme of unattainability and the fleeting nature of happiness.
In conclusion, The Rolling Stones's "Satisfaction" is a poignant commentary on the human search for fulfillment and the disillusionment that accompanies the inability to achieve it despite one's best efforts. The lyrics are both a critique of the capitalist system that promotes materialism and consumption, as well as a commentary on personal relationships and how success in love can often seem unattainable.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't get no satisfaction
The singer is unable to find fulfillment or contentment in their life
'Cause I try, and I try, and I try, and I try
Despite their efforts, the singer is still unable to achieve satisfaction
When I'm driving in my car
The singer is describing a scenario when they are alone, isolated from everyone else
When a man come on the radio
The artist is describing a situation where they are listening to the radio
He's telling me more and more
The artist feels that the information being shared is useless and redundant
About some useless information
The singer believes that the information being shared is not valuable or interesting
Supposed to fire my imagination
The singer feels that the information being shared should be inspiring or provocative, but it is not
I can't get no, oh, no, no, no, hey, hey, hey
The repeated lyrics emphasize the artist's frustration and inability to find satisfaction
When I'm watchin' my TV
The artist is describing another scenario when they are alone, separated from others
And a man comes on and tells me
The artist is describing someone on the TV giving them a message
How white my shirts can be
The singer feels that the message being shared is trivial and meaningless
But, he can't be a man 'cause he doesn't smoke
The artist is pointing out the absurdity of the TV figure's message by focusing on an inconsequential detail about him
The same cigarettes as me
The singer is emphasizing the triviality of the shared characteristic - smoking the same brand of cigarettes
I can't get no girl reaction
In addition to the lack of satisfaction the singer describes, they are also frustrated by a lack of positive feedback from women
When I'm ridin' 'round the world
The singer shifts to a context where they are more active and engaged
And I'm doin' this and I'm signin' that
The artist is trying to get things done, possibly related to their job or fame
And I'm tryin' to make some girl, who tells me
Despite the artist's efforts, a woman they encounter is not interested in them
Baby, better come back maybe next week
The woman is indicating that she is not interested in the singer, and is indirectly telling them to leave her alone
Can't you see I'm on a losing streak?
The woman implies that the singer is not successful in their pursuits, and is wasting their time
No satisfaction, no satisfaction
The artist restates their inability to find satisfaction throughout the song
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: Keith Richards, Michael Jagger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@vintage_life
You weren't born in the wrong generation, you just like old music
@Creedio90
come now this isnt that old
@frantruff
@@Creedio90 I'd say 54 years is enough to qualify as "old music".
@grizzofeu653
It is "old" music but not ancient, besides it's good that people like these gems and keep them alive
@kjp1333
GOOD OLD MUSIC
@ChevyYenko
I agree
@Atom-Fire
I was born in the right generation, i can listen to whatever song i want whenever i want.
And not having polio is good!
@kleanthisxanthopoulos9670
plot twist; enter the anti-vaxxers.
@terrym4516
@@kleanthisxanthopoulos9670 Thank Jonas Salks..............OK!!!
@emi05
https://youtu.be/CEZIkvppg5w