Satisfaction
bjork & patti smith Lyrics
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I can’t get no... satisfaction
and I try, and I try, and I try, and I try
I can’t get no... no no no
When I’m drivin’ in my car
and the man comes on the radio
he’s tellin’ me more and more
about some useless information
I can’t get no - no, no, no
hey, hey, hey - that’s what I say
I can’t get no satisfaction
I can’t get no satisfaction
and I try, and I try, and I try, and I try
When I’m ridin’ ’round the world
and I’m doin’ this and I’m signin’ that
and I’m tryin’ to make some dough, tell 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 - I can’t get no
that’s what I say - satisfaction
hey, hey, hey
That’s what I say
I can’t get no
say hey, hey, hey
I can’t get no
say hey, hey, hey
that’s what I say
Bjork & Patti Smith's cover of the Rolling Stones' iconic hit "Satisfaction" is a powerful statement on the perennial theme of discontentment. The lyrics speak of a deep yearning for something that seems just out of reach and the frustration of striving for satisfaction, yet never quite achieving it. The opening lines "I can’t get no... satisfaction" are repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the theme of dissatisfaction. The singer tries various means to find fulfillment, such as listening to the radio and travelling the world, but ultimately comes up empty-handed. The suggestion that even financial success and worldly pleasures cannot bring satisfaction suggests a deeper need that cannot be met by material possessions.
The line "useless information designed to Fire my imagination" speaks to the idea that modern society bombards us with an overwhelming amount of information, but much of it is superficial, useless, or designed to distract us. The singer's inability to find satisfaction is seen as a product of this culture of distraction and consumerism. The repetition of "hey, hey, hey" is a call to action, an expression of rebellion against the status quo, and a plea for something more meaningful.
Line by Line Meaning
I can’t get no... satisfaction
The singer is expressing their frustration and dissatisfaction with their current circumstances, implying a desire for something more or different.
I can’t get no... satisfaction
The singer repeats their opening line, emphasizing the persistency of their dissatisfaction.
and I try, and I try, and I try, and I try
The singer acknowledges their efforts to find satisfaction, yet despite their attempts, they consistently feel unfulfilled.
I can’t get no... no no no
The artist uses repetition to emphasize their inability to find satisfaction, no matter how hard they try.
When I’m drivin’ in my car
and the man comes on the radio
he’s tellin’ me more and more
about some useless information
designed to Fire my imagination
I can’t get no - no, no, no
The artist describes an experience in which they are bombarded with information that is meant to captivate their attention, but instead only serves to frustrate them further.
hey, hey, hey - that’s what I say
I can’t get no satisfaction
The singer repeats their refrain, asserting that despite their frustrations, they will not give up their pursuit of satisfaction.
When I’m ridin’ ’round the world
and I’m doin’ this and I’m signin’ that
and I’m tryin’ to make some dough, tell 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
The singer describes another experience in which they are trying to achieve success but are met with disappointment and failure, further fueling their frustration.
Hey, hey, hey - I can’t get no
that’s what I say - satisfaction
The artist repeats their refrain, declaring that they will not be content until they find the satisfaction they desire.
hey, hey, hey
That’s what I say
I can’t get no
say hey, hey, hey
I can’t get no
say hey, hey, hey
that’s what I say
The artist concludes by reemphasizing their persistent dissatisfaction and their determination to keep trying until they find their satisfaction.
Contributed by Anna B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@SMSami-uq2my
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 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
@KBerry-ug5zx
One of my favorite things that's ever happened.
@sketchyold
You must be deaf or close to it.
@ItWentChunkaCHUNK
Same. I stumbled across an mp3 of this back in the Limewire days and it's been in my permanent playlist ever since.
@russlane
I'm so mad I can't include it in streaming services! I came here just to hear it again @@ItWentChunkaCHUNK
@jamesgulley9881
Just omg!!!
@e.r.burgess1498
Holy heck - how did I miss this for almost thirty years? Wonderful.
@yodoleheehoo90
same! and just happened to come across the song on Sirius XM, huge Bjork fan so I instantly recognized her voice, and never knew about this gig! Not her best, but quite fun to jam to :)
@ko0974
You are 8 months ahead of me 😂. Worth the wait
@laliloub
I literally cannot recover from how young they look, like a nine year-old and her 14-year-old goth sister. Just wow! The beauty and rawness of youth!
@whssy
The funny thing is that the "nine year old" is actually five years older than the "14 year old goth sister".
They're both masterful in this... but Polly Jane was only 24 or 25 and only 2 years into her recording career, while Bjork was about 29, with 18 years in the industry behind her. And the mother of an 8 year old.