Song Spotlight: (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

Song Title: (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
Artist: The Rolling Stones
Album: Out Of Our Heads
Writer: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards

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 drivin' in my car
and that man comes on the radio
and he's tellin' me more and more
about some useless information
supposed to drive 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 to tell me
how white my shirts can be.
Well he can't be a man 'cause he doesn't smoke
the same cigarrettes 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 signing that
and I'm tryin' to make some girl
who tells me baby better come back later next week
'cause you see I'm on 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.

Why this song: Who needs to write about great hymns when we have songs like these? I'm not totally sure what made this song pop into my head for starters, but to put it on my blog is yet another step. But I really think there's a lot to write about here. After all, millions more people will recognize this song more than they would some obscure hymn from my music library. The main reason for choosing this song is to add a different flavor to the blog. Enjoy.

Why I like it: Well, actually, I don't really like it that much, but I'm trying to keep the same spotlight template I've used for song and hymn spotlights before. Just because I'm not a huge fan of this song doesn't mean we can't find something useful. Let me begin by pointing out what a culture change we've gone through in 40 years: a song that was deemed controversial because of its anti-commercialism and sexually explicit lyrics is now appearing on a conservative Christian blog. And actually, I guess because I've grown up hearing much worse, this song didn't seem too bad to me. I'll have to agree with the anti-commercialism theme in this song for I'm not a big fan of commercialism, and for the most part, commercials are a load of lies made to deceive the public into 1.) believing a lie, 2.) spending money where it doesn't need to be spent, or 3.) questioning their self-worth. And it's no surprise to me that the topic of sex surfaces when singing a song about a lack of satisfaction. I'm just surprised drugs aren't referenced. A large reason for the downward spiral of our current culture, I believe, is rooted in a lack of satisfaction and an attempt to find it in temporary pleasures.

Related Scripture: Esther 5:9-13, Ecclesiastes 3:12-14, Psalm 145:15-17, Isaiah 55:1-3, Proverbs 5:18-20, Micah 6:13-15, Luke 6:21

Favorite line: "Cause I try and I try and I try and I try" -- Well, you would think that after the first try and the second try (both failures), you would try something else. Satisfaction in this world has nothing to do with trying -- but oh how our natures want to refute this. Satisfaction is more about relying than trying, but relying on commercials will leave you deceived, relying on temporary pleasures will leave you empty, relying on people will leave you betrayed, and relying on yourself will end in a mess. 40+ years have passed since this song was released, and people are still trying - instead of relying on Christ for satisfaction. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied (Matthew 5:6)."