# "Can't get no satisfaction/Can't get no pearly action" Was that ever a lyric? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 30, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179 "2012-08-30T19:06:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/1 "2012-08-30T19:06:21Z")
I could have sworn that in the song “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones, there was a lyric that went I can’t get no satisfaction I can’t get no pearly action I seem to remember that the reference to “pearly action” being replaced with “satisfaction” in the radio version during the 80’s. I went on the web to try to find the original lyrics, but I can’t find any version that has “pearly action”. Am I misremembering? I’m wondering if I’m remembering the lyrics my friends may have made up. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/2 "2012-08-30T19:07:49Z")
I can’t get no satisfaction I can’t get no girl reaction You are just mis-remembering, methinks. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/3 "2012-08-30T19:11:17Z")
I always heard it as “I can’t get no girly action” until I read the actual lyrics. But “girly action” is about as effective as “girl reaction” in the context of the lyrics, so I was okay with sticking with mine… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/4 "2012-08-30T20:02:12Z")
Huh. I thought it was girly action too. ‘Scuse me…’ ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/5 "2012-08-30T20:03:17Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > Huh. I thought it was girly action too. > > ‘Scuse me…’ …while you kiss this fly? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/6 "2012-08-30T20:05:24Z")
Huh. I, too, thought it was “girly action.” ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/7 "2012-08-30T20:18:03Z")
I thought it was “sad reaction.” ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/8 "2012-08-30T20:20:55Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > …while you kiss this fly? I’ll never see your pizza burnin’ ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/9 "2012-08-30T20:22:48Z")
As a little kid, I though it was “girl _with_ action.” ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_A.Robrin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sam_a.robrin/32/14497_2.png) [@Sam\_A.Robrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_A.Robrin)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/10 "2012-08-30T20:33:54Z")
I’ve also heard it as “girl in action.” When the song was first released, 11-year-old me and a friend listened to it over the tinny speakers available back then, and concluded that he was “trying to make some girl _pregnant_… Baby maybe come…” etc. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/11 "2012-08-30T20:43:20Z")
Plenty of Devo fans I see. (I believe “girly action” is in their cover version) We ``` are not ``` men we are Dopers ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/12 "2012-08-30T21:01:23Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Huh. I, too, thought it was “girly action.” Me four. But I also have the Devo album, so that may have something to do with it. ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/13 "2012-08-30T21:42:26Z")
Always heard “girl reaction,” but I like “girly action” better. I never really listened to the Stones until I was 23 or 24 though. Fine, you can come all over me. How in the fuck did they play that on the radio? Or cream on for that matter. Who wants a pearl necklace? Yeah, baby. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/14 "2012-08-30T21:46:08Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > …while you kiss this fly? I believe you mean “kiss this guy.” ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/15 "2012-08-30T21:56:13Z")
> [@Jaledin](#): > > Who wants a pearl necklace? Made from a Lovin’ Spoonful of Pearl Jam… ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/16 "2012-08-30T22:32:17Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > Huh. I thought it was girly action too. Me five! Honestly, if the official lyrics say “girl reaction”, I’d think it was a misprint. ---
**Author:** ![Ashley\_Pomeroy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c68b51/32.png) [@Ashley\_Pomeroy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashley_Pomeroy)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/17 "2012-08-30T22:36:04Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Plenty of Devo fans I see. Who tells me baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby… Yeah, you’re going to count them. I know it. You’re a lot like me. And Mark Prindle, who did the exact same thing in [his review](http://www.markprindle.com/devo.htm) of _Hardcore Devo 74-77_. I had to do it over again, though, because for all I know the demo version might have had more words. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/18 "2012-08-30T23:06:21Z")
> [@Ashley\_Pomeroy](#): > > I had to do it over again, though, because for all I know the demo version might have had more words. “Jocko Homo” shuffled up on my iPod this morning–the album version, of course. The absence of the “O-hi-O” riddle has always irritated me, especially considering the abrupt way the following “God made man” bit fades up. I’ve never been sure whether it was “girly action” or “girl reaction,” but I’ve always leaned towards the former. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/19 "2012-08-31T00:10:59Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Me five! Honestly, if the official lyrics say “girl reaction”, I’d think it was a misprint. I feel better. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/20 "2012-08-31T01:01:31Z")
Intergalactic Gladiator: > [@](#): > > I’ll never see your pizza burnin’ Well, if your stomach starts to react to the burnt pizza… There’s a Bathroom on the Right. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179.md?page=2)