# "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:** 2
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/21 "2012-08-31T01:30:13Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > There’s a Bathroom on the Right. Have you ever seen Lorraine? ---
**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 31, 2012, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/22 "2012-08-31T02:47:56Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Me five! Honestly, if the official lyrics say “girl reaction”, I’d think it was a misprint. I listened to it closely, and I think Jagger does sing “girl reaction.” 37 years on this planet and this is the first I noticed. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/23 "2012-08-31T03:15:30Z")
And then… What are the words to La Bamba? ~VOW ---
**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 31, 2012, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/24 "2012-08-31T03:21:39Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > And then… > > What are the words to La Bamba? > ~VOW I understand your question is somewhat rhetorical, but [here you go.](http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/l/los_lobos/la_bamba.html) They’re actually well enunciated in the song. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/25 "2012-08-31T04:20:40Z")
I always heard “girl in ACtion” which also makes sense in context. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/26 "2012-08-31T05:25:31Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I listened to it closely, and I think Jagger does sing “girl reaction.” 37 years on this planet and this is the first I noticed. 62 years here on the rock. For the last 48 of them, I heard it as “girl reaction.” On the other hand, switching songs to “It’s All Over Now”: 49 years I’ve heard Mick sing “spent all my money playing her half-fast game”, until a few weeks ago when for the first time ever I clearly heard it correctly: “playing her high class game.”:smack: ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/27 "2012-08-31T12:16:50Z")
I always thought it was “playing her half-assed game” which I doubt would be allowed! But that’s what I always heard and imagined. ---
**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 31, 2012, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/28 "2012-08-31T12:37:37Z")
It is “half-assed.” That was a minor scandal back in the day. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/29 "2012-08-31T12:41:25Z")
> [@Jaledin](#): > > Who wants a pearl necklace? Yeah, baby. > [@Esox\_Lucius](#): > > Made from a Lovin’ Spoonful of Pearl Jam… 10CC worth. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/30 "2012-08-31T13:28:03Z")
Been listening to the Stones all my life, and I always heard it as “girl reaction.” On the other hand, I never stopped to think about Pearl Jam meaning anything in particular until this thread. Um, thanks, I guess, for fighting my ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/31 "2012-08-31T13:42:57Z")
“_Girl_ reaction”? Not “_good_ reaction”? Huh. ---
**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 31, 2012, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/32 "2012-08-31T14:17:17Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Me four. But I also have the Devo album, so that may have something to do with it. I’m very familiar with the Devo cover, too, but I heard the Stones version first, and I think the Devo cover may just have cemented the way I hear that line. (By the way, that’s one of my favorite covers of all time. It does everything I feel a great cover should do. If you’re not a cover band and are recording a cover for release, please bring a new perspective to the table.) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/33 "2012-08-31T14:26:55Z")
While we’re on the subject, what’s with that other Stones song, “Get off of McCloud?” ---
**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/34 "2012-08-31T14:28:56Z")
I too always heard “good” reaction in the Stones version. I just assumed Devo used the same words. ---
**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 31, 2012, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/35 "2012-08-31T14:37:02Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I’m very familiar with the Devo cover, too, but I heard the Stones version first, and I think the Devo cover may just have cemented the way I hear that line. (By the way, that’s one of my favorite covers of all time. It does everything I feel a great cover should do. If you’re not a cover band and are recording a cover for release, please bring a new perspective to the table.) If I could, I would like this post. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/36 "2012-08-31T15:03:29Z")
But is Annie or Fanny supposed to take a load off? ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/37 "2012-08-31T15:54:20Z")
I thought it was “I can’t get no dirty action” ---
**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, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/38 "2012-08-31T15:58:31Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > I thought it was “I can’t get no dirty action” You would 😉 (totally kidding - just had to go there with your post/username combo) ---
**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 31, 2012, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/39 "2012-08-31T16:15:38Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > It is “half-assed.” That was a minor scandal back in the day. On the original recording by the Valentinos, it’s “high-class.” I’m pretty sure Mick is singing the same on the Stones’ version, though his mushy elocution makes it impossible to tell for certain. But in [this TV performance](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agSzqtMuvVs) you can read his enormous lips: “high class” it is. I remember an interview in Rolling Stone where Mick was asked about the song being banned on some US radio stations, and his answer seemed to acknowledge that it was “half-assed.” But now I think Mick simply didn’t know what the interviewer was talking about, and chose to gloss over the question with a remark about not knowing what was considered rude in America. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179/40 "2012-08-31T16:38:49Z")
Well, they’d often change lyrics to be more suburban-friendly for TV appearances back in the day. Changing “Let’s Spend The Night Together” to “Let’s Spend Some Time Together” for Ed Sullivan was but one example. So I wouldn’t go by what Mick sang on television as proof of the lyric. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-get-no-satisfaction-cant-get-no-pearly-action-was-that-ever-a-lyric/633179.md?page=3)