☝️ Key Points
- The song talks about the nature of desire and fulfillment, reminding us that we often get what we really need and not always what we want.
- The repeated line 'You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you'll find, you get what you need' is a life wisdom that refers to the human experience.
- The specific stories in the verses illustrate this message, each situation containing some kind of disappointment or dissatisfaction that ultimately leads to a necessary realization or outcome.
- The song lyrics point out the universal phenomenon that the pursuit of our desires can ultimately lead us to our true needs.
- The central message of the song is that life doesn't always go as we wish, but we still get what we need, often in unexpected ways.
Interpretation
The song 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' by the
Rolling Stones contains a deep message about the nature of desire and fulfillment. It reminds us that we don't always get what we want, but often get what we truly need.
The repeated line 'You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you'll find, you get what you need' expresses a life wisdom that refers to the human experience. It is a universal phenomenon that we often focus on what we want, but overlook what we truly need. The band emphasizes that the pursuit of our desires can ultimately lead us to our true needs.
The individual verses of the song tell different stories that illustrate this message. From a woman at a party meeting a 'footloose man', to a demonstration where the singer 'gets his fair share of abuse', to an encounter with 'Mr. Jimmy' at a pharmacy. Each of these situations contains some sort of disappointment or dissatisfaction that ultimately leads to a realization or necessary outcome.
Overall, the song is about how life doesn't always go as we wish, but we still get what we need, often in unexpected ways.