The Rolling Stones Lyrics
You Can't Always get What you Want

[The London Bach Choir:]
I saw her today at the reception,
A glass of wine in her hand.
I knew she would meet her connection,
At her feet was her footloose man.
No, you can't always get what you want,
You can't always get what you want,
You can't always get what you want,
But if you try sometime, you'll find,
You get what you need.

[Short instrumental break featuring flugel horn.]

[The Rolling Stones:]
I saw her today at the reception,
A glass of wine in her hand.
I knew she was gonna meet her connection,
At her feet was a footloose man.
You can't always get what you want,
You can't always get what you want,
You can't always get what you want,
But if you try sometimes, you might find,
You get what you need.
Aww, yeah. Hey, hey.

And I went down to the demonstration,
To get my fair share of abuse.
Singin', "We're gonna vent our frustration,
If we don't we're gonna blow a 50-amp fuse."
Sing it to me, honey.
(You can't always get what you want,)
(You can't always get what you want,)
(You can't always get what you want,)
But if you try sometimes, well, you just might find,
You get what you need.
Ahhh, baby, yeah, ahh, yeah.

I went down to the Chelsea drugstore,
To get your prescription filled.
I was standing in line with Mr. Jimmy,
And man, did he look pretty ill.
We decided that we would have a soda,
My favorite flavor, cherry red [3] .
I sung my song to Mr. Jimmy,
Yeh, and he said one word to me,
And that was "dead." I said to him,
(You can't always get what you want,) oh, no.
(You can't always get what you want,) tell ya, baby.
(You can't always get what you want,) no.
But if you try sometimes, you just might find, ump, ump,
You get what you need.
Oh, yes, whoo!
[ Find more Lyrics on http://mp3lyrics.org/PU ]

[Instrumental break with vocal stylings by Jagger and the choir.]

You get what you need, yeah, ow, baby, oh yeah.

I saw her today at the reception,
In her glass was a bleeding man.
She was practiced at the art of deception,
Well, I could tell by her blood-stained hands.
Say it!
(You can't always get what you want,)
(You can't always get what you want,)
(You can't always get what you want,)
But if you try sometimes, you j-just might find,
You just might find,
You get what you need.
Aww yeah, awww baby, whoo.

Ahh, (you can't always get what you want), no, no, baby.
(You can't always get what you want), tell me about it,
(You can't always get what you want), mmm,
But if you try sometimes, you j-just might find,
You just might find,
That you get what you need.

[Instrumental and choir to end.]


[YOU CAN'T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT]
[Written by: Mick Jagger & Keith Richards.]
[Produced by: Jimmy Miller.]
[Performed by: The Rolling Stones [1] [1a] -1969.]
[Appears on: "You Can't Always Get What You Want" (Running time 4:49) (A-side:
"Honky Tonk Women" 45 RPM)-1969; Let It Bleed (UK/US)-1969, (Japan)-2006; Hot
Rocks: 1964-1971 (ABKCO)-1972 [2] (Runing time 7:29), (Sound & Vision)-2005 &
(Japan)-2006; Love You Live-1977; Rolled Gold+: The Very Best of the Rolling
Stones (Decca)-1975 & (Universal)-2007; Jumpin' in German, Burnin' in
Hollywood (Bootleg)-1979; Singles Collection: The London Years (UK/US)-1989 &
(Japan)-2006; Headin' for an Overload (Bootleg)-1995; Remastered Series-2004;
Forty Licks (US)-2002, (Collector's Edition)-2002, (European Tour
Edition)-2003 & (Tour Edition Bonus Tracks)-2003; Live Licks (US/UK)-2004 &
(Japan Bonus Tracks)-2004; et al.]

[1] Personnel: The opening verse and chorus, arranged by Jack Nitzsche, is
sung by the London Bach Choir, who supply other vocals throughout the song.
Mick Jagger (lead vocals), Keith Richards (all guitars, back up vocals),
Charlie Watts (does not play drums on this song), Jimmy Miller (drums), Bill
Wyman (bass), Al Kooper (piano, organ, Flugel horn), Rocky Dijon (congas,
maracas), Madeline Bell (back up vocals), Nanette Workman (back up vocals
[credited to, Nanette Newman, on the LP] ) & Doris Troy (back up vocals).

[1a] Covered by: Luther Allison, Baba Yaga, Eric Barnhart, Parker Bent,
Bluedog, Mick Capone, The Chamber Academy Ensemble, Bryan Clark, Phe Cullen,
Steven Davenport, Erik Demmer, Aretha Franklin, Vince Guaraldi, Honeywagon,
Innovations, Ituana, Randy Kaplan, Jim Major, Maxayn, Jonathon Moon, Bill
Morrissey, The Neville Brothers, David "Fathead" Newman, The Prima Donna, Tim
Ries, The Rolling Clones, Rupert's People, Rusted Root, Jennifer Ryan, Sins
of the Pioneers, Slow Bandits, Stars at Studio 99, Steel Pulse, The
Strangers, Sunchild, 3 Green Windows, Brent Truitt, The University of
Newcastle Choir, West Side Heat, Young @ Heart Chorus, et al.

[2] Transcribed from the track on this album.

[3] During live shows, Mick asks, "What's your favorite flavor?" and the crowd
shouts back, "Cherry red."