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Patty Griffin — You Never Get What You Want
Album: Living With Ghosts
Avg rating:
6.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 417









Released: 1996
Length: 3:38
Plays (last 30 days): 0
You first found me in my holding pen
Stopped to take a look and stuck your finger in
I bit one off and you came back again and again, hey
Then the nice people let me out one day
And you told me how to act and what to say
But you never get what you wanted that way
Did you, baby?

Oh no, you never get what you want
You never get what you want
And I don't think it's my fault
You never get what you want
Do you, baby?

Everything's always such a mystery
Including your sad little history
Do you still think someone should take responsibility and pay
Oh no, no, ever since I've know you you've walked that walk
You've broken all the records, now you've broken all the clocks, all the clocks
And every time it breaks my heart to hear you talk this way, this way

You never get what you want
You never get what you want
And I don't think it's my fault
You never get what you want
Do you, baby?

Everybody's been sad, everybody's been tragic
Whole lot of hard times, whole little bit of magic
These bitter, bitter fruits and these endless hallways
Ah they're killing us, baby, we got to walk away, walk away, walk away, walk a-

You never get what you want
You never, never get what you want
You spend your whole time thinking about why I'm so deranged
But, honey, why don't you think about that for a change?

Oh no, you never get what you want
You never get what you want
Your whole damn life
You never get what you want
Not your whole damn life
You never get what you want
And I don't think it's my fault
You never get what you want
Do you, baby?
Do you, baby?
Do you, baby?
Do you, baby?
Comments (49)add comment
Great song, grating delivery.
Wait. What? An example of diametrical opposite opinions. Here on RP? OMG! Say it's not so!  FWIW, I lean much more toward the first/former p.o.v. 



by brw001:One of the most overlooked, underrated songwriters and singers ever. This lady is an extremely talented artist and ignored by most. She should be a household name


aelfheld:Reminds me of when I last stepped on the cat's tail.
One of the most overlooked, underrated songwriters and singers ever.   This lady is an extremely talented artist and ignored by most.    She should be a household name.
Reminds me of when I last stepped on the cat's tail.
Wow - hearing this reminds me what an amazing album that was. Still so good.
"You don't always get what you  want. But you  get what you need!"
My ears hurt, please stop screaming lady.
BillG!!! How dare you let this gem languish in the archives for almost 11 years!
She's so good I don't even know what to say. makes me want to get up, scream, and throw my f-ing computer against the wall. No you don't - get * what * you * want... But shit. Fight it out and make the best of it that you can and look for the beauty that's always there - like Patty Griffin's voice and songs. Rock it.
KALINEVE wrote:
Patty's stuff always stands out on the playlist. RP stops being background music and you must stop and listen....to Patty. This is not one of my favs....but her personal power comes thru still and you must stop and listen. And your ife is changed..... I out grow alot of music ...but so far not Patty Griffin.
i agree. not one of my favs of her stuff, but i'm a huge fan nonetheless.
Go Patty Go! Great artist.
ohhhh those first 2 lines get me right ~here~
Just heard this again after a long while...gave it a 7 the first time...back for an upgrade = 9. I'm a huge PG fan...and this one took a bit of a while to grow on me... I'm there now.
Patty Griffin rules. I saw her open for Lucinda Williams a few years ago and immediately went out and bought Flaming Red. I think that's the only time I bought music based on a live performance. I think she's got one of the best voices around and she's an awesome songwriter.
lynncorry1964 wrote:
This song doesn't rate high by me but at the same time it does entice me to explore her music!!! Love the voice.
I've changed my mind. I like it!!!!
great song.....
rosedraws wrote:
I'm with you. ugh, that shrieking! I'm sure she's very groovy, but sheesh.
Gotta agree. Ugh.
Love this song.
Excellent to hear a track from Living with Ghosts! Not my favorite, but it really captures the rawness of that album.
I'm real bimodal with Patty Griffin. Some of her stuff is just great, but some is ... Well, I really dislike this one.
This song doesn't rate high by me but at the same time it does entice me to explore her music!!! Love the voice.
seekinggrace wrote:
OMG -- shut up!!!!
I'm with you. ugh, that shrieking! I'm sure she's very groovy, but sheesh.
Sweet Lorraine
When it starts, I always think it's goig to be an acoustic version of Leyla. What a let-down.
I don't usually like this genre, but wow, this is a really great song! I found myself singing along, even though it was the first time I'd heard it.
OMG -- shut up!!!!
My lowest rated PG song--a "4".
This is my favorite album of hers. I'd love to hear you play "Sweet Loraine" or "Every Little Bit." Who am I kidding? I'd love to hear you play the whole album in one killer block.
pdjpirate wrote:
She does have a Dylan thing going on! ...you know what? Good for Patty! I like it!
I'm with you. Patty's great!
thewiseking wrote:
Patty; stop that incessant whining at once!!
One person's whining is another person's evocative plea. I feel the urgency here. Good art is meant to convey emotion. This does that.
She does have a Dylan thing going on! ...you know what? Good for Patty! I like it!
"You first found me in my holding pen. Stopped to take a look and stuck your finger in. I bit one off and you came back again, and again." Some of the best opening lines I've ever heard.
I said la di da di la di da di da... I would say she sampled the riff... Boosiewolf wrote:
This song would transition nicely into Siouxsie & The Banshees "Passengers." Same chords, strumming style. Love the Patty on RP....
Patty; stop that incessant whining at once!!
Patty, one bob dylan is quite enough, thank you very much.
True - I want this awful song to go away!!!!
KevinM wrote:
There are better Patty Griffin songs out there than this piece of crap.
I should expect that from someone who gives Dr. Demento's "Fish Heads" a 10.
Patty's stuff always stands out on the playlist. RP stops being background music and you must stop and listen....to Patty. This is not one of my favs....but her personal power comes thru still and you must stop and listen. And your ife is changed..... I out grow alot of music ...but so far not Patty Griffin.
There are better Patty Griffin songs out there than this piece of crap.
JokesandJokesandJokes wrote:
You can't always get what you want either, I want some Molly Hatchet!!
I am looking forward to hearing some Uriah Heap. Well just their one song, which sounds like every other song they recorded.
Pyro wrote:
Her unsupported higher octave stuff makes me crazy. I'm obviously in the minority, though.
It makes me crazy in the craziest way! Love Patty ---- actually missed this song because I'm working to the copy of Silver Bell that Rylie burnt for me ----> PM me if you want this --- it's an outrageously good album, and Ryan put a ton of live stage/radio tracks on it too. Amazing stuff.
Her unsupported higher octave stuff makes me crazy. I'm obviously in the minority, though.
As opposed to what The Stones said...
This song would transition nicely into Siouxsie & The Banshees "Passengers." Same chords, strumming style. Love the Patty on RP....
WHY have I never heard of her? Awesome. Thanks RP!
You can't always get what you want either, I want some Molly Hatchet!!
I think every song from this album should be played. It's so awesome.
When she turns it up she really turns it up.
Among my favorite cuts from my favorite of Patty's albums. Thanks to the RPeeps for adding some of her earlier work.