The Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the Devil Lyrics | SongMeanings The Rolling Stones Rolled Gold: The Very Best of the Rolling Stones Gimme Shelter [Video] The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out! Singles Collection: The London Years In the Park [Video] In Concert: November 9, 1969 Jumpin' in Germany, Burnin' in Hollywood Down to the Wire In the Park [Bootleg CD] Forty Licks [Collector's Edition] Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out! [Japan] Hot Rocks, 1964-1971 [Japan] Singles Collection: The London Years [Japan] Rolled Gold+: The Very Best of the Rolling Stones R.S.V.P. [Bootleg] Shine a Light: Original Soundtrack Shine a Light: Original Soundtrack [Deluxe Edition] Get Stoned 12 X 5/Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out! As Heard on Radio Soulwax, Pt.

10 Hot Rocks 2 [Disc 2] Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out [40th Anniversary Deluxe Box Set] Forty Licks The Rolling Stones 1964-1969 [Vinyl Box Set] The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus [Import] Singles Collection: The London Years Please allow me to introduce myself I'm a man of wealth and taste I've been around for a long, long year Stole many a man's soul to waste And I was 'round when Jesus Christ Had his moment of doubt and pain Made damn sure that Pilate Washed his hands and sealed his fate Pleased to meet you Hope you guess my name But what's puzzling you Is the nature of my game I stuck around St.

Petersburg When I saw it was a time for a change Killed the czar and his ministers Anastasia screamed in vain Hope you guess my name, oh yeah Ah, what's puzzling you Is the nature of my game, oh yeah (Woo woo, woo woo) While your kings and queens Fought for ten decades For the gods they made (Woo woo, woo woo) It was you and me (Who who, who who) Let me please introduce myself I'm a man of wealth and taste And I laid traps for troubadours Who get killed before they reached Bombay (Woo woo, who who) Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah (Who who) Is the nature of my game, oh yeah, get down, baby (Who who, who who) Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah But what's confusing you Is just the nature of my game (Woo woo, who who) Just as every cop is a criminal And all the sinners saints As heads is tails 'Cause I'm in need of some restraint (Who who, who who) So if you meet me Have some courtesy Have some sympathy, and some taste (Woo woo) Use all your well-learned politesse Or I'll lay your

 soul to waste, mm yeah (Woo woo, woo woo) Hope you guessed my name, mm yeah (Who who) Is the nature of my game, mm mean it, get down (Woo woo, woo woo) Oh yeah, get on down Oh yeah Tell me baby, what's my name Tell me honey, can ya guess my name Tell me baby, what's my name I tell you one time, you're to blame Oh, who Tell me, baby, what's my name Tell me, sweetie, what's my name Woo, who, who Lyrics submitted by oofus , edited by goodnews , serious "Sympathy for the Devil" as written by Mick Jagger Keith Richards Lyrics © Abkco Music, Inc.

Oldest First +19 Song MeaningI think this song is sung in the point of view of the Devil, and is saying to stop blaming the Devil for everything bad. There are alot of references, including the crucifixion of Jesus, world war 2, and the assasination of John F. Kennedy. But who crucified Jesus? Man. Who started WWII? Man. What killed J.F.K? Man. This song is saying that the Devil didn't cause these things, he just "watched" while man did all the work. That's why this song is called "Sympathy for the Devil". It isn't saying to really have sympathy for him, it is saying that maybe we should stop blaming him for all bad things, and maybe start taking a look at ourselves @serg340 0 Absolutely agree. This song is all about man. Pilot, kings and queens, rulers, politicians, war mongers, you and me. It's all laid out right there in the lyrics.

I don't for a second think that Mick Jager / Keith Richards intended any religiosity in any direction, but for me as a Christian and member of the human race I appreciate the song for pointing out the power that man has to destroy. It's easy to blame someone, be it the devil, God or any man, but the fact is we all have power over our actions (free-will) and it is us humans who enable all the terrible things to happen through our actions and apathy. Flag andrew1839 on May 21, 2014 0 @serg340 That's exactly what I think. It is the evils of mankind that we care calling the devil. Flag asortofdream on December 28, 2014 0 @serg340 I just stumbled upon your comment, good thoughts. Been a while since you posted you comment. I agree, but I would like to expand a little. It is also look into the very nature of nature of evil it self. It boasts of its conquests, power, threatens anything the will try to stand against it and will lie without hesitation.

Of course these are all human traits, yet sometimes it seems that evil does take on a life all its own. Flag NobleHead on February 13, 2015 0 @serg340 Either you believe in the Devil or you don't. If you do, you can't assign some evil to him, and some to man. You can't have it both ways--once you believe in the Devil, you've written humanity a free ticket. Flag DorianMode on February 28, 2015 +12 Song MeaningThe song taunts us over and over with "What's my name?" even after the narrator tell us to just call him Lucifer. His name is God. Not Lucifer, not Satan, but God. I used to think this verse was just bad grammar: As heads is tales Just call me Lucifer But the anwer is right there--cop is to criminal as God is to Lucifer. God in a bad mood is Satan. God in a bad mood lays our souls to waste: Just call me Lucifer, Cause I'm in need of some restraint. God in a good mood plays games with us: What's puzzling you Is the nature of my game.

What's confusing you Is just the nature of my game. What a masterful song! I always took the song at face value, but I think you just nailed it. Flagged proxxie on November 14, 2012 0 that is a fascinating take on it Flagged needre on April 07, 2013 +2 I like this interpretation best. Also other things that suggest it is God and not Satan: What's puzzling you is the nature of my game. When bad things appear to happen to religious people, they say God "moves in mysterious ways" or that "we cannot understand his reasons". And all the sinner saints, The Bible often shows a lot of sympathy for sinners, even seeming to encourage sin sometimes, check out Luke 7: 36-50. Also the Bible is often known for speaking in contradictory terms. Also, the first verse, "And I was 'round when Jesus Christ Had his moment of doubt and pain Made damn sure that Pilate Washed his hands and sealed his fate" is more reminiscent of God than Satan.

Flag matrixcreator on September 20, 2013 0 Flag Puplover on March 05, 2014 0 @DorianMode Love this interpretation!! I think you're right and can't even believe I have a higher respect for how this song was even written! Masterful is rgt!!!! Flag jason10983 on December 01, 2014 -2 @DorianMode It is a Satanic mockery of the Christian God to call him Satan's other half. God is not evil and does not lay souls to waste. If the songwriter is referring to God here it's NOT with any understanding of the Christian religion. Flag asortofdream on December 28, 2014 +1 @DorianMode Yep, and we should have sympathy for the devil because he and God are one and the same. God created the world, including war and injustice. Flag aristotelian on May 14, 2015 +6 General CommentIt's not Lucifer speaking in this song, it's God. Just as every cop is a criminal And all the sinners saints As heads is tails This song is saying that God is the real devil.

It's a maltheistic song. So if you meet me Have some courtesy Have some sympathy, and some taste Use all your well-learned politesse Or I'll lay your soul to waste, um yeah It's telling you to worship this evil totalitarian or you will suffer. The title "Sympathy for the Devil" is because people generally worship God and sympathize with him despite monstrous deeds. "Devil" is not a literal term. I don't actually believe God is this, just what I think the song is saying. I don't agree with it, but this is what I think it's saying Flag Benioff on April 03, 2010 0 Flag PickleJello on April 08, 2010 0 lol, you gave such a great explination, but fell short on the last reply. "God is evil" is a bit ridiculous. This might as well be an athiest or agnostic standpoint. Mack Jagger has stated that he was ambivalent to religion. All polytheistic religions prior to Judeism and Christianity never believed in a god of "Evil" or devil.

They worshiped gods for war and hunger and everything else "bad," but they weren't looked at negatively. They were still gods and in their eyes, better than humans. The Monotheistic religions created an evil force that apposed their only, all-mighty god. This made everything black & white (good vs. evil), instead of looking at the full spectrum of life. Flagged tuko on April 25, 2010 +5 General CommentI think the meaning of this song is pretty obvious. This is clearly not a Satanic song. It's a cautionary tale. Evil is everywhere. It's a constant. Those who try to just go along with everything and ignore the fact that evil exists and do nothing about it are going to be consumed by the devil (Have some sympathy, and some taste/Use all your well-learned politeness/Or I'll lay your soul to waste). He is out to destroy us. To take us over. To remove our good. If we are apathetic to it or if we go along with it to save ourselves in the natural world, he will destroy our souls. We have to learn to recognize him (hope you guessed my name).

He puts on a great disguise. We must sift through all the B.S. if we want to outsmart him. Flag TiaMaria1 on April 21, 2013 0 i don't think its obvious to tell the meaning of the song is because songs could have different meanings to people in different situations but i do agree that it is definitely not a satanic song. i do like your interpretation though Flag matt1999 on May 15, 2013 +4 General CommentThe man who wrote the article that a link was given to in the previous comment is a false prophet. The man is proclaiming hate, telling people to condemn these songs and singers for their lyrics, calling them prophets of Satan. The author of the article is saying that we are all weak minded and able to be swayed by these "satanic" lyrics if we listen to them. He says we should listen to christian songs only. The author is wrong. We sould be able to listen to whatever we want. We shouldn't be limited to only Christian music. This author is a prime example of why people are driven from Christianity.

The author used misquoted lyrics in his article, the System of a Down lyrics read this: Father, Father, Father, Father, Father/ Into your hands/I/commend my spirit, Father, into your hands, Why have you forsaken me, In your eyes forsaken me, In your thoughts forsaken me, In your heart forsaken, me oh, not: Father/ Into your hands/I/commend my spirit, Father, into your hands, Why have you forsaken me, In your eyes forsaken me, In your thoughts forsaken me, In your heart forsaken, me oh, In closing, I do not believe you should listen to this false prophet. Christ taught compassion, not hate. @Gilthanis -2 @Gilthanis There's a problem with this post and others like it there is NO GOD.

Nothing means anything until we as people give it meaning Flag raynedurand on December 17, 2014 +4 General CommentI understand this as an admonishment that evil is nothing new and can disguise itself in many forms, as it has thru history.Even Christ faced this dilemma (of course, HE recognized it for what it was) Sympathy is thinking like the devil, the ultimate enemy, to effectively recognize and resist. It's a warning to those who are naive and accept everything at face value. Writing this in the first person further drives home the point of entering the mind of the ultimate enemy. I find this song almost too profound for a robot, take- everything-literally Christian to comprehend.Few ever get past the knee-jerk reaction because it portrays the devil in the first person. mmmmmm......... makes ya think, huh? @Laursaurus +3 General Commenti really think that the line about the troubadours is a metephore - the lost of young musicians to drugs, alcohol, ect. before they really meet their potential. and it is possible that everyone is just reading too much into it.

@CeeJai 0 i set traps for the troubadors to get killed before they reach Bombay is obviously a reference to the Beatles going to India. Flag Johnnyzoid on April 12, 2014 +3 Flag boogie9903 on September 02, 2014 0 Flag smi2le on October 06, 2015 +2 General CommentThis song is a direct shot at people with religious beliefs. It was meant for certain people not to get. In short, it is saying, to blame all the bad things in the world on a "character", is naive and uneducated. The only thing that would be more rediculous than this belief, would be the actual belief that Mick Jagger is actually the devil. This song, not only is extremely cleverly written, and disguised, but has some of the best guitar licks, and rolls along with the best r&b ever written. For those who still don't get it, I'm sure think Ozzy Osbourne is the prince of darkness, Alice Cooper is the Devil's son, and Marilyn Manson is, well "mister scary".

What these artists all have in common, is they get to travel world, and see first hand the atrocities caused by religion. All were brought up very religious, and began to mock this belief, after worldly education. For all you young music listeners, I was like you, and at 15 took the words to this song literally, after learning about popular music extensively, and the different bands, I was able to see through the simple lyrics of alot of songs, but believe this one is one of the most important. "Who killed the Kennedy's?" after all it was you and me, and the russian's, and the mafia, and the.................. Not some dude in a red cape.The end lyrics give it away, "I tell you one more time baby, your to blame". Meaning us, people. It's a shame that alot of people weren't sharp enough at the time to get it, and for those who didn't, John Lennon had to write a song with no hidden tongue in cheek meanings. The shame is, when he wrote that song , people got it, but stuck their heads in the sand.

Though it doesn't rock like "Sympathy", it's just as important, and 200 years from now ,people will know , "Imagine ", was sending the exact same message to an ignorant and confused society. The Master and Margarita - The Rolling Stones The Master and Margarita English > Adaptations > Music > Rock & Roll > The Rolling Stones Sympathy for the Devil is one of the few Stones songs which Mick Jagger wrote alone, without the help of his buddy Keith Richard. At first, he said it was based on a poem of Baudelaire. But later he said it was inspired by The Master and Margarita, which Marianne Faithfull would have offered to him as a present. Faithfull, who was Jagger's girlfriend at that time, said during an interview with Sylvie Simmons from the magazine Mojo in 2005: «I got Mick to read 'The Master and Margarita' and out of that, after discussing it at length with me, he wrote that song». There are many remarkable similarities between Sympathy for the Devil and Bulgakov's novel.

The song starts with «Please allow me to introduce myself , I'm a man of wealth and taste», which parallels strongly the introduction of Woland to Ivan and Berlioz in Michael Glenny's translation: «Please excuse me, for permitting myself, without an introduction...» And then follow more references to sentences from The Master and Margarita. It starts with the first stanza matching perfectly with the feelings described by Woland when he talks about Pilate: «And I was around when Jesus Christ had His moment of doubt and pain Made damn sure that Pilate washed his hands and sealed His fate.» And it continues at the beginning of the second stanza with famous events from Russian history which are explicitly or indirectly commented by Bulgakov in the novel. «I stuck around St. Petersburg when I saw it was a time for a change Killed the Tzar and his ministers, Anastasia screamed in vain.» For your information: Anastasia is youngest daughter of the czar presumed to have been murdered with her family in July, 1918. Rumors have persisted of her possible escape. In February 1920 she would have been dredged up from the river in Berlin, totally ragged, and suffering from amnesia...

The atmosphere and the construction of the song fit also perfectly with the book. The band worked with rather unusual instruments for a rhytm & bluesband - like congas and maracas - and after a long process of (re)working it became a samba, which Jagger called "hypnotic" and Richards even «insane». Like in the novel Satan dances a cheerful victory dance on the ruins of human civilization. Charlie Watts, the drummer of the band, described it as follows: «The combination of instrumental colors is pretty awe-inspiring. Start with the basic rhythm section - congo rhythms and maracas and such, then add some honky tonk piano. Then there is Keef expressing Satan's personal joy through the famous razor sharp shards of guitar solo. And don't forget the frenzied, high pitched 'woo-wooooo' vocal harmonies from the natives. On top of all this is Mick as an exceptionally articulate and expressive devil who, let us say, really enjoys his work. He is articulate not just in his choice of words, but in the melodic development and precision, the care taken in picking the exact right phrases and pauses to tell the tale for maximum impact.

You know, when a magic man like this comes along, the only thing you can really do is follow him and become his willing servant.» How the song was created starting from a blues ballad can be seen in the movie picture One Plus One made by Jean-Luc Godard in 1968 during the recording of Sympathy For The Devil. The growth process of the song is shown in combination with wayward images of a Black Power demonstration and an interview with Eve Democracy. And finally another cute trivia: Ray Manzarek, member of the legendary band The Doors, but trained as a movie maker, had for a long time hoped - just like Roman Polanski - to make a movie picture based on The Master and Margarita. He wanted Mick Jagger to play the role of Professor Woland. Jerry Hall, Jagger's girlfriend at that time, said to Manzarek: «Don't make the movie until he's finished with the tour. It's his favorite book! The part is his!

He is Professor Woland.» Lyrics The Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the Devil Lyrics Meaning click a star to vote Nov 21st, 2011 11:24am report The narrator is the Devil: Please allow me to introduce myself I'm a man of wealth and taste The Devil has been known to "introduce" himself to many different people, often under the form of a rich man I've been around for a long, long year Stole many a mans soul and faith He has existed almost as long as God has, and is known for corrupting people or "stealing their faith", and condemning their soul to hell And I was round when jesus christ Had his moment of doubt and pain This was when Jesus was on the cross and said why have you forsaken me god? it was a moment of great pain, as he again "lost his faith" Made damn sure that pilate Washed his hands and sealed his fate Pontius Pilate was the man who judged Jesus in court, and was disgusted when the crime he was condemned for was being the son of God, and all of the Jewish priests yelled guilty. He said "I wash my hands of this", which is the origin of the saying.

I stuck around st. petersburg When I saw it was a time for a change Russian revolution started in St. Petersburg Killed the czar and his ministers Anastasia screamed in vain click a star to vote May 4th, 2011 5:43pm report it always reminds me of the first encounter betwean faust and mephistopheles, the dark side of his soul in goethes faust 1. when faust asked the man of world for his name and he replied that its a bad question for a wise man, so faust guesed right that he is (a)liar and cheater(meaning of mephistopheles). which amuses m so they continue a conversation were the clue is always that m argues so near to trueth that its hard to tell the difference, always looking for the weak spot called selfbetrayal woh wooh goes the blak dog as which m disguiesed himself to folow f. to his roome when he found out that magicale sighns hindered him leaving again click a star to vote Oct 16th, 10:41pm report There's 2 meanings for this song.

The first being that Lucifer the devil is telling about what he's done throughout history. Wars, deaths, assassinations, and other evil things. He's telling you that you don't have to like him but you should at least respect him or else. The second possible meaning is that YOU the listener are the "devil". That god and the devil don't exist that we the human race alone did those things. "Just as every cop is a criminal and all the sinners saints" refers to that no matter how "good/holy" we think we are we're still have the possibility to become a evil monster. We still can become the devil. click a star to vote Jun 14th, 2016 6:16pm report I' am trying to think from a brotherly CHRIST like conscious perspective that part of this song was[is] about understanding and feeling sorry for the sinner with patience, love and sympathy, while we should be on guard and hateing the sin committed who has been influenced by evil programming of his ego mind by the evil sins of the Elite Racists to use ''RE-LEGION'' on the fragile sheep like minds to crack and divide us to even kill ourselves.

Then go figure out why and ''Who killed the Kennedys? When after all it was you and me'' Anotherwords ''we are all responsible'', meaning the wealthy Elite and down to the average poor, if we with whoever wants to win this world ''without responsibillity'' for how the other person[s] is[are] being influenced spiritually and psychologically, especially by the ones that have the ''power of information'' to express opinions and laws on this world to one another that to many times influences us to act unnaturally evil and deadly towards eachother for whatever ungodly reasons, if we don't think and act more with the loving God before we act and think tank with or like a poor little Devil to give us fame and fortune for a illuminated death. click a star to vote Oct 6th, 2013 10:01pm report The song is titled sympathy for the devil and yet over and over again in the chorus the charactee challenges you to guess his name.

The final verse goes through a series of characters by nameing them the opposite of whom they are (cops=criminals, sinners=saints) and then follows with "as heads is tails (another opposite) just call me lucifer"..... So if heads = tails, then Lucifer = God. He tells you he is lucifer but repeatedly challenges you to guess his name implying that the name he's giving you usnt the right one. Thats because it isnt lucifer its god. click a star to vote Aug 25th, 2013 8:41pm report OK, It's 'Satan'- (it's name). The lyrics are saying 'it' (I don't believe it's a he or she) has been around at least 2000 years and performing/causing/instigating countless crimes against humanity. If you are looking at it through the lens of the Judeo-Christian programing you would assume I am talking in terms of 'Satan' or 'The Devil' being an evil spirit. To me they are obviously cryptically (because they aren't stupid) talking about the 'Illuminati conspiracy'.

If you would consider that 'Satan' or 'the Beast' maybe as referred to in THE BIBLE, is this same conspiracy. I am not a Cristian but I do believe THE BIBLE gives us many clues to what is going on. We are warned, 'SATAN will deceive you'. It makes SO much more sense if 'SATAN' is a CULT than a supernatural being. One more thing, if as it says in Revelations, 'the Devil sends The Beast with wrath, then we have multiple entities here, so what is what? Maybe that should have called 'Sympathy with THE BEAST'. Take a look at these and see if it makes any more sense. IRON MAIDEN 'Revelations' click a star to vote Dec 9th, 2012 12:18am report What's interesting is that none of the writers mentions C.S. Lewis and "The Screwtape Letters." Lewis's book is a collection of essays supposedly written by a minor demon (Screwtape) to the other devils. In it, Screwtape reveals the grand Satanic plan for the domination of the world throughout history.

This song is simply the "Screwtape Letters" in song form. Although it critiques human behavior, as well, that bad human behavior dovetails with the devils' plan for humanity. Man makes himself an easier target through his own violence and greed. Although people think of this song as "Satanist," if you really probe a little further, it's actually one of the most profoundly Christian songs ever written. click a star to vote Aug 18th, 2012 8:07pm report The interpretation is very obvious and it's humorous to look at the replies here debating history. But if you'd like some first-hand knowledge, I'm an acquaintence of Keith Richards and asked him about the origins of the song. As a good friend of his son Marlon he answered me frankly and honestly. This song is about substance abuse couched in historical events. Substance abuse was part of the Rolling Stones early on as they gained fame, and like many recovering addicts and alcoholics they struggled with it. The substance was the Devil and it will "lay your soul to waste" but substance can be so seductive that the user respects and sympathizes with it.

The events represented by historical references were merely a way to show the progression and constant presence. You can believe me or not but I know the man and these are the words and the meaning from the man who wrote it. The reason I asked him about it is I'm struggling as well. I did not nor will not ask about other songs. Keith enjoys his days still playing but most enjoys his citrus trees. He's also a fanatic of the Weather Channel. A very remarkable man if you get past the media's drug-addled image of him. And did anyone know his neighbor is Rod Stewart who has one of the most impressive model train setups in the world? “Sympathy for the Devil” - Salon.com Monday, Jan 14, 2002 5:41 PM UTC “Sympathy for the Devil” Topics: Entertainment News While the Beatles dominated pop in the 1960s, their music was nearly devoid of one vital element: darkness. At a time when authentic blues was still relatively unknown (and also not widely available) to most white kids, those who craved the seductive complexities of the dark side turned to the Rolling Stones.

And nothing more vividly illuminated the group’s supposed affinity for Lucifer than “Sympathy for the Devil,” their anthem-cum-incantation in the form of a taunting cultural fable. It was the first cut on the A side of “Beggar’s Banquet” — which now, 33 years later, still stands as not only one of the Stones’ finest albums, but one of the best rock records ever made. Released on Dec. 5, 1968, “Beggar’s Banquet” came out just 10 days after the Beatles’ White Album, and a year and a day before the Stones’ notorious free concert at Altamont Speedway in Livermore, Calif. (Contrary to popular legend, “Sympathy for the Devil” was not the song being played when a young man was killed at the free concert. The band was knocking out “Under My Thumb” when 18-year-old Meredith Hunter was stabbed to death by a member of the Hell’s Angels motorcycle club.

Several Web sites reference Don McLean’s allusion to this incident in deconstructions of his song “American Pie”: “Oh, and as I watched him on the stage/My hands were clenched in fists of rage/No angel born in Hell/Could break that Satan’s spell.”) The Stones have made plenty of mistakes over the years (“Their Satanic Majesties Request”), but producing a rock opera wasn’t one of them. Though “Sympathy for the Devil” is embedded with enough historical and philosophical scope to seem like the opening act to a drama of operatic dimensions, they wisely kept it to a concise six minutes and 22 seconds.

In interviews, Mick Jagger — who wrote “Sympathy” (“I wrote it as sort of like a Bob Dylan song”) without his usual writing partner, Keith Richards — has said he was concerned at the time about the potential for the lyrics to come off as pretentious and the band to be “skewered on the altar of pop culture.” So when Richards suggested changing the rhythm, Jagger agreed and as the band worked (and worked and worked) on the piece, it ended up as a samba, which Jagger has called “hypnotic” and Richards referred to as “mad.” Jagger, a voracious reader and history buff, claimed he was influenced in writing “Sympathy” by Baudelaire. But he was also, as others have pointed out, clearly under the spell of Mikhail Bulgakov’s classic allegorical novel of good and evil, “The Master and Margarita.” Of course Jagger was even more clearly under the spell of the 1960s, a time when — for many — heaven and hell seemed to have come to earth in the most lucid terms.

The song’s opening — “Please allow me to introduce myself, I’m a man of wealth and taste” — parallels the beginning of Bulgakov’s novel, in which a sophisticated stranger, who turns out to be Satan, introduces himself to two gentlemen sitting in a Moscow park as they’re discussing whether Jesus existed or not. (“‘Please excuse me,’ he said, speaking correctly, but with a foreign accent, ‘for presuming to speak to you without an introduction.'”) The song then references Christ and the story of Pontius Pilate, which the novel takes up in its second chapter. Before moving on to the Russian Revolution, the song’s narrator, Lucifer, acknowledges that his listeners are mystified — “But what’s puzzling you is the nature of my game” — just as, in “The Master and Margarita,” one of the men approached by Satan in the park thinks to himself, “What the devil is he after?” In the lyrics for “Sympathy,” Jagger’s narrator jumps from making “damn sure that Pilate washed his hands and sealed [Jesus’] fate” to St.

Petersburg, “When I saw it was time for a change,” and kills “the Czar and his ministers.” Curiously (or not so curiously, given Jagger’s penchant for reading history), the only other allusion in the song to Russia’s dark past is an odd one: “Anastasia screamed in vain” — a reference to the youngest daughter of the czar who was murdered with the rest of the Romanov royal family. For most of the 20th century Anastasia was an almost mythological figure, thanks to the specious claims that she alone had survived the murders. But more interesting than what appear to be direct correlations between the book and the song is how Jagger and the Stones, drawing on numerous influences, Bulgakov’s novel apparently among them, managed — in a rock song — to address serious, even profound, ideas to a samba beat without turning the whole affair into an exercise in dull earnestness.

On the contrary, “Sympathy” sounds like a party and works so well, on multiple levels, because its lyrics evoke more than they spell out, while the music not only has an infectious rhythm, it features ingenious layering of sound and background vocals that build to an irresistible, kick-ass tribal hootenanny. Those “woo woos,” by the way, which provide a self-deprecating, cartoonish poke at the song’s spookiness, while adding to the chanting-around-the-bonfire nature of the music, were provided by the four demons themselves, along with two members of the Stones’ 1968 coven — Anita Pallenberg and Marianne Faithfull — and the album’s producer, Jimmy Miller. In writing the song, Jagger used words with impressive economy.

He cites Jesus Christ, Pontius Pilate, the czar, Anastasia, the blitzkrieg (World War II), the Kennedys and the city of Bombay and mentions Lucifer by name (just once) and in so doing creates a deep, amplified portrait of a world torn by religion, war, assassination and confusion where “Every cop is a criminal/And all the sinners saints.” Threaded throughout are taunts from the teasing narrator — the traditional demon trickster — trying to get the listener to speak his name: “Hope you guess my name,” “Tell me, baby, what’s my name?” “Tell me, sweetie, what’s my name?” And — at the very pinnacle of the Flower Power era, remember — he then turns on his starry-eyed audience and tells them that they, in league with him, are to blame for the deaths of the ’60s most promising political leaders. But lest you think Jagger simply mixed up some brainy lyrics and threw them into a recording studio with his talented, stoned friends, take a look sometime at the strange little cinematic time capsule “One Plus One,” a documentary on the recording of “Sympathy for the Devil” (among many other things).

The film, which has been distributed in two versions, was directed by Jean-Luc Godard, and it’s had a tempestuous history, which I won’t go into here except to say that one version, known by the same title as the song, is not Godard’s cut. That’s the version generally available in the U.S. Anyway, whichever version you view, you’ll see the Stones as they work with meticulous attention to detail to record the tracks and build the elaborate song. Not surprisingly, given its distinctive sound and eternal-hot-button subject matter, “Sympathy” has taken on a life of its own (and isn’t that just what that doggone devil would want?). It’s been recorded by Bryan Ferry, Guns ‘n’ Roses, Natalie Merchant, Jane’s Addiction, the Hampton String Quartet, the band Laibach (which devoted an entire album to different versions of the song) and, believe it or don’t, the London Symphony Orchestra.

It’s worth pointing out that Rolling Stone magazine’s take, in its review of Ferry’s cover of the song (“‘Sympathy’ has always been recorded with, if not seriousness, at least earnestness”), is dismissive of both the Stones’ version and Jagger’s lyrics, which Rolling Stone called “slightly corny, vaguely ridiculous.” On the other hand, just last month Ron Rosenbaum wrote an article in the New York Observer in which he extols Jagger’s abilities as a lyricist and specifically mentions “Sympathy for the Devil”: “And let’s not forget,” Rosenbaum writes, “at this particular moment, that he’s one of the rare rock songwriters who has addressed the question of evil and apocalypse in a sophisticated way.” Rosenbaum goes on at some length to praise the singer’s “beautiful use of incantation … a lovely word for a special kind of vocal recurrence, one that combines overtones of prayer, magic, spell casting … a kind of vocal voodoo.” The song’s title continues to have almost iconic status and gets all manner of uses.

It has been appropriated for a computer game (“Sympathy for the Devil: The War in Russia, 1942-43″) and is tiresomely used whenever possible to headline stories about Jagger’s marital woes and paternity suits or anytime bad behavior is the subject. For example, these, all of which appeared in the New York Post: “Jagger’s Ex Has Sympathy for the Devil,” “No Sympathy for Devils” and “Sympathy for the Devil: Why Bill Is No Hypocrite” (an article by P.J O’Rourke). To this day, “Sympathy” is widely discussed online on sites like the Christian Music Forum and referenced in treatises on the devil, such as John P. Sisk’s paper, “The Necessary Devil” in First Things: A Journal of Religion and Public Life. Jagger concedes that the song may have been something of an inspiration for all the ’70s and ’80s heavy metal bands that flirted with Satanism, but in interviews he’s repeatedly distanced the Stones from any of it.

In an exchange with Creem magazine, he said, “[When people started taking us as devil worshippers], I thought it was a really odd thing, because it was only one song, after all. It wasnt like it was a whole album, with lots of occult signs on the back. People seemed to embrace the image so readily, [and] it has carried all the way over into heavy metal bands today.” Regardless of, or maybe because of, the swath it has cut, “Sympathy for the Devil,” as good art often does, continues to resonate at least as strongly today as it did when it was first created. Woo woo. Douglas Cruickshank is a senior writer for Salon. For more articles by Cruickshank, visit his archive. Am I Right - Real Places Mentioned in Songs, Rolling Stones What real life locations are mentioned in songs, band names or album titles? Real Places Mentioned in Songs, Rolling Stones Check out the index . Rolling Stones ', "Brown Sugar" The Lyrics: Gold coast slave ship bound for cotton fields, Sold in a market down in New Orleans. Scarred old slaver know he's doin' alright. Hear him whip the women just around midnight.

Drums beating, cold English blood runs hot. Lady of the house wondrin' where it's gonna stop. House boy knows he's doin' alright. You should a heard him just around midnight. Why: The Rolling Stones' "Brown Sugar' is from the group's 1971 lp, "Sticky Fingers". "Brown Sugar" went to #1 in the early summer of 1971, despite some resistence from women's rights group (about the lyrics where the old slaver whips the women) and from African-American rights group (about the whole song about slavery). But the Rolling Stones explained that it was just a song about those times of the early 18th Century and was more an indictment on the English participating in the slave trade, in America, despite the British government outlawing slavery in Britain at that time. In the first verse lead singer Mick Jagger gives a shoutout to the city of New Orleans, and in the second verse a shoutout to England (via the word, English). Submitted by: Peter I met a gin soaked, bar-room queen in Memphis. I laid a divorcee in New York City.

Why: Memphis and New York City Submitted by: Rocky II Rolling Stones ', "Miss You" The Lyrics: Well, I've been haunted in my sleep You've been starring in my dreams Lord I miss you I've been waiting in the hall Been waiting on your call When the phone rings It's just some friends of mine that say, Hey, what's the matter man? We're gonna come around at twelve With some Puerto Rican girls that are just dyin' to meet ya We're gonna bring a case of wine Hey, let's go mess and fool around You know, like we used to I've been walking in Central Park Singing in the dark People think I'm crazy I've been stumbling on my feet Shuffling through the street Asking people, what's the matter with ya boy? Why: The Rolling Stones' "Miss You" is from the group's 1978 lp, "Some Girls". Despite meeting with some resistance due to the fact that many thought the ultimate rock band, the Rolling Stones were selling out by releasing a Disco tune (which "Miss You" is, the Rolling Stones didn't hide that fact), the song still managed to find itself all the way to #1 in the early fall of 1978.

And surprisingly, it is still one of the most played Rolling Stones' songs on Classic Rock and Classic Hit stations (many dj's say it's their favorite Stones' tune). "Miss You" casts lead singer, Mick Jagger, as a guy living in New York City lost without the love of his life, and trying to lose himself in the party scene but failing miserably at it. There is a shoutout in the second verse to the real U.S. territory of Puerto Rico (with the "Puerto Rican girls" lyric), and in the third verse there is a shoutout to a the real place of Central Park (a famous park in upper Manhattan). Submitted by: Peter Rolling Stones ', "Sympathy For The Devil" The Lyrics: I stuck around at St.

Petersburg When I saw it was a-time for a change Killed the czar and his ministers Anastasia screamed in vain Let me please introduce myself (whoo whoo) I'm a man of wealth and taste (whoo whoo) And I laid traps for troubadors (whoo whoo) Who get killed before they reached Bombay (whoo whoo, whoo whoo) Why: Rolling Stones' "Sympathy For The Devil" is a track from the group's 1968 lp, "Beggars Banquet". It paints lead singer Mick Jagger as the devil, where he gives a break down of his evil deeds through out the centuries. In the third verse he makes reference to the real city of St. Petersburg, Russia (which at the time of the song was named, Leningrad) and the killing of the Czar and his ministers by the Communist in 1917 revolution. In the sixth verse there is a reference to the real city of Bombay, India and the black hole of Calcutta which several travelers supposedly got suck into before they reached Bombay. Submitted by: Peter

Question: Which daughter of a Czar is mentioned in the Rolling Stones song ‘Sympathy for the Devil’?
Answer: Anastasia