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Sympathy for the Devil

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This page was made Song of the Month for January 2023.

"Sympathy for the Devil" is a 1968 song by The Rolling Stones in their Beggars Banquet album. The song is from the perspective of Lucifer, as he describes how he has tempted and corrupted humanity for countless years.

Lyrics[]

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 and faith

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 Tsar and his ministers
Anastasia screamed in vain

I rode a tank
Held a general's rank
When the blitzkrieg raged
And the bodies stank

Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name, oh yeah
Ah, what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, oh yeah

I watched with glee
While your kings and queens
Fought for ten decades
For the gods they made

I shouted out,
"Who killed the Kennedys?"
When after all
It was you and me

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

Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah
But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, oh yeah, get down, baby

Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah
But what's confusing you
Is just the nature of my game

Just as every cop is a criminal
And all the sinners saints
As heads is tails
Just call me Lucifer

Cause I'm in need of some restraint
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
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, um yeah

But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, um mean it, get down
Woo, who
Oh yeah, get on down

Oh yeah
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
Ooo, who
Ooo, who

Ooo, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who

Ooo, who, who
Oh, yeah
What's my name
Tell me, baby, what's my name

Tell me, sweetie, what's my name
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who

Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who

Oh, yeah

Other Appearances[]

  • The song was first released in the Beggars Banquet album and later appeared in the following albums:
    • The Rolling Stones: Circus
    • Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out!.
    • Beggars Banquet (50th anniversary remaster)
    • Rolling Stones In Mono
    • In the Beginning's soundtrack
    • Sympathy For The Devil Remix
  • The song was featured in the following films:
    • Cruella
    • Homecoming (1978)
    • Fallen
    • Flight
    • Focus
    • Suicide Squad
    • Tropic Thunder
    • Interview with the vampire (Guns 'N' Roses version)
  • The song was featured in the television series The Boys.

Gallery[]

Video[]

Official[]

Covers[]

Trivia[]

  • The lyrics were changed from "Who killed Kennedy" to "Who killed the Kennedys" due to the then recent assassination of RFK.
  • It's unknown what, "I laid traps for troubadours, Who get killed before they reached Bombay" meant, but could implied about the Thugee, a crime group from India.
  • The song was highly controversial at there time, due to conservatism Christian group believing that the Rolling Stones were coming out as Satanists.
  • Mack Jagger was inspired by Baudelaire and from the Russian author Mikhail Bulgakov's novel The Master and Margarita.
  • The song was featured on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, at spot 106th.
  • It was also ranked 22nd on critics' all-time lists according to Acclaimed Music.
  • The song title was used as the title of multiple series' episodes
    • Season 5, Episode 12 of Grey's Anatomy
    • Season 5, Episode 1 of Supernatural
    • Season 6 , Episode 6 of Cowboy Bebop.
    • Season 3. Episode 12 of Instant Star
    • Season 1, Episode 13 of Battle Creek
    • Season 6, Episode 9 of One Tree Hill
    • Season 1, Episode 3 of Rizzoli & Isles
    • Season 2, Episode 3 of Touched by an Angel
    • Episode 23 of Witch Hunter Robin
           DCNavbox Songs

Films
Partyman • Trust • Waltz to the Death • Face to Face • Bad Days • The Riddler • Snow & Heat Miser Song • Unforgettable • Ride of the Valkyries • I Go Looney • Heathens • I Started a Joke • Super Freak • Sympathy for the Devil • Fortunate Son • Hanging on the Telephone • Do You Hear What I Hear? • Smile • Send in the Clowns• That's Life • Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend • Diamonds • Rain • Folsom Prison Blues • People Who Died • The Riddler • Ave Maria • Cheek to Cheek • Kilg%re

Television
Jingle Bells (Batman Smells) • Happy Anniversary, Mr. J • Say That We're Sweethearts Again • Master of Your Fate • Mayhem at First Sight • Settin' the Woods on Fire • Where’s The Fun In That? • I'm the Music Meister • Drives Us Bats • If Only • Death Trap • The World is Mine • Last Breath • Jolly Fat Man • A Million Volts • Too Much Fun • Literally, Listen to Me • You're Mine • Do Ya Wanna Taste It • Pumped Up Kicks • Monster • Homelander in Hallway • Rapture • From a Logical Point of View • Chimps Don't Cry • Villy Awards Performance

Video Games
Only You • Cold, Cold Heart • Look Who's Laughing Now • Ode To Perfection • One Way or Another • Joker & the Thief

Other
Solomon Grundy • Jingle Bells (Batman Smells)

           101-Dalmatians-Logo-2008 Songs

Films
Cruella De Vil • So Fabulous, So Fierce (Freak Out) • Call Me Cruella • Sympathy for the Devil • One Way or Another • I Wanna Be Your Dog

Video Games
I Love Fur • Puppies, Oh, Puppies

Promotional
Cruella • I'm Gettin' Good at Being Bad

Deleted
Don't Buy a Parrot from a Sailor • The Creation of Cruella De Vil

           DisneyNavbox Songs

Disney Animated Flims
A Special Sort of Death • Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee • I've Got No Strings • Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee (Reprise) • The Coach to Pleasure Island • Night on Bald Mountain • Hit the Big Boss (For a Raise) • Pink Elephants on Parade • Man Returns • Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum • Headless Horseman • Sing, Sweet Nightingale • The Walrus and the Carpenter • 'Twas Brillig • Painting the Roses Red • March of the Cards • Who's Been Painting My Roses Red? • The Unbirthday Song (Reprise) • A Pirate's Life (Is a Wonderful Life) • A Pirate's Life (Reprise) • The Elegant Captain Hook • The Siamese Cat Song • Cruella De Vil • Mad Madam Mim • I Wanna Be Like You • Trust in Me • The Phony King of England • Heffalumps and Woozles • A Huntin' Man • The Horned King • The World's Greatest Criminal Mind • Goodbye, So Soon • Poor Unfortunate Souls • Les Poissons • Poor Unfortunate Souls (Reprise) • Home on the Range • Belle • Gaston • Gaston (Reprise) • The Mob Song • Prince Ali (Reprise) • Be Prepared • Stampede • The Virginia Company • The Virginia Company (Reprise) • Mine, Mine, Mine • Savages, Pt. 1 • Savages, Pt. 2 • The Bells of Notre Dame • Out There • Hellfire • Paris Burning • And He Shall Smite the Wicked • The Gospel Truth II • Perfect World • Kronk's Theme Music • The Firebird Suite • (You're The) Devil in Disguise • Yodel-Adle-Eedle-Idle-Oo • Friends on the Other Side • Friends on the Other Side (Reprise) • Healing Incantation • Mother Knows Best • Mother Knows Best (Reprise) • The Backson Song • March of the Oreo • Love is an Open Door • Wolves • Kakamora • Shiny • Know Who You Are • At All Costs • This Is The Thanks I Get?! • Knowing What I Know Now

Pixar Films
La Cucaracha • Kronos Unveiled • Rollin' in the Rearview • Songbird • Song of Mor'du • Remember Me • Much Needed Advice • La Llorona • Midnight, The Stars And You

Animated Sequels
I'm Looking Out for Me • Forget About Love • You're Only Second Rate • Welcome to the Forty Thieves • Are You In or Out? • Don't Fall in Love • Things Are Not What They Appear • My Lullaby • Not One of Us • Junkyard Society Rag • Here We Go Another Plan • Feel Like a Million • Perfectly Perfect • Just One Mistake

Other Animated Films
Everybody's Got A Laughin' Place • It's a "B" Movie • Cutting Edge • Worthless • Kidnap the Sandy Claws • Oogie Boogie's Song • Gloomius Maximus • I, Ivan Krank • Petey's King of France • Chains of Love • It's Our House Now • If I Ruled the World • Sidekicks and Henchmen • The Frigate That Flies • Alone on Halloween

Live Action Films
We Won't Be Happy 'Till We Get It! • Castle In Spain • Fidelity Fiduciary Bank • The Happiest Home in These Hills • Passamaquoddy • Every Little Piece • Bill of Sale • Scrooge • Marley and Marley • Come Little Children • I Put a Spell on You • Shiver My Timbers • A Professional Pirate • Secret of Survival • Little Girls • Easy Street • Little Girls (Reprise) • Bravo, Stromboli! • The Kraken • Davy Jones • Fabulous • North Pole, North Pole • Hello, Little Girl • Stay with Me • Agony • Last Midnight • Once Upon A Dream •My Jolly Sailor Bold • Mermaids • Rainbow Connection (Moopets Version) •Let's Talk About Me • I'm Number One • I'll Get You What You Want (Cockatoo in Malibu) • Rotten to the Core • Evil Like Me • Evil • Ways to Be Wicked • What's My Name? • Chillin' Like a Villain • It's Goin' Down • What a Shame • Queen of Mean • Call Me Cruella • Sympathy for the Devil • One Way or Another • Tie the Knot Tango • The Coachman To Pleasure Island • The Witches Are Back • Behemooth • Ode to the Falling

Animated Series & Shorts
The Skeleton Dance • Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? • Der Fuehrer's Face • The Best of Everything • Fat Cat Stomp • The Lobster Mobster's Mob • The Beddy Bye Blues • You Wouldn't Want to Mess With Me (Part 1) • You Wouldn't Want to Mess With Me (Part 2) • Evil Lullaby • My Town • One Good Man • Yzmopolis • Boom-Da-Boom • Let's Slay The Beast • Mortimer Mouse • Cedric the Great • All You Desire • Helping Hand • A Kingdom of My Own • This Fliegel Has Landed • Wendell's Way • My Evil Dreams • My Power Will Be Crystal Clear • Get Wicked • On Your/My Own • Lord Dominator's Theme • Let the Pun Fit the Crime • Mandrake's Evil Jam • I'm the Bad Guy • Tonight We Strike • Jackal Style • Outta the Way • Panic and Run • Lions Over All • We'll Make You a Meal • Bring Back a Legend • I Have A Plan • Big Bad Kenge • We're the Smartest • Let Me Make You Proud • Let Me Make You Proud (Reprise) • Ready As I'll Ever Be • I'm Gonna Run This Dump • Li'l Ol' Me • Weirdmageddon Theme • We'll Meet Again • You Can't Catch Me • Don't Look Now • The Art of the Steal • We've Got Dance Power • Sky Pirates • Decay Incantation • Waiting in the Wings • Crossing The Line • Waiting in the Wings (Reprise) • Nothing Left to Lose • Goblin Jail • GlomTales Theme Song • I'm Not Very Nice • Heartstomper • Sasha Theme Song Takeover • Whatcha Playin’? • If We’re Gonna Play Owl House… • Blame It on Toby • Killjoy • Evil As Can Be

Deleted Songs
Rolling Along to Pleasure Island • I'm Odd • Beware the Jabberwock • Never Smile at a Crocodile • The Pirate Song • Evil - Evil • The Mighty Hunters • Don't Buy a Parrot from a Sailor • The Creation of Cruella De Vil • How Much You Mean to Me/Court Me Slowly • Not in Nottingham (Prince John Demo) • Silence is Golden • All Good Things Must End • Arabian Nights (Reprise 1) • Arabian Nights (Reprise 2) • Why Me? • Humiliate the Boy • My Finest Hour • Be Prepared (Reprise) • Born to Be Bad • Snuff Out the Light • Perfect World (Yzma) • Gonna Get My Wish • You're You • Life's Too Short • It's Gonna Get Weird • Hans of the Southern Isles (Reprise 2)

Theatrical Songs
Another Pyramid • Like Father Like Son • Me • Maison Des Lunes • Chow Down • The Madness of King Scar • It's Never Too Late • I Want the Good Times Back • Sweet Child • Les Poissons (Reprise) • I Want the Good Times Back (Reprise) • Sweet Child (Reprise) • Sweet Child (Reprise) • Diamond in the Rough • Make a Little Noise •Flower of Gold • The Bottom Line • The Bottom Line (Reprise) • Hans of the Southern Isles • Hans of the Southern Isles (Reprise) • I Knew I Smelled A Rat • Prologue • 'Night, Kittens

Video Games
I Love Fur • Puppies, Oh, Puppies • The Rat Tango • Go Bananas in the Coconut Tree • A Mood for Food • Run • Villains of a Sort • The Heartless Has Come • Squirming Evil • One-Winged Angel • Dr. Finkelstein's Song • Hail to Mr. Oogie • Casino Clash • A Filthy Finale • Organization XIII • The 13th Struggle • Ursula's Revenge • It's a Small World • Opening • The Mad Doctor Isn't Mad • I'm Falling Apart • The Fall of Prescott • The Mad Doctor's Plan • Mad Doctor's Wonderful World of Evil • Piece of My World

Promotional Songs
Honest John • Monstro the Whale • If You Wanna See Some Strange Behavior (Take a Look at Man) • The Legend of Davy Jones • Cruella • I'm Gettin' Good at Being Bad • Shadow Man • Do What I Wanna Do • Love is a Magical Mystery

Parks
Hawaiian War Chant • Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me) • Grim Grinning Ghosts • Burrow's Lament • Friend Like Iago • Uh-Oa's Song • Guardians of the Galaxy Monsters After Dark

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Rolling Stones Sympathy for the Devil
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