The Rolling Stones: Sympathy for the Devil Meaning

Song Released: 1969

Sympathy for the Devil 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...

1. anonymous

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   Dec 9th 2012 !⃝

   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.
2. anonymous

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   Nov 28th 2012 !⃝

   I have a hard time buying the 100 year war reference. This war was a dispute over the French crown not religion. The 10 decades is a more likely reference to the Crusades.
3. Goldeneye

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   Aug 18th 2012 !⃝

   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 The events represented by historical references were merely a way to show the progression and constant presence.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?
4. anonymous

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   Jun 24th 2012 !⃝

   Whomever is relating this soley to Satan must be very narrow-minded. This song reveals darkness in humanity through NUMEROUS passages.
5. anonymous

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   May 22nd 2012 !⃝

   i love how he states that if you don't teat him with the up most respect he will bring you down to hell
6. anonymous

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   May 12th 2012 !⃝

   "Tell me baby, what's my name
   I tell you one time, you're to blame"
   
   nuff said
7. anonymous

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   Apr 10th 2012 !⃝

   devil = Rothschild
8. anonymous

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   Apr 5th 2012 !⃝

   The song in general is about the ominous and violent side to human history. As someone had already said, the narrator is the devil. Things mentioned in the lyrics such as
   "I rode a tank
   Held a generals rank
   When the blitzkrieg raged
   And the bodies stank"
   
   and
   
   "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"
   
   These describe the Blitzkrieg in Germany and the Russian Revolution, two haunting events in history which led to millions of lives lost. These are a few of the many atrocities in human history.
   
   When they say
   
   "I shouted out,
   Who killed the kennedys?
   When after all
   It was you and me"
   
   Since the narrator is the devil, the death of President Kennedy was evil and was of the devil's work. When The Rolling Stones say "It was you and me" they are implying that the actions of the devil reflect on ourselves; the evil and suffering we inflict on the world and other people.
   
   The song is in the devil's point of view, showing how the devil's evil is the same as the actions of humans today. We are the devil.
9. anonymous

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   Mar 17th 2012 !⃝

   Have Sympathy for the Devil because THE DEVIL IS YOU !
   Forgive yourself for YOU are the root of good and evil
   
   Whats my name? the devil asks
   
   its your name fill in the blank..........
10. anonymous

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    Mar 16th 2012 !⃝

    The verse that reveals the meaning of this song are "Who killed the Kennedys? When afterall it was you and me! The Rolling stones are obviously not formal Christians they are stating the devil and all his acts of cruelty are manifestations of all us.The potential for evil is not something outside its in you and me!Have you guessed his name? If you dont see it in the mirror then your already lost.Change now lest you lay your soul to waste!
11. anonymous

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    Feb 10th 2012 !⃝

    The devil is us.
12. Joe Ljungdahl

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    Dec 2nd 2011 !⃝

    To the person who posted on Nov. 21st. Actually I think that the moment of doubt they speak of is the devils temptation of Christ before he was crucified while the moment of pain is the crucifixion.
13. anonymous

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    Nov 21st 2011 !⃝

    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
    
    The royal family were taken from their palace and killed by the secret police
    
    I rode a tank
    Held a generals rank
    When the blitzkrieg raged
    And the bodies stank
    
    A German manoeuvre, using tanks to overwhelm the enemy. It was very violent and the generals in the Nazi army were known to be very nationalistic, and some would say the embodiment of the devil.
    
    I watched with glee
    While your kings and queens
    Fought for ten decades
    For the gods they made
    
    One hundred year war between France and England, lots of people died
    
    I shouted out,
    Who killed the kennedys?
    When after all
    It was you and me
    
    Assassination of the Kennedys. He said that he shot them, because it was an evil act
    
    Just as every cop is a criminal
    
    The cops do good, so he considers them to be criminals
    
    And all the sinners saints
    
    Same concept
    
    As heads is tails
    
    Opposites are reversed
    
    Just call me lucifer
    Cause I'm in need of some restraint
    
    He says it right here, people...
    
    So if you meet me
    Have some courtesy
    Have some sympathy, and some taste
    
    "Have some sympathy" for me. The song is called sympathy for the DEVIL
    
    Use all your well-learned politesse
    Or I'll lay your soul to waste
    
    If you do not respect him he'll bring you to hell
    
    Pleased to meet you
    Hope you guessed my name, um yeah
    But what's puzzling you
    Is the nature of my game
    
    He's told you all about the nature of his game, in the verses, so have you correctly guessed his name?...
14. anonymous

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    Oct 29th 2011 !⃝

    i made tracks for troubadores who get killed before they reach bombay........... can anyone explain
15. anonymous

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    Jun 14th 2011 !⃝

    "When after all
    It was you and me"
    
    The song refers to humankind's darkside. Evil is not "out there", but inside each one of us.

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