So I was driving home from UCLA tonight, and listened, really for the first time, to the words of the Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil.” I had grown up with this song, so I was numb to the words. But listening anew, I couldn’t believe the depth that Mick Jagger and Keith Richard had, as young men. The 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. Petersberg
When I saw it was a time for a change
Killed the Czar and his ministers
Anastasia screamed in vain
[what an amazing verse]
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
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
[same as above]
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 troubadors
Who get killed before they reached Bombay
(Bombay is the word I found listed on all of the lyrics pages I found, but the actual lyric on the soundtrack sounds as if it has more syllables than that, to me - DA)
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 baby, get down
Woo, who
Oh yeah, get on down
Oh yeah
Oh yeah!
Tell me baby, what’s my name
Tell me honey, baby 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
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3 responses so far ↓
1 DakotaSue // Apr 28, 2009 at 1:36 am
Woah, I have never “heard” these words in all the times it has been on the radio. I wonder how many other mainstream songs have huge theological commentaries that go unnoticed…I think stuff like this is key to understanding the gaps between belief and not-so-much.
2 Wayde Goodall // Apr 28, 2009 at 10:21 am
Lots of theological stuff in music. I think … because everyone is looking for a real relationship with God. Sadly, there are bad examples out there that throw people off.
I read your book about a month ago … no surprise, great writing, transparency, and I appreciate your honesty. I’d like to have a Starbucks with u next time I’m in Balboa … My new book, Success Kills … just came out last week … It explains some of my thoughts about why some religious leaders make bad decisions. FYI … Wayde
3 Roger.Martinez.500 // Apr 28, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Now don’t get me wrong…. I do find the lyrics of the Stones as fun as anyone… and particularly full of the richness of art here in this song as with many others… but may I add a tounge in cheek verse to hold in derision the idea that the Jew who would condemn Jews of the Synagogues of the likes of Westwood, California, who would not convert to “loving him” as “of their father the devil”…..
“…. I was ’round when Frosty the Snowman…. felt the sun, would melt his face….
Made damn sure Cartman… of Southpark… got cash and horny skanks”
Now, fine to mention mythological charachters in songs…. but being that the “Super Jew-God Jesus” who condemned the other Jews…. without reference to the ridiculousness of the claim… well… I find it rather funny….. But I really do love the Stones… I have always had a saying.. All I want to be when I grow up is Keith Richards! Ha ha ha ha…. Keep up the fun brother! And to the “people want a god’ bull… please don’t assume to have a clue baby… every person I’ve met who had come away from and out of the delusion that any god exists finds the arrogance of such prickery as the claims of persons to this moronicism both insulting and repugnant… particularly the Atheists of the United States Military who on more than one occasion have found such absurd devices as that nonsense to be … shall I continue or do you get the friggin’ point…. NO, there are over a billion of us who want nothing to do with your bullSh8 deity claims and even those persons of religions… (who needs to name them..) who would love the cut you up as a heretic or infidel… burn you at a stake and rob you of your freedoms… or haven’t you ever read Foxes Book Of Martyrs…. more in due time….
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