(M. Jagger/K. Richards)
Please allow me to introduce myself
I'm a man of wealth and taste
I've been around for a long, long years
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 czar 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
(woo woo, woo woo)
I watched with glee
While your kings and queens
Fought for ten decades
For the gods they made
(woo woo, woo woo)
I shouted out,
"Who killed the Kennedys?"
When after all
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)
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah
(who who)
But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, oh yeah, get down, baby
(who who, who who)
Pleased to meet you
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
Just call me Lucifer
'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, um yeah
(woo woo, woo woo)
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, um yeah
(who who)
But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, um mean it, get down
(woo woo, woo woo)
Woo, who
Oh yeah, get on down
Oh yeah
Oh yeah!
(woo woo)
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
woo, woo
Woo, who
Woo, woo
Woo, who, who
Woo, who, who
Oh, yeah
What's my name
Tell me, baby, what's my name
Tell me, sweetie, what's my name
Woo, who, who
Woo, who, who
Woo, who, who
Woo, who, who
Woo, who, who
Woo, who, who
Oh, yeah
Woo woo
Woo woo
Last time I left off with Pilate and Jesus Christ. Who doesn't know the story? It was a typical "its not my deal" argument. So, historically and philosophically speaking. Jesus was crucified because all of the people at the time who did not see him as the Messiah, wanted him dead. So, when they captured him they sent him to get sentenced by the Romans. The Romans did not want to get their hands dirty with this guy who was making such a big revolt. So in turn, Pilate, "washed his hands" literally, when the time came to sentence him and left it up to the people. Everyone in the crowd furiously wanted him dead. So, he did nothing but to obey to the demands. The song continues with a "smug" tone, with a lot more of claims. This character, the narrator, the voice continues to talk about his feats. Now, centuries later, he is Russian in St. Petersburg. Here, the narrator, claims to have killed the czar and his ministers. Historically, if you dont know, were killed by an angry mob, the Bolshevik. Again, a group of people are responsible for someone's death. The song, at this point, turns into a frantic rhythm of drums, chants, bass line, and very heavy lyrics. A series of visuals are then used to appeal to the listener. The era is now of World War II. This same individual is now a General in a tank who is raging through the battlefield amongst decaying corpses. We get the feeling that he is a German for the use of "Blitzkrieg", a war strategy fonded by the German meaning "to fight a quick and surprising war" a Lightning attack if you will. Again, this individual is part of history as he is responsible for much more deaths. The song then enters into a state of question and we get more of a voice from this individual. For now, he asks the listeners as to his origin, his name, and primarily; his nature. What is the purpose of this individual? Why has he done all of this? How is he able to do so? What is his name? Again, the same individual continues to boast about his achievements throughout history. Now, he relates to the Forty year war for Gods. This is a very tricky one, for all I could think about was the Forty year search of the Jews for a land. The Jewish, after being dispersed in the "Diaspora" had to survive a Forty year outcast from their home, Israel. The same individual bloats as to how many deaths came about during these years, for in Glee, and enjoyment he watched such massacres. The Kings and Queens waged war against other empires in the fight for Man-made God figures. The narrator then tells us about how he shouted "Who killed the Kennedys?" He makes reference to the very Catholic family of the late president John F. Kennedy. The narrator then makes a very daring claim, that it was "You and I" who killed them. What the hell? Who is this horrendous person? Why does he enjoy so much death? To these theoretical questions that the listener might have, the narrator answers. It must be taken in account that this individual, although his very dark resume, is of a very polite manner. He introduces himself to us and tells us all about him. The music at this point of the song has reached a steady climax, it has continued in the same pattern with the addition of a chorus. The chorus has been saying "Woo Woo, Who Who?" This adds to the question we have had since this individual started to introduce himself. He describes himself as a man of wealth and taste. He says that he has laid traps for "troubadours" or poets who get killed before they reach Bombay. Now, this quote I cannot find. Again, his self introduction comes again. His guess as to what you are thinking about him. Who am I? Why am I? The narrator now takes a break from him speaking, for now the ripping guitar comes in. This guitar with heavy yet sharp distortion comes in to set up a chaotic, yet organized, paced sound to the song. As the beating incessant music continues so does the rampage of the guitar. A wild sound amongst a uniform, familiar, sound that has by now become basic to our senses. Our narrator still makes sounds that resemble that of an animal. Many Woo, Ahmm, Uhhh. Still his questions continue. Who am I? With a very good precise guess as to what we think, almost as if he knows what the listener thinks. At this time we are no longer listening, he is listening to our thoughts and answering all. He states that "just as every cop is a criminal and all of the sinners saints" that to every good there is a bad. That everyone can be bad and good, that is his message as of right now, to us. Still, we do not receive a clear answer as to who he is. The Chorus still asks Who? Who? He finally gives in and answers, just call me Lucifer. A bit of comfortability comes in with his introduction. He says, just call me Lucifer, as if he were saying his nickname. He asks for some respect from us, some manners. For he is a very wild, yet mildly, calm individual that has a passion for chaos. He gives us some pointers, if we meet him, we must be very polite. If no does not follow such petitions, he will, as he has done, "lay our souls to waste". The speaker has now finished confessing all of his "sins". This "individual", Lucifer, has become a good acquaintance of us by this time. We are no strangers, we know him, and he sure as hell doesnt need to know us. He then goes on into a frantic, wild, state that asks with great passion "Whats my name?" "Tell me honey" "Say my name". The music seems appropriate for the tone of his voice now. They are both a wild, organized, evil structure that lures us into hearing them. The guitar makes a comeback and works with "Lucifer" to wreak havoc into our ears. The song fades away as our friend continues, happily, with his orchestra to sing away.
Sympathy for the Devil, as the title says, asks for sympathy and respect for the ultimate evil in this world. It doesnt matter, it seems, what you call it. For names do not match his nature, he is wild, he is everything that his world has been and will be. He has been in us just as anything else in history. Everyone has met him, we are more than friends with it. For, he has with his pure influence, managed to "woo" us into his ways. Ultimately, all that it ever did was exist and influence mankind. The rest has been up to us, for we as a race have done all the ultimate evil. Many questions were answered, many speculations unveiled, for it has been there within us. Everything that we so much hate and despise in the image of "him" has been in us too. We are him, and he is us. Just as we have always wanted to be with the good, the evil has been more of us.
The Rolling Stones masterpiece if you ask me.
LOVE THIS ONE TOO..^_^
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