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by Spixxy on November 2nd, 2004

Spixxy

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What is the song "Sympathy for the Devil" by the Rolling Stones about?

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  • by wickedwillie on November 6th, 2004

    wickedwillie

    In spite of common belief, the song is not seriously arguing Christian doctrine, but using the devil as a symbol, a personification of evil, and of how it works in the world.

    If you take the lyrics at face value, you might consider that Mick Jagger (as lead vocalist and lyricist) is sincerely suggesting that the devil really isn't such a bad fellow. After all, he says, “every cop is a criminal, and all the sinners saints,” and it was “you and me” who “killed the Kennedys.” So what's the difference? We're all the same, aren't we? He's just one of the lads.

    Look more deeply, though, and you will find that this confusion of good and evil, of appearance and reality, is really just a ploy of the evil one. The devil may appear to be a gentleman, “a man of wealth and taste.” He may appear to be polite and a member of good society, approaching you with the words, “Let me please introduce myself,” and “pleased to meet you.” But alongside of this we have a long catalog of some of the worst atrocities of human history, starting with the torture of Christ on the cross, and ending with the modern assassination of the Kennedys (so contemporary, in fact, that the lyrics were changed from “John Kennedy” to “the Kennedys” while the Stones were in the studio recording the song). Along the way we have the Crusades and the Bolshevik revolution in Russia thrown in for good measure. So let there be no mistake: there really is evil in the world.

    This, then, is the real significance of the taunting refrain, “Hope you guess my name, But what's puzzling you is the nature of my game.” This is not Mick Jagger, saying “hope you can guess that I'm playing the devil in this song.” That's obvious from the beginning. No, this is the devil saying, “Hope you recognize me when you see me, because I come in many guises. And my game is not to do evil myself, but to trick you into doing it.”

    This confusion between appearance and reality, between good and evil, runs throughout the song. Christ is mentioned, not only for the pain that he experienced, but for his “moment of doubt.” And in addition to all the acts of violence described, the devil says that he has “stolen many a man's soul and faith.” His interest in the son of God was not limited to the torture of Christ himself — he also “made damn sure that Pilate washed his hands and sealed his fate.” And his final threat to the listener is to “... lay your soul to waste.”

    Just in case we might be in danger of taking Jagger's appropriation of the devil as a serious case of religious conviction, he throws in the lines, “I watched with glee, while your kings and queens fought for ten decades for the gods they made.” So Jagger is not seriously arguing Christian doctrine here, but using the devil as a symbol, a personification of evil, and of how it works in the world.

    Comments

    • Wow! I completely agree!

      scymitar72

      by scymitar72 on May 29th, 2005

    • Jagger sings of how the "devil" has many tricks.

      Alatea

      by Alatea on November 7th, 2005

    • I was going to answer this question, then I read your answer. Excellent!

      Hellsbell

      by Hellsbell on February 11th, 2007

    • PERFECT ANSWER!!!

      RockChick

      by RockChick on October 28th, 2010

    • Deep, man

      human_tripod

      by human_tripod on January 2nd, 2011

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