But who was playing the percussion? Was it Charlie Watts? Bc I believe you, La, were saying "he sat this one out" - meaning the drummer. So both of you may be right to some extent. No WWE in the living room boys. It's only $10. 😁
No traditional drums or bongos, just congas. Bill Wyman played a shekere which is a percussion instrument consisting of a dried gourd with beads woven into a net covering the gourd. So, it basically sounds like maracas.
Jagger wrote the lyrics Richards plahyed guitar, bass drums, watts played shakers and maybe cowbells. Jagger found n African street musician playing bongos, girlfriends did the Woo woos.
I always took it as a parody of how narcissists and sociopaths simultaneously revel in the damage they do, but refuse to take responsibility. The Devil would surely act the same.
Jagger wrote this after reading The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov, which is about the interplay between good and evil. I think the overriding theme of the song is that "Satan" doesn't literally exist, but is a creation of western culture on which we project our own weaknesses and whom we blame for the evil within us. Just as every cop is a criminal, and all the sinners saints, everybody has a dark side. Nobody is all good or all bad. So have some sympathy for the "devil" since he gets the blame for our own failures. "I shouted out, 'Who killed the Kennedys?' when after all, it was you and me."
Ty for that explanation...this song has always been such a groove but I never thought of it beyond the devil just smugly reciting his greatest hits.. very cool!
@@tackle47 Yep, the intelligent lyrics are all in Metal now. Check out Sabaton, folks. That and indie bands and singer-songwriters that can only be found on UA-cam. They aren't in the limelight.
The greatest History lesson in music... prolific lyrics by Mick/Keith... about blaming the Devil for the atrocities mankind has done throughout history... deep cut!! ... and yes Charlie does have a drumline throughout with alot of cymbol work...but dominated by Rocky Dijon bongos
@@Cosmo-Kramer Lol, yeah, it does. I assumed people would get it due to the context, or maybe it was a new slang like saying something is really bad to mean it's really good.
They started recording this on June 4-5, 1968 with the lyric "I shouted out who killed Kennedy, when after all, it was you and me". On June 6, 1968 Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated and the lyric was immediately changed to 'I shouted out who killed the Kennedys when after it all it was you and me."
Song is just a masterpiece. Lyrically, music wise, Jagger's presentation, Everything. I think he's saying to have sympathy because he is telling is that WE are just as responsible for these atrocities. "We shouted out who killed the Kennedy's, when after all, it was you and me." Basically saying, you are no different from me. It is meant to be a punch in the gut. I mean, this IS, what he does, after all. That is why he's known as the "accuser."
_Sheitan_ is not a name but a title. It means "adversary" in the sense of someone on the other side of a contest. It was later corrupted into the name Satan when the original texts were translated into Greek. (Quite a few strangenesses are the result of bad or mistaken translations over the centuries.)
@@mikeblast7507 The point isn't that names mean something. The point is that _that is not a name._ It's a title, which means that whenever that designation come up in the bible, _they're not necessarily talking about the same PERSON._ It could be ANY angel who just happened to be arguing with god at the moment.
I think it's called "Sympathy for the Devil" because the devil gets blamed for everything evil people do to each other throughout history. "The Devil made me do it" was a popular catchphrase of Flip Wilson back then.
I have always considered Keith's stinging guitar in this one of the greatest performances of all time. It is just perfect in counterpoint to Mick's voice. This record has not lost its punch no matter how many times I have listened to it for well over 50 years.
This is the song from the perspective side of the devil. We blame all of our sins on the devil but at the same time we keep him alive. You’re right guys this is deep.😎
One of the most powerfull songs of all time. The lyrics showing us our face in the mirror, kicking us a concience. Man does evil things and invented the devil to have someone to put the blame on.
Totally and that is why some of today's young reactors are so influenced by the over commercialization of the extreme religious right that was groomed and grown by the poltical right since the 70s that they are in FEAR MODE of talking about "the Devil." SIGH. We as a Society has DIGRESSED a bunch since the 70s. Too much intentional brainwashing.
My all-time favourite Stones song - I love everything about this tune. The instrumentation, the menace in Mick's vocals, the historical references, just brilliant all the way around. Glad you guys got to this one - peace and love from Canada!
The song is partly inspired by the Mikhail Bulgakov book "The Master and the Margarita". Epic Russian novel. It starts with Satan debating atheists on a park bench, then into a flashback of Jesus meeting Pontius Pilate. In short they paint the devil as an entity who does evil to remind people what good is and when and how to practice it. But the novel is much bigger than that. It's such an epic book and subject matter, all encompassing, religion, history, time travel, metaphysics etc. In the book the Devil is there to force people to be kinder to each other because of what he does. As in evil in the world reminds us to be good to each other... so have a little sympathy for what he does and why he does it. So "sympathy" in this context makes sense.
I agree, best interpretation I've ever seen. I would just add that the last verse sums it up pretty well--basically, have respect for what he is and does, otherwise you'll give yourself over to your capacity for irredeemable evil--"I'll lay your soul to waste".
Can't be denied. One of the best rock songs ever. Clever and emotional and scary and insightful. Music is so good, singing exceptional and lyrics are one of a kind. Nothing like it in my opinion.
I'm so glad you fine young gentlemen now realize via your own musical discovery why the Rolling Stones have had the longevity they richly & undeniably deserve.
Please allow me to introduce myself.... You have sympathy for the Devil because he's just a hard workin' dude with a job to get done, and through the millennia he's consistent asf.
His job's pretty straightforward though; we humans are super easy to convince. And having religion is no protection, it just makes you that much more gullible and easily fooled.
In those days, the Beatles were the "nice boys" and the Stones were menacing, dangerous, even satanic. To throw that image back in the faces of the critics, they even named an earlier album "Their Satanic Majesties Request." IMHO the song is about how fine the line is between the devil and humanity- "...after all, it was you AND me." I love you guys and your thoughtful reactions! ☮💜
Beatles are the kings of Pop, but the Stones are the kings of rock and roll, IMO precisely for the reasons you mentioned. Rock should have attitude and some in your face qualities. Stones have it in spades!
With your statement, you serve the old cliché once again, little macho. The Beatles were chameleons and already, to everyone's surprise, had something "revolutionary" for me as a toddler, think of JL so and GH solo too: exemplary attitudes. RS in the 70's: chic, bang and bang to the point of self-destruction, then Mick Taylor had had enough. Read the story about the making of Exile, not one of Mick's favorite albums. Still have fun with all kind of good music✌
The Early Beatles were pure punk animals then along came Brian Epstein and George Martin. Epstein cleaned up their IMAGE and Martin cleaned up their sound. The Stones started as a more mild mannered Blues Band then became part of the British Wave to America. Musically Rolling Stones had heavier Guitar sounds based in the Blues whereas the Beatles spread across many Genres.
@@keithwilson1554 See it similarly, sometimes specially formulated: "punk animals?"=escape from the working-class milieu; "cleaned up"=survive or perish, RS too; "blues", ok, but only one side of the RS, later also thanks to Mick T. I only experienced this period retrospectively. In the 1960s, artists, especially record labels, made a clear distinction between singles and albums; the "wild, bluesy" RS, with some middle-class backgrounds, took part. I first heard the RS on a cassette with e.g. "She's A Rainbow". "Ob-La-Di" was my first single that my parents allowed me to buy (Lucy, Walrus, Strawberry) when I was 12: both harmless-sounding "children's songs". I'm generally bothered by the black&white-thinking, which is absolutely unnecessary with such good music.
"Beggars Banquet", the album this song is from, came out in 1968. The Beatles also put out "The White Album" the same year. Two great bands, two amazing albums. So glad to have had such great music to grow up with! Still have both albums which I think I paid $15 for ($5 for Beggars Banquet, $10 for The White Album as it was a double album).
This is one of many absolute masterpieces that came from this era in music. The Stones, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Kansas, Chicago, Boston. Thank you for the great analysis! The deeper you dive, the more there is . . .
@@joescott8877 I'd say 1965-66 to 1978 for me was the apex period of rock music (minus most of the Disco crap). I didn't really get to experience 1965>1970 or so personally as a preteen kid beyond AM radio, but I spent all my teen years in the 70s, so it was a great time to grow up with all that music.
@@kbrewski1 For sure. yeah, I was born in '65, but am still gobsmacked by the mind-blowingly great music that came out as I grew up. From "Revolver" to "Physical Grafitti."And so yes, I'm taking full credit for it! ;)
Several already said what the message is so I will just say what a piece of pure brilliance this song is. Enjoy! Also, I absolutely love watching your reactions. You guys just vibe on these songs like no other, and it's awesome!
So freaking creative lyrically and musically. They have a unique sense of rhythm in my opinion, similar to the weird way Jagger moved on stage. From the devil's perspective, he's saying "yeah I'm a bad dude, and I've been there to help, but it's you people who drove all this".
Mick and Keith crafted a dark, sinuous tale in which the Devil - presented here as a sophisticated socialite (“a man of wealth and taste”) explains all the historical atrocities that changed the world. No one but The Rolling Stones would have an opening track like that in 1968. "The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist" - Jagger is explaining that he does and why. Cool song choice, guys. The Lyrics and Instrumentation on this song are crazy cool.
One of the greatest songs by the Rolling Stones ever. These guys are absolutely amazing musical artist...."have some sympathy and some taste" Beautiful....."Or I'll lay your soul to waste" I think that's about all you need to know.
The performance of this song at The Rock and Roll Circus is insane. There are some legends in the making in the audience. My favorite from the Rolling Stone 😊
lol there was no bass drum , tom or snare but just about every other percussion sound. It's from the devils point of view so naturally he is trying to woo the listener into seeing things his way, what's brilliant is how Mick starts off sounding calm and reasonable but as he goes on becomes more manic like he has been trying to contain himself to convince you he is just misunderstood but his true nature starts bleeding though becoming crazier and crazier until he is shreaking at the end. A masterpiece.
Back when there was no synthetics, no auto-tuning, no magic keyboards...just a group of world-class talent that comes along once in a lifetime. Excellent reaction fellas. Well done.
First of all, you guys got me laughing arguing about the bongo drums!! Ha!! Man, I love when you guys do the Stones. Back when it came out, (speaking for myself) we didn't question the reasons or the lyrics. It was the Stones. That's all that mattered! Thanks guys. DO the Stones "HEARTBREAKER" NEXT PLEASE!!
Totally. It is not easy for many of these younger generation reactors to get out of LOGIC and overanalyzing and rather react to it LIKE ABSTRACT ART. WE WERE ALL ABOUT ABSTRACT ART in our music back then. Ive heard it when reactors try to comprehend what Jim Morrison is saying on one of his songs from THE DOORS album. LOL Just enjoy the ride.
My favorite Stones song, love it! The song describes various horrific moments in human history, moments where we tend to blame evil, blame the devil-times when it might be more convenient to blame the devil than looking at ourselves, looking at human actions.
There’s a great documentary about the recording of this record. It was shot by Jean Luc-Goddard a famous director of the French New Wave. It was cool to see the Stones hanging out with various musicians, friends, Black Panthers, etc when writing and recording the song
A local cinema shows them recording this from that doc. before most films. They used to be the recording studio where this was recorded. It ends with them listing who used it, a very long and impressive list. The cinema sound system was designed by the sound engineers who worked there, it's great, but even they couldn't do anything for Openheimer and the mumbling.
They both recognized that they need each other and the band in total in order to be their best. Since their reunification in the late 80s they have been most conscious of their need for the other. They each bring an aspect of their talents to the band that neither was able to conjure sepratately.
Great song!! Listen to any live version when Mick Taylor was in the band. Great juxtaposition between Taylor and Richards styles and intense guitar playing for about 8 minutes or so. Nicky Hopkins on piano.
Gives me chills watching people experience this for the first time. I’m jealous. There’s so, so much you haven’t heard I’m sure. If you enjoyed this, try Beast of Burden maybe.
Wait until you hear SISTER MORPHINE. You will be even more impressed, I think. Love that you’re getting into THE music. Amazing that it’s all from one band, ain’t it? Mick and Keith are in a class by themselves. Peace, v
This song formed my philosophy of us as human beings as a preteen. Never stopped listening. I can tell when I haven't listened to it in a while because when I do, it centers me again.
I think it is sympathy for the devil because the devil gets blamed for all the evil in the world and what the devil is saying in this song is to look within yourself for The evil within. So essentially the devil is saying have some sympathy for me because I get blamed for everything!
Masterpiece for sure! The Stones made great music But their lyrics here are DEEP. Made ya think hard. Imagine how intense they were, back my early days, when tripping! Conjures up some REAL visions along with such a catchy beat. This has to be one of their BEST IMO. Made you dance with the devil to the beat. Got a lot of Likes on this gem. Welcome to The Rolling Stones ❤
There are very few songs I will stop whatever I'm doing, and listen to. This one of them. Spectacular music, and don't get me started with the lyrics!! Keith Richards is one of my heroes, and for many reasons.
Here's another interesting bit; a documentary crew was onsite and captured the whole process of making this song in the studio. One of their lights caused a major fire and the studio burned down. This song was born in Dante's Inferno. That film is called "Sympathy for the Devil" and is still available to view as can be found here on UA-cam.
It wasn't a documentary...there was a fire but Olympic Studios fortunately didn't burn down. The studio footage was shot by French director Jean-Luc Goddard and used in his surreally political 60's film "One Plus One". (Renamed "Sympathy For The Devil" sometime after release for the *Midnight Madness* crowd.)
Mick wrote most of the lyrics and Keith composed most of the music, but like Lennon and McCartney, sometimes one of them would write both lyrics and music. Most of the songs where Keith sings lead (I don't think you have done any of them yet, usually one per album), he also wrote the lyrics because they are usually fun or autobiographical. Why sympathy for the Devil? In his mind, he is no worse than the human race. "Who killed the Kennedys? After all, it was you and me."
To be honest, Keith almost always wrote the hooks for the lyrics and Jagger filled them in with great aplomb. Even Keith's solo works were largely written by others because he does not have the ability to compose lyrically as Jagger does. Not a knock, but it shows the synergy of the two when allowed to compose as a tandem.
The title may be misleading, but the meaning of the song is, if you’re looking for the devil, look in the mirror. All the things he mentions were done by humans. At the end he says that anyone who doesn’t recognize the devil within, will have their soul laid to waste.
The last verse basically explains the song. Do my bidding or I'll f your azz up. "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,"
Satan here actually represents conflict. This verse warns us to always listen to our better angels when we find ourselves in ugly situations, otherwise we'll almost certainly regret it. But enough of that bullshit, Ima tell Sir Mick you been twisting his words and you best lawyer up! 😆
He says, "...just call me Lucifer" - the Devil. And, "...who killed the Kennedys...you & me.". As humans are quite capable of doing the Devil's handiwork, it's telling us to have sympathy for ourselves, when we're driven by evil intent. Fantastic song, thank you for reacting to it.
Watching you two brightens my day. Y'all are like children in a candy store, so excited with each new piece. I love it that you enjoy the music that is soooo a part of my life. It gave me chills watching you guys get into this song. ROCK-'N'-ROLL FOREVER As Mick would say... WOO, WHO OH YEAH, GET ON DOWN OH YEAH AAH YEAH!!!
One of their best! The lyrics are so deep and others have gone into them in the comments, so can we just give it up for the “Whoo Hooo”? ❤❤❤ Great reaction as always!!!!
Watching live in concert versions takes this to higher level. Thanks for another Stones reaction, you guys are the best in your authenticity, knowledge, appreciation. Woo woo! Woo woo!
The piano (Nicky Hopkins) and the bongos (Charlie Watts the Stones drummer) are the percussion section thru entire song Bill Wyman on bass fleshes out the rhythm section. The devil/Lucifer is telling you if you don't give him kudos he'll lay your soul to waste. I believe I read in 1980s they stopped playing it live for years after the stabbing at Altamont in 1969, they were playing "Under My Thumb" when the stabbing occurred.
So glad you liked this one. I’ve been listening to this song for 30 years and have never heard another like it either lyrically or musically. Love your channel.
Listen carefully and you can hear a bass drum sometimes, a crash of a symbol, and a drum beat from Charlie Watts. During the several reiterations of this song in the studio, the drums got shifted around and the style of the song changed. So this is a drum set light mix.
This song has great lyrics, music rhythm, and definatly grabs your attention from the start. I've seen this song come on at a party, and literally everyone stops and begins moving to that hypnotic beat. Look, I've been around the block, with dope women, music and almost everything else, so don't think I'm some prudish nerd telling you something I haven't experienced for myself. I believe this song was Satanically inspired. A couple of years after they released this, they played it live at some concerts, and then they stopped. When asked by a music reporter for a local paper in the city they were performing in, Jagger said " I don't know...I mean, I'm not really a religious guy, but when we were practicing this song in our rehearsals or whatever, weird things would happen". That's as far as Jagger would go. Keith Richards, (guitar and vocals) said basically the same thing. " It makes you wonder...how quickly the song and lyrics all came together , like it was already written for us. Wierd stuff happened every time we played it, and after a while, I think we all sort of thought we'd just let it alone, and never played it again. It was a little spooky." I've seen the same thing. It immediately grabs you by the throat as soon as it starts. Everything in the lyrics is true, Satan has been around from the beginning of time, and before. He likes to be exalted, and this song does that. I don't listen to it any longer, as I am now a Christian man. Satan is a real being, but Jesus Christ was God almighty in human flesh, and then died in our place, for our sins. God Bless you guys
The greatest rock band, countless hits, more than fifty years of history, better live than on record, legendary. In 2006 they played on Copacabana Beach in Brazil in front of 1,300,000 people.
“I rode a tank in the general’s rank, when the blitzkrieg raged and the bodies stank.” You cannot not have awe when confronted with the stark imagery of the Stones lyrics.
OUR drums definition in this video: Hi hat, snare, toms and kick drum. Bongos, maracas and timbales are percussion.
But who was playing the percussion? Was it Charlie Watts? Bc I believe you, La, were saying "he sat this one out" - meaning the drummer. So both of you may be right to some extent. No WWE in the living room boys. It's only $10. 😁
@@snakeinthegrass7443 lol. I need all my $10.
No traditional drums or bongos, just congas. Bill Wyman played a shekere which is a percussion instrument consisting of a dried gourd with beads woven into a net covering the gourd. So, it basically sounds like maracas.
Yep- I heard Congas !
Even Zappaphiles avoid Bongo Fury!
God, why isn't anyone making music like this any more?
I blame the Kardashians.
substance isnt important. Consumption and clicks.
Sympathy for the Devil. Is because we as human beings blame the devil for our mis-deeds
Yeah, like give the devil a break. He is not the only guy doing bad $h!t.
Flip Wilson was a HUGE comedian at the time of this song. He had a variety show. One of his catchphrases was “The devil made me do it!” 👿
Jagger wrote the lyrics Richards plahyed guitar, bass drums, watts played shakers and maybe cowbells. Jagger found n African street musician playing bongos, girlfriends did the Woo woos.
I always took it as a parody of how narcissists and sociopaths simultaneously revel in the damage they do, but refuse to take responsibility. The Devil would surely act the same.
The version of this from the live album "Get yer ya ya's out" is properly considered to be the definitive version of this song.
I think the Stones are saying that the devil gets blamed for everything, when it's often people themselves who do evil things too.
Jagger wrote this after reading The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov, which is about the interplay between good and evil. I think the overriding theme of the song is that "Satan" doesn't literally exist, but is a creation of western culture on which we project our own weaknesses and whom we blame for the evil within us. Just as every cop is a criminal, and all the sinners saints, everybody has a dark side. Nobody is all good or all bad. So have some sympathy for the "devil" since he gets the blame for our own failures. "I shouted out, 'Who killed the Kennedys?' when after all, it was you and me."
About sums it up. We humans understand everything from a duality perspective. We create good so we create evil.
Ty for that explanation...this song has always been such a groove but I never thought of it beyond the devil just smugly reciting his greatest hits.. very cool!
@@jennyruth5620 THE greatest con job ever pulled on the human race is Satan convincing so many he doesn't exist.
Thanks for that information! That was very interesting.
Nice take on this and thanks for the background
"Anastasia screamed in vain" is an unbelievably chilling lyric.
Probably... for me anyway the most chilling passage.
Jagger's protest lyrics were almost unbearably effective. he didn't write a whole lot of those songs, but the ones he did are genius.
Made even more poignant after the Altamont killing.
@@stevejette2329 Didn't they stop playing this live after that tragic event?
@@stevejette2329so this song was playing when they killed the guy?
No one has the guts to write songs like this anymore that make you think unfortunately.
Evangelicals would have their records banned.
You should listen to Ren, then!
No music of quality and “controversial” content is still out there. Just not popular music, metal has plenty of it.
It's because there are too many snowflakes getting offended at everything
@@tackle47 Yep, the intelligent lyrics are all in Metal now. Check out Sabaton, folks. That and indie bands and singer-songwriters that can only be found on UA-cam. They aren't in the limelight.
The greatest History lesson in music... prolific lyrics by Mick/Keith... about blaming the Devil for the atrocities mankind has done throughout history... deep cut!! ... and yes Charlie does have a drumline throughout with alot of cymbol work...but dominated by Rocky Dijon bongos
Exactly! 👍
Say a "deep song", not a, "deep cut". A deep cut means something entirely different from what you're trying to express.
@@Cosmo-Kramer Lol, yeah, it does. I assumed people would get it due to the context, or maybe it was a new slang like saying something is really bad to mean it's really good.
@@Cosmo-Kramer track, cut, mix, etc etc are other very widely used synonyms,... apologies did not mean to offend.... lol
@@john-daviddennison2862 I accept your apology.
They started recording this on June 4-5, 1968 with the lyric "I shouted out who killed Kennedy, when after all, it was you and me". On June 6, 1968 Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated and the lyric was immediately changed to 'I shouted out who killed the Kennedys when after it all it was you and me."
That's chilling to think back on.
Check out the documentary called sympathy for the Devil
Song is just a masterpiece. Lyrically, music wise, Jagger's presentation, Everything. I think he's saying to have sympathy because he is telling is that WE are just as responsible for these atrocities. "We shouted out who killed the Kennedy's, when after all, it was you and me." Basically saying, you are no different from me. It is meant to be a punch in the gut. I mean, this IS, what he does, after all. That is why he's known as the "accuser."
Lee Harvey Oswald was just a disgruntled ex-Marine working a succession of odd jobs in Dallas, i.e. he was a nobody, like a whole lot of people.
_Sheitan_ is not a name but a title. It means "adversary" in the sense of someone on the other side of a contest. It was later corrupted into the name Satan when the original texts were translated into Greek. (Quite a few strangenesses are the result of bad or mistaken translations over the centuries.)
@@Serai3 Yes I've heard that explanation ad nauseum. The fact is, all names mean something.
@@mikeblast7507 The point isn't that names mean something. The point is that _that is not a name._ It's a title, which means that whenever that designation come up in the bible, _they're not necessarily talking about the same PERSON._ It could be ANY angel who just happened to be arguing with god at the moment.
Best thing the Stones ever did.
I think it's called "Sympathy for the Devil" because the devil gets blamed for everything evil people do to each other throughout history. "The Devil made me do it" was a popular catchphrase of Flip Wilson back then.
Spot on
The Stones are just so good. This song is a lyrical masterpiece …
My mum used to say,good girls liked the Beatles and the bad girls liked the Stones.
The funny thing is The Stones were more of the rich artsy privileged wimps.
My older said “we bought the Beatles but we danced to The Rolling Stones.”
And that's why I loved them. Bad girls rock!
One of the best songs ever composed!
I have always considered Keith's stinging guitar in this one of the greatest performances of all time. It is just perfect in counterpoint to Mick's voice. This record has not lost its punch no matter how many times I have listened to it for well over 50 years.
It’s defiantly one of Keith’s best solos, he also played the bass.
This is the song from the perspective side of the devil. We blame all of our sins on the devil but at the same time we keep him alive. You’re right guys this is deep.😎
One of the most powerfull songs of all time. The lyrics showing us our face in the mirror, kicking us a concience. Man does evil things and invented the devil to have someone to put the blame on.
Bingo!
not only mens do this...
These boys could make you shake your ass and have a philosophical discussion at the same time!
Totally and that is why some of today's young reactors are so influenced by the over commercialization of the extreme religious right that was groomed and grown by the poltical right since the 70s that they are in FEAR MODE of talking about "the Devil." SIGH. We as a Society has DIGRESSED a bunch since the 70s. Too much intentional brainwashing.
My all-time favourite Stones song - I love everything about this tune. The instrumentation, the menace in Mick's vocals, the historical references, just brilliant all the way around. Glad you guys got to this one - peace and love from Canada!
The song is partly inspired by the Mikhail Bulgakov book "The Master and the Margarita". Epic Russian novel. It starts with Satan debating atheists on a park bench, then into a flashback of Jesus meeting Pontius Pilate. In short they paint the devil as an entity who does evil to remind people what good is and when and how to practice it. But the novel is much bigger than that. It's such an epic book and subject matter, all encompassing, religion, history, time travel, metaphysics etc.
In the book the Devil is there to force people to be kinder to each other because of what he does. As in evil in the world reminds us to be good to each other... so have a little sympathy for what he does and why he does it. So "sympathy" in this context makes sense.
The best explanation of the lyrics I've seen. I can't add to it.
@@jdbroders64 thanks!
I agree, best interpretation I've ever seen. I would just add that the last verse sums it up pretty well--basically, have respect for what he is and does, otherwise you'll give yourself over to your capacity for irredeemable evil--"I'll lay your soul to waste".
* Bulgakov
@@heliotropezzz333 fixed. Thanks for the proofread.
This whole track is fire. Hell of a song.
Keith is playing bass and lead guitar. A master. Lyrics- We have seen the enemy and he is us. Genius.
As many great Stones songs as there are, this one will always be the most vital to me. This came from another realm.
Can't be denied. One of the best rock songs ever. Clever and emotional and scary and insightful. Music is so good, singing exceptional and lyrics are one of a kind. Nothing like it in my opinion.
You’re so right! Very scary! And a little goofy with the woo-woos but funky and hypnotic and a true indictment. God it’s so good.
Correct
Keith doubled up and played the bass. I think the song is about the duality of human nature. "After all it was you and me."
THIS IS JUST ONE OF THOSE GREAT GREAT CLASSICCCCC ROCK SONGS YOU GUYS, AND A HUGE HIT!!! 😊
I'm so glad you fine young gentlemen now realize via your own musical discovery why the Rolling Stones have had the longevity they richly & undeniably deserve.
Please allow me to introduce myself.... You have sympathy for the Devil because he's just a hard workin' dude with a job to get done, and through the millennia he's consistent asf.
"Please allow myself to introduce..." Austin Powers
His job's pretty straightforward though; we humans are super easy to convince. And having religion is no protection, it just makes you that much more gullible and easily fooled.
What's the greatest trick the Devil ever pulled ?
@@edwardmunoz7853 convincing people he doesn't actually exist.
@@michaelfried3123Bingo
In those days, the Beatles were the "nice boys" and the Stones were menacing, dangerous, even satanic. To throw that image back in the faces of the critics, they even named an earlier album "Their Satanic Majesties Request." IMHO the song is about how fine the line is between the devil and humanity- "...after all, it was you AND me." I love you guys and your thoughtful reactions! ☮💜
Beatles are the kings of Pop, but the Stones are the kings of rock and roll, IMO precisely for the reasons you mentioned. Rock should have attitude and some in your face qualities. Stones have it in spades!
And don't forget that Jagger was very calculated and a genius at finance and a hell of a front man.
With your statement, you serve the old cliché once again, little macho. The Beatles were chameleons and already, to everyone's surprise, had something "revolutionary" for me as a toddler, think of JL so and GH solo too: exemplary attitudes.
RS in the 70's: chic, bang and bang to the point of self-destruction, then Mick Taylor had had enough.
Read the story about the making of Exile, not one of Mick's favorite albums. Still have fun with all kind of good music✌
The Early Beatles were pure punk animals then along came Brian Epstein and George Martin. Epstein cleaned up their IMAGE and Martin cleaned up their sound. The Stones started as a more mild mannered Blues Band then became part of the British Wave to America. Musically Rolling Stones had heavier Guitar sounds based in the Blues whereas the Beatles spread across many Genres.
@@keithwilson1554 See it similarly, sometimes specially formulated: "punk animals?"=escape from the working-class milieu; "cleaned up"=survive or perish, RS too; "blues", ok, but only one side of the RS, later also thanks to Mick T. I only experienced this period retrospectively. In the 1960s, artists, especially record labels, made a clear distinction between singles and albums; the "wild, bluesy" RS, with some middle-class backgrounds, took part.
I first heard the RS on a cassette with e.g. "She's A Rainbow". "Ob-La-Di" was my first single that my parents allowed me to buy (Lucy, Walrus, Strawberry) when I was 12: both harmless-sounding "children's songs".
I'm generally bothered by the black&white-thinking, which is absolutely unnecessary with such good music.
"Beggars Banquet", the album this song is from, came out in 1968. The Beatles also put out "The White Album" the same year. Two great bands, two amazing albums. So glad to have had such great music to grow up with! Still have both albums which I think I paid $15 for ($5 for Beggars Banquet, $10 for The White Album as it was a double album).
This is my all time favorite Stones song. Lyrically, musically, sonically, it's a total package.
This is one of many absolute masterpieces that came from this era in music. The Stones, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Kansas, Chicago, Boston. Thank you for the great analysis! The deeper you dive, the more there is . . .
Steely Dan, Neil Young, Genesis.....
@@kbrewski1 Fleetwood Mac, The Who, The Doors...it really is seemingly bottomless, 1965-1975 or so, and especially 1967-1973.
@@joescott8877
I'd say 1965-66 to 1978 for me was the apex period of rock music (minus most of the Disco crap). I didn't really get to experience 1965>1970 or so personally as a preteen kid beyond AM radio, but I spent all my teen years in the 70s, so it was a great time to grow up with all that music.
@@kbrewski1 For sure. yeah, I was born in '65, but am still gobsmacked by the mind-blowingly great music that came out as I grew up. From "Revolver" to "Physical Grafitti."And so yes, I'm taking full credit for it! ;)
@joescott8877
Ok, well I doubt you were listening to Revolver in diapers. You were more of an 80s kid! 😉
I respect your reactions because you tell it straight up!! You are listening and appreciating the vibe!!
That guitar comes in like bolts of lightning!
It's this mix.its different from all the other version on UA-cam
Several already said what the message is so I will just say what a piece of pure brilliance this song is. Enjoy! Also, I absolutely love watching your reactions. You guys just vibe on these songs like no other, and it's awesome!
EXCELLENT, intelligent reaction!!!
So freaking creative lyrically and musically. They have a unique sense of rhythm in my opinion, similar to the weird way Jagger moved on stage.
From the devil's perspective, he's saying "yeah I'm a bad dude, and I've been there to help, but it's you people who drove all this".
"I can't *do* anything, you guys keep pulling triggers..."
Keith is sooooooo sweet on this one. And Mick.... my favorite Stones' song.
Mick and Keith crafted a dark, sinuous tale in which the Devil - presented here as a sophisticated socialite (“a man of wealth and taste”)
explains all the historical atrocities that changed the world. No one but The Rolling Stones would have an opening track like that in 1968.
"The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist" - Jagger is explaining that he does and why. Cool song
choice, guys. The Lyrics and Instrumentation on this song are crazy cool.
No, the song is about the fact that the Devil is a human contrivance that is used as a scapegoat for the evil deeds of men.
One of the greatest songs by the Rolling Stones ever. These guys are absolutely amazing musical artist...."have some sympathy and some taste" Beautiful....."Or I'll lay your soul to waste" I think that's about all you need to know.
Just one of The greatest songs ever!
The performance of this song at The Rock and Roll Circus is insane. There are some legends in the making in the audience. My favorite from the Rolling Stone 😊
Ya'll are definitely brothers! LOL Great reaction.
lol there was no bass drum , tom or snare but just about every other percussion sound. It's from the devils point of view so naturally he is trying to woo the listener into seeing things his way, what's brilliant is how Mick starts off sounding calm and reasonable but as he goes on becomes more manic like he has been trying to contain himself to convince you he is just misunderstood but his true nature starts bleeding though becoming crazier and crazier until he is shreaking at the end. A masterpiece.
Back when there was no synthetics, no auto-tuning, no magic keyboards...just a group of world-class talent that comes along once in a lifetime. Excellent reaction fellas. Well done.
First of all, you guys got me laughing arguing about the bongo drums!! Ha!! Man, I love when you guys do the Stones. Back when it came out, (speaking for myself) we didn't question the reasons or the lyrics. It was the Stones. That's all that mattered! Thanks guys. DO the Stones "HEARTBREAKER" NEXT PLEASE!!
Totally. It is not easy for many of these younger generation reactors to get out of LOGIC and overanalyzing and rather react to it LIKE ABSTRACT ART. WE WERE ALL ABOUT ABSTRACT ART in our music back then. Ive heard it when reactors try to comprehend what Jim Morrison is saying on one of his songs from THE DOORS album. LOL Just enjoy the ride.
@@sueprator9314 omg, Jim Morrison? 🤭So true, 'enjoy the ride'!
My favorite Stones song, love it! The song describes various horrific moments in human history, moments where we tend to blame evil, blame the devil-times when it might be more convenient to blame the devil than looking at ourselves, looking at human actions.
Excellent reaction! This song is basically saying humans are responsible for Evil, but we blame the Devil.
No!!! Satan is responsible all evil..
Feel guilty about something, Mike?
@@mikewheeler3994
Nope. Humans.@@mikewheeler3994
Something about the way this song is written and delivered, you feel like the devil is singing it to you. Powerful AF.
There’s a great documentary about the recording of this record. It was shot by Jean Luc-Goddard a famous director of the French New Wave. It was cool to see the Stones hanging out with various musicians, friends, Black Panthers, etc when writing and recording the song
A local cinema shows them recording this from that doc. before most films. They used to be the recording studio where this was recorded. It ends with them listing who used it, a very long and impressive list.
The cinema sound system was designed by the sound engineers who worked there, it's great, but even they couldn't do anything for Openheimer and the mumbling.
Had a cool history teacher play this then we went over it. All world history in this jam. Another level
Probably would be fired in today's world. Great teacher. 👍
Mick is the face, but Keith is the genius.
They both recognized that they need each other and the band in total in order to be their best. Since their reunification in the late 80s they have been most conscious of their need for the other. They each bring an aspect of their talents to the band that neither was able to conjure sepratately.
Yeah Mick contributes nothing but the face 🙄
@@sukie584 did someone actually say that?
The Narcissism in everyone,, for us who can keep it under our control (empathy), the others must be kept at a distance .
Great comment.
I was playing this one day and thought my speakers were distorting, so I paused it. It was my dog howling to Keith Richards guitar playing. Haha.
Great song!! Listen to any live version when Mick Taylor was in the band. Great juxtaposition between Taylor and Richards styles and intense guitar playing for about 8 minutes or so. Nicky Hopkins on piano.
Gives me chills watching people experience this for the first time. I’m jealous.
There’s so, so much you haven’t heard I’m sure.
If you enjoyed this, try Beast of Burden maybe.
Wait until you hear SISTER MORPHINE. You will be even more impressed, I think. Love that you’re getting into THE music. Amazing that it’s all from one band, ain’t it? Mick and Keith are in a class by themselves. Peace, v
This song formed my philosophy of us as human beings as a preteen. Never stopped listening. I can tell when I haven't listened to it in a while because when I do, it centers me again.
I think it is sympathy for the devil because the devil gets blamed for all the evil in the world and what the devil is saying in this song is to look within yourself for The evil within.
So essentially the devil is saying have some sympathy for me because I get blamed for everything!
Watching you two react to this masterpiece was SUPERB! Thank you for the pleasure of seeing you enjoy!
Masterpiece for sure! The Stones made great music But their lyrics here are DEEP. Made ya think hard. Imagine how intense they were, back my early days, when tripping! Conjures up some REAL visions along with such a catchy beat. This has to be one of their BEST IMO. Made you dance with the devil to the beat. Got a lot of Likes on this gem. Welcome to The Rolling Stones ❤
There are very few songs I will stop whatever I'm doing, and listen to. This one of them. Spectacular music, and don't get me started with the lyrics!! Keith Richards is one of my heroes, and for many reasons.
Here's another interesting bit; a documentary crew was onsite and captured the whole process of making this song in the studio. One of their lights caused a major fire and the studio burned down. This song was born in Dante's Inferno. That film is called "Sympathy for the Devil" and is still available to view as can be found here on UA-cam.
It wasn't a documentary...there was a fire but Olympic Studios fortunately didn't burn down. The studio footage was shot by French director Jean-Luc Goddard and used in his surreally political 60's film "One Plus One". (Renamed "Sympathy For The Devil" sometime after release for the *Midnight Madness* crowd.)
I absolutely love this song yet inexplicably love it even more each time I hear it...
Maybe their most famous song? IDK, there’s so many but this has been in so many movies and tv shows to. The Stones are simply too good. 🔥😈
Awesome reaction to an amazing song. Amazing music and really insightful and thought-provoking lyrics. Cool to see you guys digging into it.
Mick wrote most of the lyrics and Keith composed most of the music, but like Lennon and McCartney, sometimes one of them would write both lyrics and music. Most of the songs where Keith sings lead (I don't think you have done any of them yet, usually one per album), he also wrote the lyrics because they are usually fun or autobiographical. Why sympathy for the Devil? In his mind, he is no worse than the human race. "Who killed the Kennedys? After all, it was you and me."
To be honest, Keith almost always wrote the hooks for the lyrics and Jagger filled them in with great aplomb. Even Keith's solo works were largely written by others because he does not have the ability to compose lyrically as Jagger does. Not a knock, but it shows the synergy of the two when allowed to compose as a tandem.
I was born in the 50s, and my mom was a big fan of the stones. I'm a big fan of them and so are our children!!❤
I usually rather go for live versions, but the Stones just were the perfect studio band and is actually difficult to get as good live
Lol! Yes! I've been waiting for this one!!!!! 🙌 do shattered!!!
The title may be misleading, but the meaning of the song is, if you’re looking for the devil, look in the mirror. All the things he mentions were done by humans. At the end he says that anyone who doesn’t recognize the devil within, will have their soul laid to waste.
Woo woo! This song spoke volumes to the young me! Musically, lyrically metaphorically the groove runs deep in this song! Chiguy
keith solo is in my opinion the best solo in music history. and he is the best overall guitarplayer ever.
You talked over the "Big Reveal". "as heads is tails just call me Lucifer, and I'm in need of some restraint".
The last verse basically explains the song.
Do my bidding or I'll f your azz up.
"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,"
Satan here actually represents conflict. This verse warns us to always listen to our better angels when we find ourselves in ugly situations, otherwise we'll almost certainly regret it.
But enough of that bullshit, Ima tell Sir Mick you been twisting his words and you best lawyer up! 😆
The documentary sympathy for the Devil is a amazing document of their recording of this classic song
He says, "...just call me Lucifer" - the Devil. And, "...who killed the Kennedys...you & me.". As humans are quite capable of doing the Devil's handiwork, it's telling us to have sympathy for ourselves, when we're driven by evil intent. Fantastic song, thank you for reacting to it.
Watching you two brightens my day. Y'all are like children in a candy store, so excited with each new piece. I love it that you enjoy the music that is soooo a part of my life. It gave me chills watching you guys get into this song.
ROCK-'N'-ROLL FOREVER
As Mick would say...
WOO, WHO
OH YEAH, GET ON DOWN
OH YEAH
AAH YEAH!!!
I got chills revisiting this masterpiece with you guys. ❤
The Mid 60’s early 70’s Rolling Stones Albums are Absolutely Amazing. Right up there with Led Zeppelin & the Beatles
Absolutely one of my favorite Stones songs. timeless. and I feel sorry for anyone who didn't grow up with the Stones, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, etc
One of their best! The lyrics are so deep and others have gone into them in the comments, so can we just give it up for the “Whoo Hooo”? ❤❤❤ Great reaction as always!!!!
So good. The lyrics, the beat and oh man that guitar riff.
Hands down my favorite Stone's song.💜
"I shouted out, who killed the Kennedys? Well after all, it was You and Me." This song isn't about the "devil". It's about the evil in men's heart.
These guys are gonna blow up HUGE 😎
World's Greatest Rock Band
Watching live in concert versions takes this to higher level. Thanks for another Stones reaction, you guys are the best in your authenticity, knowledge, appreciation. Woo woo! Woo woo!
You guys are awesome company. I feel like I'm a teenager again just discovering these albums. Thanks for another wonderful reaction!
The piano (Nicky Hopkins) and the bongos (Charlie Watts the Stones drummer) are the percussion section thru entire song Bill Wyman on bass fleshes out the rhythm section. The devil/Lucifer is telling you if you don't give him kudos he'll lay your soul to waste. I believe I read in 1980s they stopped playing it live for years after the stabbing at Altamont in 1969, they were playing "Under My Thumb" when the stabbing occurred.
So glad you liked this one. I’ve been listening to this song for 30 years and have never heard another like it either lyrically or musically. Love your channel.
Whoever remastered this song did an excellent job 👌🏾it sounds new
I love grooving with guys. It takes me back, so thanks for the ride! Do what you do, and keep on doing it!
The piano part is played by the GREAT Niki Hopkins. He played on more studio songs than I can count.
Listen carefully and you can hear a bass drum sometimes, a crash of a symbol, and a drum beat from Charlie Watts. During the several reiterations of this song in the studio, the drums got shifted around and the style of the song changed. So this is a drum set light mix.
My absolute fav of The Rolling Stones. 🎼🎶🎵🎼🎶🎵
This song has great lyrics, music rhythm, and definatly grabs your attention from the start. I've seen this song come on at a party, and literally everyone stops and begins moving to that hypnotic beat. Look, I've been around the block, with dope women, music and almost everything else, so don't think I'm some prudish nerd telling you something I haven't experienced for myself. I believe this song was Satanically inspired. A couple of years after they released this, they played it live at some concerts, and then they stopped. When asked by a music reporter for a local paper in the city they were performing in, Jagger said " I don't know...I mean, I'm not really a religious guy, but when we were practicing this song in our rehearsals or whatever, weird things would happen". That's as far as Jagger would go. Keith Richards, (guitar and vocals) said basically the same thing. " It makes you wonder...how quickly the song and lyrics all came together , like it was already written for us. Wierd stuff happened every time we played it, and after a while, I think we all sort of thought we'd just let it alone, and never played it again. It was a little spooky." I've seen the same thing. It immediately grabs you by the throat as soon as it starts. Everything in the lyrics is true, Satan has been around from the beginning of time, and before. He likes to be exalted, and this song does that. I don't listen to it any longer, as I am now a Christian man. Satan is a real being, but Jesus Christ was God almighty in human flesh, and then died in our place, for our sins.
God Bless you guys
AIRPLAY BEATS !!!!!
MY NEW HOME FOR ROCK &ROLL !
YALL BEEN KILLIN IT MANE !
YALL ROCKEN SOME MISSISSIPPI !!!🎉
The greatest rock band, countless hits, more than fifty years of history, better live than on record, legendary. In 2006 they played on Copacabana Beach in Brazil in front of 1,300,000 people.
One of my favorite song of all time!!
“I rode a tank in the general’s rank, when the blitzkrieg raged and the bodies stank.”
You cannot not have awe when confronted with the stark imagery of the Stones lyrics.