“Sympathy For The Devil” was an important song for The Rolling Stones. It marked a defining moment in the band’s long and illustrious history. The song has since proved to be one of The Rolling Stones’ signature songs and is a firm fan favorite.
There is no doubt that it has been misunderstood by many. And it is a song that has attracted plenty of controversies. So, I will lay out the meaning behind “Sympathy For The Devil” by The Rolling Stones, which will hopefully clear up any confusion. Let’s get started and take a closer look at this classic song.
Band History
The Rolling Stones is a London band that was formed in 1962. And, after more than 60 years, they are still together, still recording and still performing live. Not only that, but their live performances are legendary as one of the best shows you can see. That is impressive when you consider that the average age of the band is around 80 years old.
Unsurprisingly, given that they have been around since electricity was invented, and given how popular they are, they have sold more in ticket sales than any other group in history. Currently, they have taken more than two billion dollars in sales which is nothing short of astounding.
Since they all seem like they are going to live forever, I would not be surprised to see that number go much higher. Currently, I have not been among the 22 million concertgoers that have seen them live. But I want to be part of that ever-increasing number at some point.
Unlike most bands with such a long history…
The Rolling Stones have had very few lineup changes. Although there have been a couple, the current members have been together for around 50 years. They are made up of Mick Jagger on lead vocals and lip pouting, Keith Richards on lead guitar and looking like a fossil, and Ronnie Wood on guitar. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are the two surviving founding members of the original band lineup.
Chart Success
The Rolling Stones are one of the most successful bands of all time. They have sold more than 200 million records which puts them in the company of just 20 other recording artists. To date, they have released 121 albums and 121 singles. Additionally, they have released 77 videos and a host of other materials. In the US, they have had nine #1 albums and eight #1 singles. Incredible!
So, where does “Sympathy For the Devil” feature in all of this?
It was released in December of 1968 and was taken from the album Beggars Banquet. The song was released in what I believe was the strongest era for the band.
At this point, the band had already achieved four #1 hits in the US with “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” “Paint it Black,” “Get Off of My Cloud,” and “Ruby Tuesday.” Additionally, they scored further #1 hits in the UK with “It’s All Over Now,” “Little Red Rooster,” and “The Last Time.” The band was on a crest of a wave and could seemingly do little wrong.
So, did “Sympathy For The Devil” score a #1 hit?
No, it did not. And, frankly, given the quality of the song, that might seem a little surprising. However, given the controversy around “Sympathy For The Devil” and the fact that many radio stations refused to play it, it begins to make more sense.
How well did it do on the charts, and how well did it sell?
It did not chart, is the short answer. And, other than getting to #4 in France, it stayed out of the charts completely. Despite this, it still sold a million copies in the UK and earned a platinum disc.
The album it was released from, Beggars Banquet, saw chart positions that we would expect. It got to #3 in the UK, #5 in the US, and reached #1 in France. Additionally, it went platinum in the US and gold in Canada and the UK.
Recording
The release of “Sympathy For The Devil” as the lead track from Beggars Banquet marked a change of musical direction. To be more precise, it marked a change back to where they had come from.
In 1967, The Stones released their sixth UK studio album, and eighth in the US, namely, Their Satanic Majesties Request. This was essentially an experimental, psychedelic album that had taken them away from their roots of Rock and Blues.
Psychedelic Rock was huge in the late 60s, and understandably, they wanted to experiment with the genre. However, Keith Richards, more than any of the other band members, was less than happy about it. He fought hard to get them to ditch their new direction and get back to playing Rock and Blues.
A very sound decision in hindsight…
The song was recorded at Olympia Sound Studios in London. An interesting fact is that most of the track was laid down in just a single day, on June 4th. Subsequently, some overdubbing was done between the 8th to 10th, but that was it. Compare that to how long it takes modern tracks to be put together.
The song has a powerful, almost hypnotic groove that keeps going from start to finish. It is a great fusion of a primitive beat and grove together with elements of Rock. The song is categorized as Samba Rock, and I think that is a pretty good assessment.
One of the key components of the song is the backing vocals that keep repeating “woo woo” over and over. These came about by accident when two sound engineers were in the booth, and one of them kept repeating, “woo, woo” to themselves. The other engineer picked up on it, and it was subsequently incorporated into the song with a slight lyrical adjustment. Serendipity indeed!
Lyrics and Meaning
So, what is the meaning behind “Sympathy For The Devil” by the Rolling Stones? The song is essentially about the darker side of humanity. It is about how a man can easily become absorbed in evil deeds and can become swallowed in a life of darkness.
However, it also deals with the concept that awareness of the Devil, and your own dark side that lurks within, can ultimately help you defeat it and walk in the light.
Many saw it as a song that celebrated the Devil and as something that promoted satanic worship. They are idiots. If they took the time to read the lyrics, they would see that this is anything but a song about satanic worship.
It starts with the Devil introducing himself…
And, matter-of-factly, reciting some of the atrocities that he claims responsibility for. These include the trial of Jesus, the Hundred Years’ War, the Second World War, and the assassination of JFK.
Since the song was released at a time of huge political unrest and turmoil, those lyrics hit hard. The world was going through prolonged tensions between East and West. The Vietnam War was raging, and humanity faced the ever-real threat of extinction through nuclear war.
The second part of the song has the Devil trying to show his pleasant and sociable side. He tries to come across as charming and affable. But, he cannot hide his true nature with threats of annihilation slipped slyly into the conversation. He is the Devil, after all!
It is in the second part of the song…
As the Devil embarks on his charm offensive, he begins to ask for sympathy for his nature. He tries to persuade you that he has no choice in the matter and that he is an alright bloke. Interestingly, despite the title of the song, the word “sympathy” is only used once.
Portraying the Devil in this manner is a clever way of pointing out the evil in men. Whilst simultaneously deflecting the blame onto someone else. It also gives the Devil a human face which serves to remind us that he is something we can look in the face and defeat.
The key message of “Sympathy For The Devil” is that we live with evil inside of us, and we have to be ever-vigilant to prevent it from surfacing. A message that was missed by all the self-righteous, pompous, illiterate would-be censors and arbiters of decency. They all needed to get back to school and enroll in some basic kindergarten reading classes.
Want to Know What Other Popular Songs Mean?
If so, check out our thoughts on the Meaning Behind “Hotel California” Song By The Eagles, The Meaning Behind “Paint It Black” by The Rolling Stones, The Meaning Behind “Comfortably Numb” by Pink Floyd, The Meaning Behind “Lola” by The Kinks, and the Meaning Of ‘American Pie’ Song Lyrics for more insightful song analyses.
The Meaning Behind “Sympathy For The Devil” by The Rolling Stones – Final Thoughts
“Sympathy For the Devil” is a fascinating song and played a huge part in the history of the band. In many ways, it is fair to say that it was one of The Rolling Stones’ most pivotal songs. It is undoubtedly a great part of their story. And I hope that the meaning behind “Sympathy For The Devil” is now a little clearer.
If you have anything you would like to add or have any interesting stories about The Rolling Stones, then let me know in the comments below.
Until next time, happy listening.
