Sympathy for the Devil
Inkubus Sukkubus Lyrics


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Please allow me to introduce myself,
I'm a man of wealth and taste.
I've been around for so many years,
Stole many a man's soul and faith.

And I was around 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, oh yeah.
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.

Oh, pleased to meet you,
Hope you guess my name, oh yeah.
But what's puzzling you,
Is the nature of my game.

I watched with glee,
While your kings and queens.
Fought for ten decades,
For the gods they made.

I shouted out "Who killed liberty?"
When after all it was you and me.

Oh, pleased to meet you,
Hope you guess my name, oh yeah.
But what's puzzling you,
Is the nature of my game.

Pleased to meet you,
Hope you guessed my name.
But what's puzzling you,
Is the nature of my game.

Just as every cop is a criminal,
And all the sinners, saints.
Sure as heads is tails, just call me Lucifer,
Because I'm in need of some restraint.

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.

Pleased to meet you,
Hope you guessed my name.
What's confusing you,
Is the nature of my game.

I'll take you higher, I'll take you higher,
I'll take you higher, I'll take you higher.

I'll drag you lower, drag you lower,
And drag you down down down down down down way down down.

I'll drag you lower, drag you lower,
And drag you down down down down down down way down down.

Do you know me?
Do you know me?
Have you guessed yet?
Have you guessed yet?

You need me, you want me.
You'll need me, and you'll want me.
I'll lift you higher, lift you higher,
Send you higher.

I love you and you need me.

Say my name now, say my name now.
Say my name now, say my name now.
Call it louder, shout it louder,
Scream it louder, call my name.

You know, you know my name.

Call me Lucifer, Call me Beelzebub,
Call me, hold me, Call me Satan.
I hear you, I hear you,
I hear you call me.

Call it louder, now you feel it,
I'm in your head now, I'm in your head now,
Call me, feel me, I'm in your head now.
I'm getting deeper, I'm getting deeper.

Sing my name now, sing my name now,
Sing my name now, sing my name now.
Sing it louder, say it louder.
Say it louder, say it louder.

Just call me Lucifer, call me Lucifer,
Call me Lucifer.
I'm Lucifer, just call me by name.

Shout my name now, shout my name now,
Shout my name now, shout my name now,
I'll take you higher.

Down down down down down down way down down.
Way down down down, way down.
Lucifer, Lucifer,
Lucifer, Lucifer,
Lucifer.

Say my name, say my name,
Call my name, call it louder,
Call it louder, lift it higher,
Lift it higher.

Have you guessed yet?
Have you guessed yet?




Have you guessed my name?
I'm Lucifer.

Overall Meaning

The song "Sympathy for the Devil" by Inkubus Sukkubus is a cover of the classic Rolling Stones song with the same name. The lyrics are sung from the perspective of the devil himself, who introduces himself as a man of wealth and taste who has been around for many years and has stolen many a man's soul and faith. The song goes on to mention various historical events where the devil claims to have been present and played a role.


The first historical event mentioned is when Jesus Christ had his moment of doubt and pain, and the devil made sure that Pilate washed his hands and sealed his fate, implying that the devil played a role in his crucifixion. The devil then mentions his presence during the killing of the czar and his ministers in St. Petersburg and the ensuing chaos, and also during World War II when he rode a tank and held a general's rank. The devil takes credit for the deaths caused by the blitzkrieg and the ensuing stench of corpses. The devil then watches with glee as the kings and queens fought for the gods they made for ten decades.


The chorus of the song repeats the devil's introduction, "Pleased to meet you, hope you guess my name, but what's puzzling you is the nature of my game." The devil then urges the listener to treat him with courtesy, sympathy, and some taste, or he will lay their soul to waste. He also claims that just as every cop is a criminal and all the sinners are saints, he is Lucifer and in need of some restraint.


Overall, the song portrays the devil as a seductive and enticing character who has played a major role in many historical events and continues to be present in contemporary times. It also highlights the ambiguity of evil and the coexistence of good and evil in the world.


Line by Line Meaning

Please allow me to introduce myself,
I am introducing myself, trying to get someone to be acquainted with me.


I'm a man of wealth and taste.
I am wealthy and have a refined taste.


I've been around for so many years,
I have existed for a long time.


Stole many a man's soul and faith.
I have caused many people to lose their faith or their soul.


And I was around when jesus christ,
I existed during the time of Jesus Christ.


Had his moment of doubt and pain.
I was present when Jesus Christ had a moment of doubt and pain.


Made damn sure that pilate,
I made sure that Pilate did what he did.


Washed his hands and sealed his fate.
I made sure that Pilate washed his hands and sealed Christ's fate.


Pleased to meet you,
I am pleased to meet you.


Hope you guess my name, oh yeah.
I hope you can guess my identity.


But what's puzzling you,
But what is confusing you?


Is the nature of my game.
Is the motive behind my actions.


I stuck around St. Petersburg,
I remained in St. Petersburg.


When I saw it was a time for a change.
When I thought it was time for change.


Killed the czar and his ministers,
I killed the czar and his ministers.


Anastasia screamed in vain.
Anastasia screamed without anyone helping her.


I rode a tank,
I rode a tank.


Held a general's rank.
I held the rank of a general.


When the blitzkrieg raged,
When the blitzkrieg was ongoing.


And the bodies stank.
And the odor of the bodies was unpleasant.


I watched with glee,
I watched with happiness or pleasure.


While your kings and queens.
While your monarchs.


Fought for ten decades,
Fought for ten centuries.


For the gods they made.
For the gods they worshipped.


I shouted out "Who killed liberty?"
I exclaimed, "Who killed liberty?"


When after all it was you and me.
When it was both you and me who killed liberty.


Just as every cop is a criminal,
Like every police officer is a criminal.


And all the sinners, saints.
And like all the sinners are saints.


Sure as heads is tails, just call me Lucifer,
As certain as heads and tails, you can call me Lucifer.


Because I'm in need of some restraint.
Because I am in need of being held back or controlled.


If you meet me, have some courtesy,
If you meet me, please show politeness or respect.


Have some sympathy, and some taste.
Please show some empathy, and be tasteful.


Use all your well-learned politesse,
Use all the manners you have learned.


Or I'll lay your soul to waste.
Or I will cause you to lose your soul.


Just call me Lucifer,
You can call me Lucifer.


Call me Beelzebub,
You can also call me Beelzebub.


Call me, hold me, Call me Satan.
Call me, hold me, and call me Satan.


I hear you, I hear you,
I can hear you.


I hear you call me.
I hear you calling my name.


Just call me Lucifer,
Just call me Lucifer.


I'm Lucifer, just call me by name.
I am Lucifer, just call me by my name.


I'll take you higher, I'll take you higher,
I will make you reach new heights.


I'll drag you lower, drag you lower,
I will also bring you down to lower levels.


And drag you down down down down down down way down down.
And bring you down way, way down.


Do you know me?
Do you know who I am?


Have you guessed yet?
Have you guessed my identity?


You need me, you want me.
You need me, and you want me.


You'll need me, and you'll want me.
You will need me, and you will want me.


Say my name now, say my name now.
Call my name now, call my name now.


Call it louder, shout it louder,
Call it louder, and shout it louder.


Scream it louder, call my name.
Scream it loudly, calling my name.


Call it louder, now you feel it,
Call it louder until you feel it.


I'm in your head now, I'm in your head now,
I am now inside your head.


Call me, feel me, I'm in your head now.
Call me, feel me, I am now in your head.


I'm getting deeper, I'm getting deeper.
I am getting deeper and deeper.


Sing my name now, sing my name now.
Sing my name now, sing my name now.


Sing it louder, say it louder.
Sing it louder and say it louder.


Just call me Lucifer, call me Lucifer,
Just call me Lucifer, call me Lucifer.


Shout my name now, shout my name now,
Shout my name now, shout my name now.


I'll take you higher.
I will raise you higher.


Down down down down down down way down down.
Down, way, way down below.


Way down down down, way down.
Very far down, way down below.


Lucifer, Lucifer,
Lucifer, Lucifer.


Say my name, say my name,
Call my name, call my name.


Call my name, call it louder,
Call my name, call it louder.


Call it louder, lift it higher,
Call it louder and lift it higher.


Lift it higher.
Lift it higher.


Have you guessed yet?
Have you guessed my identity?


I'm Lucifer.
I am Lucifer.




Contributed by Layla C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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