Sympathy
Jane's Addiction Lyrics

Please allow me to introduce myself
I would like to formally introduce myself to you

I'm a man of wealth and taste
I am a wealthy and sophisticated individual

I've been around for a long, long year
I have existed for an extended period of time

Stole many a man's soul and faith
I have deceived and manipulated many people

And I was 'round when Jesus Christ
I was present during the time of Jesus Christ

Had his moment of doubt and pain
When Jesus questioned his faith and experienced suffering

Made damn sure that pilate
Ensured that Pilate condemned Jesus to death

Washed his hands and sealed his fate
Pilate refused to take responsibility for Jesus' death and ultimately doomed himself

Pleased to meet you
I am happy to make your acquaintance

Hope you guess my name
I hope you can correctly identify me

But what's puzzling you
What confuses you

Is the nature of my game
Is the way in which I operate and manipulate others

I stuck around St. Petersburg
I was present during a time of change in St. Petersburg

When I saw it was a time for a change
When I realized that changes were necessary

Killed the czar and his ministers
I was involved in the assassination of the czar and his advisers

Anastasia screamed in vain
The princess named Anastasia cried out in desperate protest

I rode a tank
I was a participant in military operations

Held a general's rank
I held a high-ranking position in the military

When the blitzkrieg raged
During a time when a fast and overwhelming force was unleashed

And the bodies stank
And the smell of death and decay was overpowering

I watched with glee
I took joy in observing

While your kings and queens
While rulers and monarchs

Fought for ten decades
Engaged in conflict that lasted for centuries

For the gods they made
In the name of the religions they created

I shouted out, "Who killed the Kennedys?"
I called out a question regarding the JFK assassination

When after all
In the end

It was you and me
It was ordinary people who played a role in the event

Let me please introduce myself
Once again, I would like to introduce myself

And I laid traps for troubadours
I set traps for traveling musicians and poets

Who get killed before they reached Bombay
Who were murdered before they could arrive in Bombay

But what's puzzling you
What is confusing you

Is the nature of my game
Is the way I operate and deceive

Just as every cop is a criminal
Metaphor: some people perceived as good actually commit evil acts

And all the sinners, saints
Metaphor: those who are perceived as evil may actually have redeeming qualities

As heads is tails
Referencing the flip of a coin, how outcomes can be unpredictable

Just call me Lucifer
Metaphor: call me the devil, one who is associated with temptation and deception

'Cause I'm in need of some restraint
I need to be controlled or limited in some way

So if you meet me
If you come across me

Have some courtesy
Be polite and respectful

Have some sympathy, and some taste
Show some understanding and appreciation for others

Use all your well-learned politesse
Put your learned polite behavior to use

Or I'll lay your soul to waste
Or I will destroy you completely

But what's puzzling you
What is causing confusion for you

Is the nature of my game
Is the way in which I deceive and manipulate