Sympathy for the Devil
Motörhead Lyrics


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Please allow me to introduce myself
I'm a man of wealth and taste
Been around for a long, long year
Stole many a man's soul to waste
I was 'round 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
'Cause what's confusing you is just the
Nature of my game

I stuck around St. Petersburg
When I saw it was a time for a change
I killed the Tsar and his ministers
Anastasia screamed in vain
I rode a tank, held a general's rank
When the blitzkrieg raged and the bodies stank

Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name
'Cause what's puzzling you is just the
Nature of my game
Come on, come on, come on!

Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, ah yeah
'Cause what's confusing you is just 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 the Kennedys?"
When after all
It was you and me

Let me please introduce myself
I'm a man of wealth and taste
I laid traps for troubadours
Who get killed before they reached Bombay

Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah
But what's confusing you is just the
Nature of my game

Just as every cop is a criminal
And all the sinners saints
As heads is tails, just call me Lucifer
'Cause I'm in need of some restraint
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, oh yeah

Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, ah yeah
But what's puzzling you is just the
Nature of my game, ah yeah, get down!
What's my name?
What's my name?
Lucifer
That's my name baby
Aah, yeah!




Aah, yeah!
Aah, come on

Overall Meaning

Motörhead's cover of "Sympathy for the Devil" by The Rolling Stones is a powerful and provocative take on the classic song. The lyrics describe the singer as Lucifer, a man of wealth and taste who has been around for a long time and has corrupted many souls along the way. He recalls being present during some significant moments in history, such as Jesus' moment of doubt and Pilate's washing of his hands before condemning him to death. The singer explains that the nature of his game is what is confusing to people, as he has different roles and motives throughout history, sometimes leading armies and sometimes laying traps for troubadours.


The chorus of the song reveals that the singer is pleased to meet the listener, and hopes they can guess his name. He explains that the confusion people feel is due to the nature of his game, which is constantly changing. The next verse describes the singer's involvement in Russian history, as he witnessed a time for change and took action by killing the Tsar and his ministers. He rode a tank and held a general's rank during the blitzkrieg, and Anastasia's screams were in vain. The chorus repeats once again, and the singer calls for the listener to come on.


In the final verse, the singer boasts about watching kings and queens fight for ten decades and blaming the death of the Kennedys on them, though really it was both him and the listener. He once again introduces himself as a man of wealth and taste, laying traps for troubadours who never make it to Bombay. The chorus repeats, and the singer reminds the listener that as every cop is a criminal and all sinners are saints, they should have some courtesy, sympathy, and taste when dealing with him or risk having their soul laid to waste.


Line by Line Meaning

Please allow me to introduce myself
I'm going to introduce myself to you


I'm a man of wealth and taste
I'm a rich and sophisticated man


Been around for a long long year
I've been around for a very long time


Stole many a man's soul to waste
I've ruined many people's lives


I was 'round when Jesus Christ Had his moment of doubt and pain
I witnessed Jesus' moment of doubt and pain


Made damn sure that Pilate Washed his hands and sealed his fate
I made sure Pilate sentenced Jesus to die


Pleased to meet you Hope you guess my name 'Cause what's confusing you is just the Nature of my game
Nice to meet you, my name is intentionally mysterious and my actions are unpredictable


I stuck around St. Petersburg When I saw it was a time for a change I killed the Tsar and his ministers Anastasia screamed in vain I rode a tank, held a general's rank When the blitzkrieg raged and the bodies stank
I participated in and enjoyed the violence and destruction of the Russian Revolution


Come on, come on, come on!
I'm urging you to pay attention and keep up with 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 the Kennedys?' When after all It was you and me
I enjoyed watching the power struggles of political leaders, and recognize that we are all complicit in the misery of the world


Let me please introduce myself I'm a man of wealth and taste I laid traps for troubadours Who get killed before they reached Bombay
I set traps and tricks for people who try to make their way in the world


Just as every cop is a criminal And all the sinners saints As heads is tails, just call me Lucifer 'Cause I'm in need of some restraint
I believe things are a paradox and I align myself with the evil


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, oh yeah
When you encounter me or my equivalent, be polite and respectful or there will be consequences


What's my name? What's my name? Lucifer That's my name baby Aah, yeah! Aah, yeah! Aah, come on
My name is Lucifer and I like to remind people of that fact




Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: Keith Richards, Mick Jagger

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@jean-marcdediego3926

I seriously doubt that something can be more rock 'n roll than the Stones covered by Motörhead

@mr-mysteryguest

Sepultura covering Motorhead, now that is something to behold...

@rammmer9787

@Mr MysteryGuest damn dude what song is it?

@Warlordfff

@@rammmer9787 Orgasmatron

@verblegherulous1

Agreed!

@BrockGrimes

Try https://youtu.be/UexqiHKFwKg

9 More Replies...

@drServitis

HE DIDN'T WANT TO LIVE FOREVER. Heard him say so somewhere......
Thanks for everything Lemmy!

@theskepticaltaco7340

it was ace of spades

@KingAlanI

+theskepticaltaco I think drServitis was being sarcastic about the source of the quote

@drServitis

***** I just meant that we all know where we heard Lemmy say that, since we all love Lemmy and know Motorhead's songs so well. Rock on forever, Lemmy!

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