FIRST TIME LISTENING TO ROLLING STONES - SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL (REACTION!!!) 

"I'll tell you one time... you're to blame!" This single (and never repeated) line near the end of the song explains the devil's game. Without hatred, greed, and quests for power, there would be no 'devil.' But we all have a bit of the devil in us. "The devil made me do it" is simply deflecting our human hateful, destructive, callous, and careless actions on a nonexistent entity.

Probably the most telling line is "You shouted out, who killed the Kennedys? When after all it was you and me." If you're gonna blame me, you have to blame yourself, too.

"The finest trick of the devil is to persuade you that he does not exist." --Charles Baudelaire, "Le spleen de Paris" (1862)

The music I grew up with. You can't go wrong with the Stones! And love the "stank face" and the chair dancing!! This song just makes you want to move!!

Jean-Luc Godard filmed them crafting this song in the recording studio and turned it into a documentary film (of sorts) released in late 1968. Keith Richards plays mostly bass throughout while the song takes shape. In between recording sessions the film cuts to a handful of Black Panthers hanging out in a junk yard, showing off their guns, and reading passages from revolutionary texts. The rest of the film takes off from there. The Rolling Stones are one badass rock-n-roll band. Here's a list of tunes to check out: "Can't You Hear Me Knocking", "Brown Sugar", "Wild Horses", "Angie", "Tumbling Dice", "Honky Tonk Women", "Monkey Man", "B*tch", "Let It Bleed", "Dead Flowers", "2000 Light Years From Home", "I Just Want to See His Face", "Play With Fire", "Beast of Burden", "Shattered", "Miss You", "Dance Little Sister", and so many others.

This song has probably been part of the soundtrack of more movies, especially war movies, than any other song. Enjoyed listening to your breakdown of the meaning of the lyrics.

That Song just kicks azz. Jagger vocals are nasty and mean. Keith and his guitar work is amazing. The percussion stands out and Keith is also playing bass on this song. 1968 never saw a song delivered like this. And yes , I almost forgot Nicky Hopkins on Piano

Nobody does provocative politics as musically as the Stones. You're learning history while you're dancing.

In the beginning, note the heart with "Thanks Nicky" inside, thanking Nicky Hopkins for sitting in on piano.

I like the way you broke down the lyrics. I think most people don't take the time, and I think it's credit deserved to the Stones because the musical aspect of the song is so strong that it can be enjoyed without a clear understanding of the lyrics. But your take is great, and in general it's refreshing to see a young person who feels compelled to (and has the bandwidth to) understand the details and the religious (metaphysical) implications. Thank you for the reaction.

Sympathy was the opening song for the Beggar's Banquet Album, which was the first of the greatest 6 album run of any band....

In 1995, I was 17 years old and remember the watch party we set up for Stephen King's The Stand debuted (don't confuse it with the tird Paramount+ excreted recently). I'm in a room full of friends and family, some of which were huge Stone's fans and I'm the only one that picked up on the reference Flagg makes when introducing himself to Loyd before letting him out of his cell and saving his life, for a price. He says, "Pleased to meet you Loyd, and smiles playfully and adds, hope you guess my name!". It was perfect. I loved this review and the song. Great Job!!!!!

This came out in '68, on the Beggar's Banquet album. With the great Nicky Hopkins on piano, R.I.P. Keith Richards on lead guitar.

I saw a theory that devil in this song may actually be God when he's "in a bad mood". One of the verses equate cops to criminals, sinners to saints, heads to tails and then imply that the same way you can equate those things, you can also "call him Lucifer" which is supposed to be the other side of the "God" coin. Basically saying that when you see bad things happen you can call me Lucifer instead of God if it makes you feel better. An amazing classic of a song.

There's a thing where a song has been part of the background of your life for so long, it's just become sort of wallpaper and you forget that it's AMAZING.

Brilliant song! All of them were great, but I must say Nicky on the Piano was superb!

Thanks for the honesty in your endeavor to express it accurately. Keep it going.

How do you not have ten times as many subs? Well done.

Try the Rolling Stones track "Bitch." The groove is unstoppable.

Leaving aside hearing album tracks for the first time, there are maybe 15 tunes that I'll always remember my first time of hearing 'em --where I was, what I was doing, and the medium (radio, for the most part, and a few others while hanging with someone who had control of the stereo). This and "Gimme Shelter" both feature on that list.

Entire song Straight Bars!!!

Great reaction! I could tell you really really felt this one. Lol Best Rolling Stones song, by far!

First time watching your channel & as a non religious person (but truly spiritual) I found you did a rather good objective job sharing your thoughts & views. My personal take on the song is that we as humans are quick to blame the devil for our own badness & the song & it's title implies we should take responsibility for that but hey what do I know,like most things is open to personal interpretation. Keep up the good work & you are as Irvine Weldon wrote - "young,gifted and black & that's a fact!!!" 🤩👍

I enjoyed your take and description. Clearly you are an intelligent man. Respect

Just; woo woo...Thanks - great watching you react to this masterpiece! Hard to find the words describing the greatness about it. Oh, it's your third reaction. ✌️

Jay nearly speechless. Inconceivable!

being in my mid 60s playing guitar for more years than i care to mention my focus was always on the music never paid much attention to lyrics but now that i am wow gluiness Mick what a powerful message.

Great comments about the music and the lyrics. Nothing about this song is simple! Nice job!!!!

The Rolling Stones are rock and roll! Just the amount of hits, different styles and the duration of being at the top of their game is simply amazing! Respect to a group that can keep doing it decade after decade.

This was the ending song in "Queen Of The Damned" with your ol Girl as The Queen❣️

I like your reaction. The sound of the video is great. It make you realise hoe good this song is.

Keith Richards is one of my most beloved musicians, and I love this song because his solo is just bomb. And Brian Jones played acoustic on this track, though they mixed it out. I’ve heard the version with Brian, and it’s just a fuller sound. I think the spare bass and percussion background, with Nicky Hopkins’ piano, is more effective though, and it sure lets Keith shine.

You have a new subscriber sir- your awesome!

Love the Stones , Great song Request for , Led Zeplin, Misty Mountain Hop, thanks

Great reaction and analysis. Yeah, the Stones' catalog runs deep; with very little filler IMO. You're getting some good exposure but there's decades of songs to check out. Recommend following this up with where it all started: (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction... Maybe a good replacement for the VH Monday's when that transitions out???

How about either Monkey Man or Midnight Mile by them? Would love your take on either of those deep cuts

Crazy Mick, such an individual,one of a kind. His delivery is more than his voice

Love this song,,, pure perfection. 🤘💠✌

my brother played it for me when I was 14 - the whole Beggars banquet album was so good

Lead guitar Keith Richard(s).. also affectionately known as Keef! Oh and him and Mick Jagger are not of this world! How else do you explain their 60 years of constant touring and rock and roll lifestyle and still be alive? 😂💙🔥🎸🎼

It’s very deep so many twists and turns , note at the end jagger says your to blame.

Great Job Young Man

Yeah Man...... now you're on it

Fire. Thought-provoking. Badass. Epic.

The GREAT Nicky Hopkins on piano is so slick, he just blends percussion and melody and rhythm so perfectly, it adds to whole in absolute stealth harmony.

Much deeper than most people imagined. The Stones have been my standard for R n R since the 60's. Not sure whatever were your experiences with 60's rock what had you listened to before Stones?

Another Masterpiece song by The Legendary Rolling Stones!!!! FIRE!!!! That guitar.....MMMMMmmmmm....My Goodness!!! And seeing your "Stank Face." made me laugh with my "Stank Face" always love that song!!!! Another one that they did that was nasty like this song was, "Gimme Shelter." I think you already reacted to that song......but man both of these songs are gritty and Nasty!!! Really really great!!!! Chills Babe Chill city....hahahaha

“Please have some courtesy..have some sympathy, and some taste~!” I always imagined Lucifer being some suave 90’s 14 foot tall pimp demon guy.

Well put sir. Very intelligent

This is a history lesson. I hope this song inspires you to do some research about the histories of man’s wars...usually about religion

if you like this, pharrell williams actually did a remix of this using his usual production since it is so similar, but all the vocals are the same he jsut redid the drums

Very interesting take on this song. It's an awesome song, one of my favorites all time right up there with Painted Black, Under My Thumb, and Some Girls. believe Look up Altamont Speedway and Meredith Hunter. He was killed rushing the stage by Hells Angels who had been hired to provide security (for $500 in beer if I remember right) during The Stones set - starting with when they were playing Sympathy for the Devil. The guy kept storming the stage to get at the Stones and eventually pulled out a gun and was stabbed several times by a Hells Angel. It's a sad story and was the cause of the Stones not playing Sympathy for the Devil in concert for decades. But it's a story worth looking into.

Don't think the guy even comprehend what he was hearing.he sounds like someone who likes the sound of his own voice and loves the idea of being an icon.

Thanks man. You’re the best. Check out You can’t always get what you want and Gimme Shelter too

You are absolutely correct!!!! Picking out our human weaknesses the underworld of Devil and Demons plot out our Demise!!!!

Finally someone does it.

great explaination ... got to know history to get song

We blame “The Devil” for human’s evil choices to go to war over his religion. Accurate.

Classic. Not another song like it. Unique and brilliant.

wow...you are amazing

The genius of one Keith Richards

We could hear individual instruments back then!! Now; most popular music is blended together, as bland sonic zombie music. Billie Eilish and Bruno Mars; are notable exceptions!

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I believe the last time the Rolling Stones played this song in concert was at Altamonte during 1960s when Hells Angels who were security at the time killed someone in the crowd during an altercation.

Stones are the greatist rock band in history. So Frosty and timeless. Real pros. Their shows are an Event of epic big time Fun

You're a really good critic, man. Just a random sample quote from you on this song: "It wasn't superfluous, it wasn't excessive, and yet it wasn't *underwhelming*" That really rings true; it's such a smart statement. Not everyone is as perceptive (you and other reactors have pointed out cool shit in songs on their first listen that I hadn't heard in a hundred! I am cloth-eared!), nor can employ the appropriate words to explain what they're hearing as you. I would have loved to have heard what you might have to say about the lyrics, philosophical agreements/disagreements, but you seemed reticent to open that can of worms, perhaps, haha! Mick Jagger once said his lyrics were "crap," and the interviewer argued they were not, not at all. The interviewer was right! Like David Bowie, the raw intellectual firepower, the native intelligence he has, is not to be underestimated. And yet he knows how to party, and yet he IS, in many ways, "Rock and Roll." Bowie recalled his first tiem seeing the Stones, when he was a schoolboy and they were just starting out. An old fuddy duddy in the audience heckled Mick with "Get yer 'air cut!" Bowie did a spot-on impression of what he remembered as Jagger's instant retort: "What? And look like you?" Much better said here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-N7-7HJCXx10.html

It still rocks

I either meet him or one of his agents a long time ago. After a respectful talk I was able to leave with no damage done. Scary & sad, didn't seem to know peace.

Woo woo, woo woo...

Very layered musically 🎶🎶🎶🎶

Gimme Shelter is a MUST!!!!

Cool microphone, maybe drop it down a little? This song is in the lexicon of rock forever - I never was one to own a Stones album/cd but they have a handful of songs in my history that I wouldn't want to be without. One of my favorites is SLAVE - it's so groovy!!! Midnight Rambler is another song that is part of the rock history landscape that will last forever!

If you like Sympathy, you'll LOVE "Can't you hear me knockin" FoSHO!

The "woo woo" is basically the devil's claque: His enslaved cheering section. It's meant to sound both regular and awful.

It's fucking fire. That's all.

Are those AKG headphones? And if they are, before or after the Samsung merger?

Innovative in 1968, innovative now

Can't believe how good this still sounds. Excellent album - my personal fav RS song is still You can't always get what you want off Let it bleed. Jagger was/is such a great front man. Check out this live version - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Ef9QnZVpVd8.html from the uk, stay safe xx

Keef gone pick.

Brilliant analysis. Please give Gimme Shelter, my fave Stones song, a listen.

Go back, It's All Over Now, The Last Time, Satisfaction, Get Off Of My Cloud, Jumping Jack Flash, Street Fighting Man, etc.

You are just scratching the surface (but you picked a great place to start) Gimme Shelter, Can't You Hear Me Knocking and this one all came out within the same two years. Check out the early stuff, like Under My Thumb and Paint it Black. As they entered the 80's they did Start Me Up and Shattered (personal favorite). You can see their Super Bowl Half Time Show on You Tube. I just saw them live for the fifth (sixth?) time a couple of years ago and they can still blow the doors of nearly act performing today

Paint it black!!!

Dude you mentioned everything but the genius lyrics of this song

Stray Cat Blues Honky Tonk Women Jumpin Jack Flash Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo Heartbreaker Midnight Rambler live from the Get Yer Ya Ya's Out album.

Rock and soul funk

The Stones at their very best.

This was right after the Stones changed a lot ,before they were into mostly upbeat tunes but still not not always nice like Little Red Rooster ...They got weird from the changes and drugs and fame ,Brian,the true founder of the band,the all around musical genius, could hardly stand up anymore at 26 years old .. ..I have the Beggars Banquet album and to me Sympathy is not my favorite Stones song from that or not even in my top 20 because I know so much by them. but the song is overwhelmingly interesting .. ..''Street Fighting Man'' and ''Jigsaw Puzzle' are much more enjoyable and going to the next album Let It Bleed and both of those 2 albums are worth a total listen especially after you get done with Let It Bleed and Gimme Shelter is on that one .. L I B might be the fav of Rolling Stones fans as whole but then there is The MICK TAYLOR ERA and many say at was their best time but then Ronnie Wood shows up for the test..The Stones have 3 really great periods ..My suggestions for a earlier Brian Jones era song list CAN'T GET NO SATISFACTION,, Little Red Rooster ,Holwin Wolf cover ,,,,WE LOVE YOU ,, STREET FIGHTING MAN ,and the albums I mentioned .

As for this music, there is little more to add to the comments that have already made. I will abridge it with just: "... You and me" that means us or better the devil is in all of our actions and rationalisations/excuses.

Keith Richards was especially filthy on this track.

Have a history teacher explain this if they can. Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846. John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946. Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860. John F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960. Both were particularly concerned with civil rights. Both wives lost a child while living in the White House. Both Presidents were shot on a Friday. Both Presidents were shot in the head. Now it gets really weird. Lincoln's secretary was named Kennedy. Kennedy's Secretary was named Lincoln. Both were assassinated by Southerners. Both were succeeded by Southerners named Johnson. Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, was born in 1808. Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908. John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln, was born in 1839. Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy, was born in 1939. Both assassins were known by their three names. Both names are composed of fifteen letters. Now hang on to your seat. Lincoln was shot at the theater named "Ford." Kennedy was shot in a car called "Lincoln" made by "Ford." Booth and Oswald were assassinated before their trials. And here's the "kicker": A week before Lincoln was shot, he was in Monroe, Maryland. A week before Kennedy was shot, he was with Marilyn Monroe. AND...................: Lincoln was shot in a theater and the assassin ran to a warehouse... Kennedy was shot from a warehouse and the assassin ran to a theater... ___________________________ I saw this had to share just in case anyone did not know.

I request you to Listen to one of the greatest Rock n' Roll groups in music history, "YES!!!" Check out rtheir "Close To The Edge" song from their Close To The Edge album. YES are the Ultimate Rock Progressive Band. Check.........YES out!!! "Close To The Edge."

The Devil gets blamed, but in reality humans did all those terrible things.

Can't you hear me knocking.....Please review that, you will not be disappointed

The fact that you end up a bit speechless at the end is telling. Just imagine when this came out. 50 years ago, for the love of Christ! (No pun intended) The song was partly inspired by an old Russian novel called THE MASTER AND MARGERITA. Half of the story is about the devil (and his faithful feline companion) coming to wreak havoc in Moscow and the other half is about Pontius Pilate and his faithful canine companion fretting about Jesus. It's worth a read even if the literature doesn't quite hold up in the 21st century.

The lyrics may be my favorite part of the song. I recommend Monkey Man next by them.

From 1968.

But , He was honored By THE QUEEN as a SIR: .

Satan is saying of all the bad things i have done Man isn't exactly innocent either, and has done just as bad things, so Please everybody have some sympathy on me. Great Song & Reaction!!

pretty sure if you look who was on bass .. think its keify himself ... thats why that style .. its his sorta style ... pretty sure its why its that groove .. aint got my lps here but check it and see if im right .. and if am find some more with him on bass..... subject matter .. just going thru some decisive momments in history that caused (by choice , human nature given by lucifer ) changing moments in history , that had huge outcomes ...,Jesus getting judged (made sure i sealed his fare ) but what if those choices werent made? .. good wins sometimes and therefore bad has to as well (binary ) hes everywhere ,like God.. just be careful who you are with , cause he will bring you , it , them ,down if you let him in ...and have no faith .. perhaps one of most best written lyrics ever ... deception is the name of the game ...

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