Sympathy for the Devil
The Rolling Stones
Beggars Sessions (1989)
Mick Jagger, Keith Richards
Listen to the Song
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Serving as the centerpiece of the 1968 album Beggars Banquet, this track redefined The Rolling Stones' sound by blending dark, literary lyricism with a pulsating samba-infused rhythm. It remains a definitive cultural touchstone, famous for its building intensity and Keith Richards' biting, iconic guitar solo.
Musical Analysis
The harmonic engine of 'Sympathy for the Devil' is a relentless, hypnotic four-chord loop: E, D, A, and E. While it superficially resembles a standard major-key progression, the presence of the D major chord (the flat-seventh) shifts the song firmly into the E…
Chords
History
Primarily written by Mick Jagger, the song began as a folk-style 'talking blues' titled 'The Devil Is My Name' or 'Fallen Angels.' Jagger first played it for Charlie Watts at Watts' home in Sussex. In the studio, the song underwent a drastic transformation thr…
“French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard captured the entire creative evolution of the song for his avant-garde film titled 'One Plus One' (later renamed 'Sympathy for the Devil').”
📝 Lyrics
provocative · menacing · hypnoticTheme
The omnipresence of evil and collective human complicity in historical atrocities
Surface
A refined and wealthy narrator, revealed to be Lucifer, introduces himself and recounts his presence at various tragic turning points in human history.
Deeper meaning
The song serves as a mirror to humanity, suggesting that 'The Devil' is not an external monster but a manifestation of human nature. It argues that evil is woven into the fabric of civilization, often hiding behind 'wealth and taste.'
Symbols
Full Musical Analysis
The song features a driving blues rock harmony with elements of Latin influence. The chord progression is relatively simple but effective in creating a sense of unease and drama.
The rhythm is characterized by a prominent conga beat, giving the song a distinct Latin feel. The driving rhythm section provides a constant sense of forward momentum.
Mick Jagger's vocal melody is conversational and theatrical, enhancing the Devil's persona. The melody weaves through the chords with a serpentine quality.
Primarily written by Mick Jagger, the song began as a folk-style 'talking blues' titled 'The Devil Is My Name' or 'Fallen Angels.' Jagger first played it for Charlie Watts at Watts' home in Sussex. In the studio, the song underwent a drastic transformation through over 30 takes, evolving from a slow acoustic ballad into a high-energy samba-rock track after the band experimented with various rhythms and African/South American percussion.
Serving as the centerpiece of the 1968 album Beggars Banquet, this track redefined The Rolling Stones' sound by blending dark, literary lyricism with a pulsating samba-infused rhythm. It remains a definitive cultural touchstone, famous for its building intensity and Keith Richards' biting, iconic guitar solo.
Song DNA
Genre
Rock
Era
60s
Mood
Dark
Tempo
Upbeat
Key
Blues
Texture
Layered
Sound
Piano-led
Feel
Syncopated
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Statistics
6.9M
Plays
1.2M
Listeners
1.1M
Genius Views
22
Annotations
100%
Popularity
6:51
Duration
4/4
Time
Credits
Written by
Produced by
From the album The Rolling Stones Singles Collection: The London Years
Chord Sheet
Song Structure
Verse-Chorus
Chords Used
Chord Fingerings
Standard
Standard