Sympathy For The Devil

(Album: These Foolish Things - 1973)

Please allow me to introduce myself
I'm a man of wealth and taste
I've been around for a long, long year
Stole many a man's soul and fate
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
But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game
Stuck around St. Petersburg
When I saw it was time for a change
Killed the Czar and his ministers
Anastasia screamed in vain
I rode a tank
In a general's rank
When the Blitzkrieg raged
And the finest stank
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name
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 the Kennedys?"
When after all
It was you and me
Let me please introduce myself
I'm a man of wealth and taste
And I laid tracks for troubadours
Who get killed before they reached Bombay
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name
But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game
Just as every cop is a criminal
And all you sinner's 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 qualities
Or I'll lay your soul to waste