Sympathy for the Devil

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I hope somebody can help clarify something for me …

Last Thursday and Friday (Feb. 2 & 3), Drew Mariani covered the very interesting topic of “Spirituality of Music” during his show on Relevant Radio. He had a few guests join him in speaking on the topic. I tuned in toward the end of his Thursday show and heard discussed an instance when Bono (of U2) walked on stage and sang an incantation to the devil. (Huh?) After listening awhile in utter disbelief (Bono? The guy who’s been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize a number of times? That Bono? Can’t be!), I finally heard them discuss the fact that the actual “incantation” he sang was a cover of the Rolling Stones’ song, “Sympathy for the Devil.”

Now, before discussing this matter any further, I would like clarification from somebody who also heard the show … I didn’t hear incorrectly, did I? The “incantation” they were talking about was an instance when Bono sang “Sympathy for the Devil,” right?

This topic fascinates me and I hold some very strong views on the matter, but I just want to make sure that I’m not getting myself all up in a tizzy because I misheard or misunderstood something.
 
Funny, I thought Mick Jagger was kidding when he recorded that song. :confused: Guess I was mistaken.
 
I don’t know if we are talking about the right song, if it is a rendition of the Rolling Stones Sympathy for the Devil I would not call it an incantation. Isn’t an incantation when we call something forth. This isn’t a prayer to the devil. It almost sounds as though the song is depicting how not to act.
 
I put the lyrics for the Rolling Stones original song in red. Actually, I think that song makes some good points. Jesus was humble and certainly wasn’t a man of wealth and taste. The devil is of this world and I could imagine him being concerned with such things and perhaps proud over being a man of the world. How many people are concerned with status over common kindness and love? I, personally, like the song.

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 faith
And 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
But what’s puzzling you
Is the nature of my game

I stuck around at St. Petersburg
When I saw it was a-time for a change
Killed the czar 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, oh yeah
Ah, what’s puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, ah yeah

(whoo whoo, whoo whoo)
I watched with glee
While your kings and queens (whoo whoo)
Fought for ten decades (whoo whoo)
For the gods they made (whoo whoo)

I shouted out, (whoo whoo)
“Who killed the Kennedys?” (whoo whoo)
When after all (whoo whoo)
It was you and me (whoo whoo)

Let me please introduce myself (whoo whoo)
I’m a man of wealth and taste (whoo whoo)
And I laid traps for troubadours (whoo whoo)
Who get killed before they reached Bombay (whoo whoo, whoo whoo)

Pleased to meet you (whoo whoo)
Hope you guessed my name, (whoo whoo) oh yeah (whoo whoo)
But what’s puzzling you (whoo whoo)
Is the nature of my game(whoo whoo), oh yeah, get down, baby (whoo whoo)
(whoo whoo, whoo whoo)
(whoo whoo)
(whoo whoo)
(whoo whoo)** …**

Pleased to meet you (whoo whoo)
Hope you guessed my name, (whoo whoo) oh yeah (whoo whoo)
But what’s confusing you (whoo whoo)
Is just the nature of my game (whoo whoo) um yeah (whoo whoo)

Just as every cop is a criminal (whoo whoo)
And all the sinners saints (whoo whoo)
As heads is tails (whoo whoo)
Just call me Lucifer (whoo whoo)
'Cause I’m in need of some restraint (whoo whoo)

So if you meet me (whoo whoo)
Have some courtesy (whoo whoo)
Have some sympathy, (whoo whoo) and some taste (whoo whoo)
Use all your well-learned politesse (whoo whoo)
Or I’ll lay your(whoo whoo) soul to waste,(whoo whoo), um yeah (whoo whoo)

Pleased to meet you (whoo whoo)
Hope you guessed my name, (whoo whoo) um yeah (whoo, whoo)
But what’s puzzling you (whoo whoo)
Is the nature of my game, (whoo whoo) um mean it, (whoo whoo) get down
(whoo whoo) (whoo whoo)
(whoo whoo)(whoo whoo)

)
 
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deb1:
I don’t know if we are talking about the right song, if it is a rendition of the Rolling Stones Sympathy for the Devil I would not call it an incantation. Isn’t an incantation when we call something forth. This isn’t a prayer to the devil. It almost sounds as though the song is depicting how not to act.
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It’s hard being in this world and not being of the world. The song has a great melody and the Stones are soooo cool. This can’t really be a prayer in praise of Lucifer, can it? But it is just that, and no amount of wanting it not to be is going to change that.
 
John Kearns:
It’s hard being in this world and not being of the world. The song has a great melody and the Stones are soooo cool. This can’t really be a prayer in praise of Lucifer, can it? But it is just that, and no amount of wanting it not to be is going to change that.
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As I am forty years old I no longer use the term sooo…cool nor do I give a flying flip about being cool. Please do not be so patronizing toward me. I try very hard to be respectful of others and their opinion.

Can you site a source for your allegation that the song is a praise of Lucifer? I am reading the lyrics and it sounds anything but praise. I certainly am overjoyed that my savior is not a 'man or this world". Did you not read in the lyrics all the negative, violent events that the Stones put Satan at? That doesn’t sound positive to me.

I stuck around at St. Petersburg
When I saw it was a-time for a change
Killed the czar and his ministers
Anastasia screamed in vain

I rode a tank
Held a general’s rank
When the blitzkrieg raged
And the bodies stank
 
John Kearns:
It’s hard being in this world and not being of the world. The song has a great melody and the Stones are soooo cool. This can’t really be a prayer in praise of Lucifer, can it? But it is just that, and no amount of wanting it not to be is going to change that.
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Deb is absolutely correct here, John. This is the second time I’ve run across somebody on this forum being completely disrespectful to the people who come here looking for answers and guidance … and perhaps a little bit of intellectual discourse. Your attitude is neither healthy nor helpful.

Instead of being condescending, could you please explain perhaps what it is about this song that makes it so clearly in praise of Lucifer? That would be far more welcome (not to mention Christian). Thank you.
 
In terms of occult practices, “Sympathy for the Devil” could certainly be used as an invocation of the devil.

There are two basic approaches to summoning spirit entities: invocation and evocation.

In evocation, by far the more difficult, but also the “safer” method, the magician attempts to get the entity to manifest outside of himself. The medieval grimoires with the circles and triangles are generally instructions for this type of spirit summoning.

The other form, easier and far more dangerous, is invocation. In this practice, the magician summons the spirit entity to manifest within himself or another person. The common means of doing this, aside from all the necessary mental skills, etc., is the use of “I” statements where the magician speaks of himself as the entity being summoned while mentally and emotionally openning himself up to the entity in question. Immitative physical movement can also be used, as in shamanic and vodoun ceremonies Or, “you” statments if the entity is being invoked into another person.

The most common example of this in modern practice is the Wiccan rite known as “Drawing Down the Moon” where the high priest of the coven invokes the presence of the Wiccan goddess into the the high priestess.

Any group, such as masons and Golden Dawn type organizations which practice something known as “the assumption of god-forms” are practicing self-invocation like this, where the magician creates a mental image of the entity being invoked and then steps into it.

The big difference bewteen singing a song and opening yourself for posession is the intent. So the words for Sympathy for the Devil could certainly be used as an invocation of Satan, they do not in themselves constitute such an invocation.

Of course, being in an altered state of consciousness when singing things like this is playing with fire. IE drunk or stoned, the state that rock concerts can induce through the use of lights and rhythm, etc. Not saying it’s intentional, but it can be potentially dangerous.
 
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kage_ar:
Er - isn’t it “Symphony for the Devil”…
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Nope, it’s “Sympathy…”

Not to be confused with Megadeth’s “Symphony of Destruction.”
 
Deb,

First let me apologize if I’ve offended you. However, while offending you was not my intent, I will not apologize for my post.

Lets take it a step at a time…for clarity’s sake, not out of any sense of condescension.

It’s hard being in this world and not being of the world. – A truth. You don’t seem to object to this statement.

The song has a great melody and the Stones are soooo cool. – Your reply: As I am forty years old I no longer use the term sooo…cool nor do I give a flying flip about being cool. Please do not be so patronizing toward me. I try very hard to be respectful of others and their opinion.

Analysis: No objection to the melody bit. Strong objection to the cool bit. The Stones were sooo cool. I thought so. You’re a little younger than me, but probably thought so at one time, too. As for being forty, I’m five days shy of my 44th birthday and have seen absolutely no evidence amongst my peers that this reduces the incidence of wanting to be cool. Almost half my sons’ friends’ parents got tattoos for their fortieth birthday. And except for the less than half of one percent of people who take their SUV’s off-road, minivans out perform SUV’s in every category except coolness, but which sells more? But, let’s take you at your word and agree that you’re not interested in cool. My point was not to patronize, it was that it’s hard to look at those you once loved without the rose-colored glasses.

Additionally:

Can you site a source for your allegation that the song is a praise of Lucifer? I am reading the lyrics and it sounds anything but praise. I certainly am overjoyed that my savior is not a 'man or this world". Did you not read in the lyrics all the negative, violent events that the Stones put Satan at? That doesn’t sound positive to me.

I’m sorry, but this is a total rationalization of these lyrics. Let’s parse them out

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 faith
And 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

Lucifer is a man of “wealth and taste” who has been around a long, long time. In fact, Lucifer was around when Jesus had his moment of doubt and pain, and he made sure that Jesus died. The song offers not a single bit of suggestion that Jesus is anything but dead. Certainly, there is no suggestion that Jesus was a savior – though we both believe that, Deb.

Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name
But what’s puzzling you
Is the nature of my game

I stuck around at St. Petersburg
When I saw it was a-time for a change
Killed the czar and his ministers
Anastasia screamed in vain

I rode a tank
Held a general’s rank
When the blitzkrieg raged
And the bodies stank

Again, while others suffer and die, many at his hand or suggestion, Lucifer wields power and influence and continues to live on.

(See next post, had to cut due to size limitations)
 
(Continued)

Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name, oh yeah
Ah, what’s puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, ah yeah

(whoo whoo, whoo whoo)
I watched with glee
While your kings and queens (whoo whoo)
Fought for ten decades (whoo whoo)
For the gods they made (whoo whoo)

I shouted out, (whoo whoo)
“Who killed the Kennedys?” (whoo whoo)
When after all (whoo whoo)
It was you and me (whoo whoo)

Let me please introduce myself (whoo whoo)
I’m a man of wealth and taste (whoo whoo)
And I laid traps for troubadours (whoo whoo)
Who get killed before they reached Bombay (whoo whoo, whoo whoo)

Pleased to meet you (whoo whoo)
Hope you guessed my name, (whoo whoo) oh yeah (whoo whoo)
But what’s puzzling you (whoo whoo)
Is the nature of my game(whoo whoo), oh yeah, get down, baby (whoo whoo)
(whoo whoo, whoo whoo)
(whoo whoo)
(whoo whoo)
(whoo whoo) …

Pleased to meet you (whoo whoo)
Hope you guessed my name, (whoo whoo) oh yeah (whoo whoo)
But what’s confusing you (whoo whoo)
Is just the nature of my game (whoo whoo) um yeah (whoo whoo)

And, not only is he a man of wealth and taste, power and influence, but, as the whoo whoo’s indicate, Lucifer is really cool, too.

Just as every cop is a criminal (whoo whoo)
And all the sinners saints (whoo whoo)
As heads is tails (whoo whoo)
Just call me Lucifer (whoo whoo)
'Cause I’m in need of some restraint (whoo whoo)

There’s no real good and evil, so why not follow the winner, me, Lucifer.

So if you meet me (whoo whoo)
Have some courtesy (whoo whoo)
Have some sympathy, (whoo whoo) and some taste (whoo whoo)
Use all your well-learned politesse (whoo whoo)
Or I’ll lay your(whoo whoo) soul to waste,(whoo whoo), um yeah (whoo whoo)

Because, if you don’t follow me, or at least deal respectfully with me, I’ll lay your soul to waste. No hint here that Lucifer does not, in fact, have any direct power over souls. That, in fact, the deference and respect you give him, is the only way our souls can be damaged when dealing with Lucifer.

Pleased to meet you (whoo whoo)
Hope you guessed my name, (whoo whoo) um yeah (whoo, whoo)
But what’s puzzling you (whoo whoo)
Is the nature of my game, (whoo whoo) um mean it, (whoo whoo) get down
(whoo whoo) (whoo whoo)
(whoo whoo)(whoo whoo)

Oh, and did I mention I’m cool?

Finally, let’s examine the source of these lyrics. The Rolling Stones have, as a group, and to a man, lived lives of debauchery and sin. I can’t help but let my sarcastic side slip in here – I’m about 99% sure this wasn’t written during the quiet kneeling period after reception of the Eucharist. Any, or, with God’s grace, all of them may someday turn from that life. Apologizing for this song would be a start.
 
John KearnsFinally said:
First let me respond by saying, yes, I agree that the Stones are not a role model. Neither was Charles Dickens who divorced his wife of 11 children for an actress. Personally, I would advise anyone to read any Dickens’ work. I am not comparing the two as artists, Dickens was a great author and anyone who has whoo hoo as part of their lyrics are probably not his equal. There are sadly many artist who have questionable lifes. But the original question wasn’t about the Stones’ life but if the song was an incantation for the devil, which I do not see it as such.

You take the same lyrics and see them as something positive about the devil. I see them as being negative toward Satan. I certainly can imagine that the Devil would be a man of wealth and taste. If I was going to depict Satan in film, literature or art this is how I would show him. A man very much of this world, very concerned with how others view him. Jesus was definitly not a man of wealth and taste but someone of humble origins.
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John Kearns:
. Almost half my sons’ friends’ parents got tattoos for their fortieth birthday. And except for the less than half of one percent of people who take their SUV’s off-road, minivans out perform SUV’s in every category except coolness, but which sells more? But, let’s take you at your word and agree that you’re not interested in cool. My point was not to patronize, it was that it’s hard to look at those you once loved without the rose-colored glasses.

)
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First I neither have a SUV or a tatto. I do have a minivan.

Yet, having either a SUV or a tatto is not an indication that a person is trying to be young. Some people get tattoos because they think that tattoing is artwork. That is certainly alright to me. If they celebrate a milestone in their life by getting one I have no right to second guess their judgement. I do not have the wisdom to judge anyone for that matter, I have my own flaws to pray about.

As far as SUV’s, I have heard a variety of reasons for owning these vehicles beyond their ‘coolness’. Perhaps we could start a thread on them.

The last sentence confuses me. What loved ones am I supposed to be viewing with rose colored glasses?
 
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cenpress:
Deb is absolutely correct here, John. This is the second time I’ve run across somebody on this forum being completely disrespectful to the people who come here looking for answers and guidance … and perhaps a little bit of intellectual discourse. Your attitude is neither healthy nor helpful.

Instead of being condescending, could you please explain perhaps what it is about this song that makes it so clearly in praise of Lucifer? That would be far more welcome (not to mention Christian). Thank you.
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Cenpress,

There was no disrespect or condescension intended. I’ve just posted a long reply to Deb’s post which addresses her comments to that effect, as well as my objections to this song.

As to my unhealthy/unhelpful attitude, the post that you replied to was my sixth on this site, total. So, even if you’ve ready every one, I don’t think it’s terribly fair for you to be labeling my attitude, yet. Nevertheless, based on several dozen of your posts that I have read, I suspect that, based on your world view, you will find that you are correct in your assessment of my attitude.

But, since I plan on being an active poster, let’s lay it out so there aren’t any surprises. I am a cradle Catholic who grew up devout but poorly catechized. I didn’t actively object to any of the Church’s teachings, but I was “willfully” ignorant of some, and truly ignorant of many others.

My first child, born almost 9 years ago, was my wake up call. I looked around and realized what a moral cesspool Western civilization had become. And I asked myself, why? The answer I believe is the wholesale rejection of the truths taught by the One, True Church, which, through God’s grace, has always been my home.

I could write in far more detail about the path that brought me to this forum, but for purposes of this post, here’s the bottom line. The world, made perfect by God, has become a moral cesspool through the acts of it’s free-willed denizens. Active agents of evil are multitude (we’re not talking fire-breathing warlock’s here, we’re talking about everyone who knowingly votes for a pro-abortion candidate, for example.) The collaborators include all those who belong to the he\she’s alright, I’m alright; shades of grey, school of thought. And I intend to oppose these people in every way possible.
 
I do have a tattoo - and now DH and I are debating Symphathy/Symphony
 
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deb1:
First let me respond by saying, yes, I agree that the Stones are not a role model. Neither was Charles Dickens who divorced his wife of 11 children for an actress. Personally, I would advise anyone to read any Dickens’ work. I am not comparing the two as artists, Dickens was a great author and anyone who has whoo hoo as part of their lyrics are probably not his equal. There are sadly many artist who have questionable lifes. But the original question wasn’t about the Stones’ life but if the song was an incantation for the devil, which I do not see it as such.

You take the same lyrics and see them as something positive about the devil. I see them as being negative toward Satan. I certainly can imagine that the Devil would be a man of wealth and taste. If I was going to depict Satan in film, literature or art this is how I would show him. A man very much of this world, very concerned with how others view him. Jesus was definitly not a man of wealth and taste but someone of humble origins.
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Deb,

The comment about the Stones life was further evidence regarding the song’s intent. But, let’s throw that away and look at the song on it’s own. Yes, I take the lyrics and show them as portraying Lucifer in a positive light. In fact, I’ve made four or five points showing the song praising the power, influence and yes, coolness of Lucifer. Not because that is what I believe, but because that is what is in the song. Show me one lyric, one word, that displays the downside of being Lucifer, from within the song
 
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deb1:
First I neither have a SUV or a tatto. I do have a minivan.

Yet, having either a SUV or a tatto is not an indication that a person is trying to be young. Some people get tattoos because they think that tattoing is artwork. That is certainly alright to me. If they celebrate a milestone in their life by getting one I have no right to second guess their judgement. I do not have the wisdom to judge anyone for that matter, I have my own flaws to pray about.

As far as SUV’s, I have heard a variety of reasons for owning these vehicles beyond their ‘coolness’. Perhaps we could start a thread on them.

The last sentence confuses me. What loved ones am I supposed to be viewing with rose colored glasses?
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What the last sentence means is that you are obviouly a Stones fan, as it takes an absolutely huge level of rationalization to view this song as being anything but sympathetic to Lucifer. Hence the title. I on the other hand have come to see the reality, that they are agents of evil.
 
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