by the Rolling Stones (1968)
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As its title indicates, “Sympathy for the Devil” features a look at the world through the eyes of Satan. The specific sympathy shown throughout the song, however, might prove obscure, relying as it often does on historical knowledge. These historical pieces, then, can be addressed one-by-one, with the first being:
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
With the clear mention of Christ, Pilate, and the washing of hands, this is the historical reference in the song that is — and likely will always be — most readily understood. Next:
Stuck around St. Petersburg when I saw it was a time for a change,
Killed the Tsar and his ministers; Anastasia screamed in vain
Here, the The Russian Revolution of 1917 is meant, wherein the Tsar, his ministers, Anastasia, and many others lost their lives. Next:
I rode a tank, held a general’s rank,
When the Blitzkrieg raged and the bodies stank
The term Blitzkrieg dates this reference to the German invasion of France during WWII. Next:
I watched with glee while your kings and queens
Fought for ten decades for the gods they made
‘Kings and queens,’ ‘ten decades,’ and ‘gods they made’ might, with good reason, refer to either the Hundred Years War between England and France or the Catholic-Protestant Wars of Religion. Medieval Europe, in general, can be considered as being referenced. Finally:
I shouted out “Who killed the Kennedys?”
When, after all, it was you and me
The reference to Dead Kennedys — the assassinations of each John and Robert are clearly meant — makes the factual aspect of this couplet obvious, but the assignment of guilt is rather interesting. In short, saying it was “you and me” who killed the Kennedys amounts to a critique that could be compared with asserting that it was the times that killed the Gracchi.