First time hearing The Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the Devil

[@flickeringboxofficial]

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[@louise_rose]

Originally the lyrics ran "I shouted out, "Who killed Kennedy?"", but during the making of the song, the RFK assassination happened in early June 1968, and the lyrics went with this horrible echo of Dallas five years before. There's a documentary feature by famous French film-maker Jean-Luc Godard about the creation of the song and the times around it, that catches this precise moment: Jagger is seen reading the newspapers about the gunning down of Bobby Kennedy, and the next time they're rehearsing the song, he has altered the lyrics.

[@DaveJonesVideo]

A lot of people miss the point of the song being called "sympathy" for the devil. He's saying that he was there (watching), but he didn't do those things listed. People always blame him, but it was us, the humans, that did all of those things.

[@mikec5309]

I disagree. He “stole” many a soul and “made sure” Pilate seal his fate as examples. Seems fairly active there

[@genghispecan]

​@@mikec5309yeah, he owns up to his own doings but the majority of the song lists human evils where he stood as a mute witness or was just along for the ride.

[@fabiotabaton6023]

@@mikec5309 he....does not exist

[@kenhoyer8601]

@@fabiotabaton6023 true . Evil is not an entity.

[@paulhadfield7909]

yes, and the kings made up the gods, so there is no devil or god, or any of them

[@danntheunknown7639]

Definitely my favorite Stones song. It's like a history lesson in a song. Gotta love that!

[@NoxiousRob]

Yeah, it's my favourite Stones song from my favourite Stones album Beggar's Banquet.

[@fligler]

"What's puzzling you in the nature of my game." Great lyrics.

[@kaychristensen4394]

Be prepared to have your minds BLOWN! 😎

[@artsilva]

The eye opening message I get out of this song is the Sympathy part, meaning that the Devil sat back watching all these horrid events take place as WE the humans did the deeds in his name. "...you're to blame", "... after all it was You and Me".

[@bethany_dawn5222]

I’m willing to bet woo was said 666 times. 😂

[@flickeringboxofficial]

Ok, that is funny!

[@metalmark1214]

For it is a human number. Actually there are 56 woo-woo in the song.

[@curtismarsh4528]

I bet Bethany is spot on......no need to count.

[@joezaverton9064]

😂

[@Antihm-js7wc]

You counted didn’t you heehee

[@karlbelzjr5555]

Nice reference to Devil's Advocate!! That monologue by Pacino is one of my favorite movie scenes 😁

[@billn7183]

Great reaction. I agree, this and Paint it Black are two of their best. I saw them do this in Toronto in 94. 50,000 people singing "woo woo" is quite an experience.

[@wombatwilly1002]

Skydome or CNE?

[@billn7183]

@@wombatwilly1002 Skydome!

[@billn7183]

THe Voodo Lounge Tour

[@RobertBreedon-c3b]

Yeah seen 4 times in Toronto last being 2019 just outside Barrie Once in Buffalo and once in NYC

[@patrickmoran687]

The Stones released a film of them in studio creating this song.

[@markdecker6190]

The references of the lyrics in this song are genius. I've always felt that if I were a history teacher that I could use songs like Sympathy and We Didn't Start the Fire as jumping off points for learning about those points in history.

[@radbarij]

You'll love The Master & Margarita (Bulgakov), then. This is heavily inspired from that. ... and, yes, this a masterful interpretation into lyrics of the main themes of that book.

[@RobertBreedon-c3b]

The Greatest Rock & Band in the World

[@daubreyjaneweirdsley]

Sympathy for the Devil was influenced by the decadent/symbolist 19th century French poet Charles Baudelaire's 'Les Fleurs du mal' - Flowers of Evil, and is based on the book, 'The Master and Margarita', written during the Stalinist era by Russian author Mikhail Bulgakov. The story concerns a visit by the devil to the officially atheistic Soviet Union. The Master and Margarita combines supernatural elements with satirical dark comedy and Christian philosophy, defying categorization within a single genre. Many critics consider it to be one of the best novels of the 20th century, as well as the foremost of Soviet satires. Sympathy for the Devil is considered one of the 60's greatest counterculture songs of dread and should be viewed as a companion piece to the Stones apocalyptic Gimme Shelter, Street Fighting and Dylan's/Hendrix All Along the Watchtower. These song represent the revolutionary turbulence taking place in the West in 1968. Sympathy is a song of dread and foreboding that represents the dark side of the 60's. The lyrics: 'I watched with glee While your kings and queens Fought for ten decades For the gods they made' A reference to The Hundred Years' War a series of armed conflicts between the kingdoms of England and France during the Late Middle Ages. As for Jagger's voice it's fabulous, perfect for the song, a mixture of hauteur, contempt, derision and mockery filtered through a camp Dylanesque Blues drawl; perfect for the character of Lucifer, 'A man of wealth and taste.'

[@dragonmac1234]

This and Gimme Shelter are my favourite Rolling Stones songs, the piano, bongos and solid bass riff drive it along with Keith adding guitar accents here and there. RIP Charlie Watts🙏❤

[@thomasking5472]

I thought Mick Taylor played lead on this track. I could be wrong.

[@fuchsiaswing8545]

@@thomasking5472Taylor wasn't in the band yet. “Sympathy…” is from Beggars Banquet (1968), which was the tail end of the Brian Jones era. That album is almost all Keef. Taylor joined the Stones during the Let It Bleed sessions in 1969, but that album mainly was complete when he joined. Taylor only plays on “Country Honk” and “Live With Me.”

[@danntheunknown7639]

@@thomasking5472 according to Keith he supposedly had recorded the leads on an acoustic guitar with a tape recorder mic in the sound hole & playing an octave lower than it sounds then played the tape back at double speed to get it to the octave we hear. Also he apparently used the mic in the sound hole for the rhythm track of Jumping Jack Flash (Or maybe Street Fighting Man. Can't remember right now as it's been about 30 years since I read the article about it).

[@dragonmac1234]

@@thomasking5472 I think you're right, Keith played bass so it probably was Mick Taylor on guitar.

[@danntheunknown7639]

@dragonmac1234 Those are my 2 favorites also. 45 years of listening to Gimme Shelter and I still get chills when the girls voice breaks on "murder" during the 3rd Rape, Murder.

[@kenhoyer8601]

We were complicit in it all. Devil didn't make us do it.

[@OLLI-ln7kp]

Can’t deny or underestimate the influence and popularity of the Beatles I wouldn’t dare,As a young man growing up in the second half of the 1960s into the 1970s the Stones were more exciting more menacing and struck the right chords for me.

[@ripsaa2693]

I read that when this came out many stations refused to play it due to its lyrics also it unusual length for that time ..

[@stephenmackay4158]

boy or girl that child is going to be a rockstar

[@stpetie7686]

I'm also a Stones guy and this is one of my favorites. Mostly, in spite of the context, I just love the sound of this one.

[@donwickwire8451]

there area 124 woo woo's in the studio version of the Rolling Stones Sympathy for the Devil with number 125 fading out in the end not complete.

[@Upe-f9c]

Great song live with all the Woo Woo´s from the audience, and that gutar sound together with Mick Jagger´s performance. Love it.

[@scottallen6160]

This song was prominently mentioned in The Stand from the 90’s by the antagonist Randell Flag. A good watch.

[@danjmcs]

such a brilliant song and i love this lyric video style... saw them on the most recent tour in 2024 and the video screens had a really great presentation during this song and they sounded great. Some of my favorite guitar work and overall sounds from the Stones.

[@mikefetterman6782]

In the movie FOCUS with Will Smith as a con man, he uses this song as part of the movie, and recounts that there are 124 WOO woos in the song.

[@custardflan]

Love the baby. Congrats. BLESSINGS!

[@jeffstevens4262]

Fun fact. In the studio version of this amazing track, there's a bunch of people dancing and grooving around, and there amongst them we see John Lennon & Yoko Ono joining in the fun.

[@TwinPinesFarms]

Love the Stones. And you guys. Thanks

[@bobschenkel7921]

Saw The Rolling Stones in 1989 in Philadelphia on the opening night of the Steel Wheels tour. But, the best part of the concert was the opening act, Living Colour, they were stellar.

[@karlbelzjr5555]

I saw that show at Shea Stadium

[@robertfindley921]

Great song. Classic Stones. One of their best.

[@custardflan]

I listen to this every Good Friday.

[@georgehuerta1990]

To me that is one of the my favorite stone songs I just seen them when they opened up their new tour here in Houston and they played that song. I recorded the whole thing and many other songs I recorded, but that man it’s just a kick ass song.

[@robertserafin-uc3qn]

A long time ago (42 years) While vacation in Vermont, On a Canadian TV station shown Their documentary of this song. Concert staple encore song

[@rayskocaj8499]

Favorite stones song

[@mpmlopes]

Lol, google auto-completes "how many woo wo" to "how many woo woos in sympathy for the devil". And the answer is 124.

[@rs-ye7kw]

"Gimme Shelter" is my favofie Stones song.

[@DustinHawke]

Same here.

[@rs-ye7kw]

"favofie"??? Terrible spelling? Nah, having trouble with some keys. Should've proofread before clicking. Sorry.😏

[@Critical_Thinker858]

Burch throwin' in a little Caddy Shack reference on the DL. Ha!

[@flickeringboxofficial]

I think you were the first to catch it :) Gunga galunga...

[@mikebunner3498]

This is one of my favorite Stones songs! One of the few where I can understand what Mick is saying. Mr. Nicky Hopkins played piano. It never ceases to amaze me how wee ones can sleep anywhere. My complaint is the small ones grow too fast!!! Take care you ALL.......

[@mikefetterman6782]

Since there were no videos back then (movies, live tv--3 channels- or concerts) someone did this style of video for A LOT of the Stones songs. All are done withe lyrics on a background.

[@mikefetterman6782]

Can't always get what you want is another classic from this ERA of stones.

[@scottedwards33]

The Rolling Stones have put out a bunch of lyric videos like this lately

[@travisw.austinhoustontx4108]

Congratulations, Welcome Little One.

[@serendavies7375]

I love that song!

[@JulioFGX]

Pretty baby girl 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@LordToddtastic666]

This is by far my favorite Stones tune. Hands down

[@Disavowedagent47]

Angie, paint it black, street fighting man, brown sugar..... he'll all of Exile on Mainstreet

[@stlmopoet]

The Rolling Stones had a lot of great songs, but I am definitely a Beatles fan. This may be my favorite Stones song.

[@brandonjones1349]

Great reaction mates. Slainte ☘️

[@forourtroopssake7373]

Great show! 👍❤️

[@bwana-ma-coo-bah425]

Saw the stones back in the 80's with my best friend I served with in the Vietnam war. We both got loaded up for the night. This song meant so much to us. We went there just to hear this song. Stayed for a few more songs and left. A few weeks later he crucified himself on a needle full of heroin. At least his torture has stopped. Don't thank me for my service, I am not proud of what I did.

[@larryweise5388]

💔💯🙏💯

[@allengray5748]

Though Elite Legendary Icons I still believe underrated for their Lyrics. You wonder HOW as these guys were always Drunk, Coked out and Stoned??? It's because they were also Educated and paid attention and their Dues!! I'm team BEATLES but these guys are Freaks Of Nature Awesome!! Peace 🕊️☮️♾️😎

[@AW11-e4h]

Greatest Rock n Roll band ever 🤘🤘

[@captainsatellite2112]

John Lennon and Eric Burdon were in the studio, had raided the Stone's beer fridge and started the "woo woo" chant.

[@Robx-gx8zy]

You should do the lyric video for “Gimme Shelter” it might be the same creator..very similar style to this video

[@mikebunner3498]

After watching this classic, Alexis are you Shooketh?? Mr. Nick Hopkins on piano. I've always enjoyed this song. bur the mention of the devil makes me reach for the cross! Babies at that age can sleep thru almost anything. Must be nice!!! Thanks for the video!!!! A very quick search online reviews 124 woo woo. Another source says 56 woo woo. So I guess we will have to count them for ourselves. You all take care!! Later

[@tameraSBLY]

Great reaction you guys. Wild Horses is great, but Paint It Black is my all time favorite stones.

[@davidkeiser6961]

They were security at the altamont concert, the hells angels that is, and a 18 yr old was stabbed by the angels and The Rolling Stones were unaware of what happened and continued to play. Dec 1969 it was

[@titools4375]

even though I found out kinda late about the birth of your daughter / granddaughter, never too late to congratulate you, you two, must be so proud. Now, I'd like to make a suggestion about a band that is not so known by many people, but probably you know them, it's SATROX, how about reacting to "More Than a Feeling", "Power Lights", "River to Nowhere", "Heaven", please, amazing band and so underrated, Rockers deserve to get to know them, never is too late, NO, not in metal. 🤘🔥

[@tofargone16]

good job guys.

[@thomaswilliams633]

Hey - this is for Alexis. Hope you and your family is safe. I just liked y'alls latest video, but I guess you are still on mom duty. Love you both.

[@jimmyraidjames]

Don't forget the ' superchat requests from....oh wow almost 6 months ago. Early Van halen was one of the requests( aint talkin bout love or Jamies crying??) and the other superchat request was for ' yes=Changes ) remember those???

[@nickmills8476]

the guitar sounds like the flames of hell

[@serendavies7375]

I sang this to my dancing manager & boss & they laughed when I said "Pleased to meet you. Hope you guess my name"

[@DavidMiller-cu6vk]

You need to let her check out "One Hit To The Body" It's a great song and Mick, and Keith were fighting at the time, which makes the video much better!!

[@markanderson9059]

I saw them in 1974 in Colorado and with the early acts including Rufus with Chaka Khan and Charlie Daniels and his band. Santa

[@garygoodrich7495]

Keith Richards has always said he's a believer in letting the notes breathe. He's said he likens it to a painter who dabs a bit of paint here and a bit of paint there rather than just splash the canvas with too much paint. That's my favorite style of guitar playing. The endless, non-stop guitar solos get boring real fast.

[@matthewlee6168]

As an historian, the lyrics in this song impress me more than the music (which is also great). I love songs that incorporate historical allusions and references (such as Billy Joel's "We didn't Start the Fire"--which is also great).

[@michaelgrabner8977]

Funfact the Woo Woo part was sung by Eric Burden + John Lennon After partying all night long together Burdon + Lennon randomly crashed into the house where the Stones did that recording session for just a visit and drank all the beer stored in the fridge while the Stones did the recording ...and as the Stones took a break they noticed there was no beer in the fridge anymore ..and as compensation the Stones sent Burden+Lennon both already pretty hammered into the recording booth for just singing Woo Woo for hours take after take while making fun of them. Eric Burdon once revealed that story in an interview

[@davidkeiser6961]

Don’t forget to that this wasn’t played live for years because of the hells angels at the San Francisco concert in the 60’s. My favorite stones song.all though there’s plenty to choose from

[@dave40ozs]

I’m not aware of what happened.

[@TheNerdGasm]

It's a very deep song. Now you can heap all the blame, for all the sadness in the world, on the devil. But like the lyrics are kinda suggesting. He's not entirely to blame. He may be the instigator of a terrible action, but it's humans that actually carry the plan out.

[@mikeg.4211]

The often-missed point of the song is that the devil is in need of restraint, and humanity is not restraining him. In the end, he mentions the point again, by saying, "I'll tell you one time. You're to blame."

[@ThePrincepiggy]

If ever there were a theme song for the Trump era

[@mikeg.4211]

@@ThePrincepiggy good comment!

[@alegriadj9997]

Woo woo woo woo....🔜😊

[@nkley1]

Keith Richards on both bass and lead guitar.

[@tracyrogers397]

The song means: The evil is us. You and me. Clean, simple and all the evidence points to it, truth.

[@terenzo50]

A perfect song and lp for the year 1968. We listened to music because there were no silly videos. Then we rioted in the streets because we were so pissed off at all the governments everywhere. Two years later they started shooting students.

[@CanadaDan]

I wonder if this song made way for the rumors that they have lasted so long in the biz because of making a pact with "that guy". The song itself is very creative n maybe even historically correct, great song for sure, great lyrics, great music. I'm sure she'll enjoy Angie, also. That's the cool thing about the Stones, a wide variety of sounds.

[@swordmonkey6635]

The song must've been inspiration for the movie "The Messenger" about Joan of Arc.

[@TheGsjoberg]

Keith’s guitar sounds like the devil’s pitchfork.

[@viewfromthehighchair9391]

I put "how many woos in sympathy for the devil" in Google and got this quote: During his explanation of the scam that took place during the Super Bowl game, Nicky comments that because the song "Sympathy for the Devil" has 124 "woo woos" and the Mandarin word for five is "wu" that the number 5 was being subconsciously planted in their mark Liyuan's head to help him pick the number 55, however....

[@keithpederson9912]

Burch, i agree with this one and Painted Black... but you really needed to add a 3rd.. Give me Shelter. top 3 i my book.

[@19HuskyWolf70]

I'm a The Doors guy and can't forget the greatest band in history...Led Zeppelin

[@captainsatellite2112]

Beatles wrote the 1st Stone's hit, I Wanna Be Your Man. Stones weren't writing their own songs at that point so Lennon/McCartney wrote it on a bar napkin to show how "easy" songwriting is.

[@DustinHawke]

They had to change it from "Who shot Kennedy?" to "Who shot the Kennedy's" after Bobby Kennedy was assassinated.

[@Orikion]

that base line ! jesus !

[@anwarbenhrif4965]

hi there im a new subscriber to your channel i love your reactions and i wish you would react to some foreign music especially an artist called stromae you would like him trust me he is a Belgium artist sings in french and all his music has subtitles in english btw sorry for my english its not my native tongue love from morocco and love your channel

[@marcgyver677]

Not gonna lie... I've always been more of a Beatles fan and I don't really care much for the Stones - but this song is pure fire!

[@charleskuntz1393]

How many woo woos does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Tootsie Pop?

[@1578dd]

"Ah One"...(woo woo), "Ah Two"...(woo woo), "Ah Three"..(woo woo)....crunch! "Three."

[@deverewalker6252]

Can't you hear me knocking

[@fragiisback]

there are 124 woo woo's in Sympathy for the Devil

[@arnoldcox9128]

Gimme shelter might be my favorite, but like you said they've had a looooong career spanning decades

[@charliecochran3035]

He's laughing at us for executing his will for him. "I'll tell you ine time. Youre to blame."

[@daveelgie1363]

Love sympathy. Should check out God & Satan from Biffy Clyro. Really awesome full picture song.

[@darknotered7425]

The devil is actually OURSELVES. When Jesus had his hesitations, humanity already existed. The song doesn't mention anything about this "entity" existing since the beginning of creation. So, basically, we, humans are evil by nature and we're mostly incapable to restrain our evil nature. "Ah, yeah Tell me, baby, what's my name? Tell me, honey, can you guess my name? Tell me, baby, what's my name? I'll tell you one time, YOU'RE TO BLAME"

[@phantom629]

i'd be willing to bet the person who created this video knows how many woohoo's there are. you could do a top 5 stones songs this, paint it black, wild horses, sister morphine, she comes in colors

[@rickeylucero3955]

Epic track. Use the lyrics vids. They are the studio versions.

[@mitchellbatchelor1594]

The title says it all. Love the groove, but I’ve never decided if I like the song. When I hear a Stones fan say they don’t like The Beatles, I know I’m hearing a closet Beatles fan. Is the closet dark?😊

[@rimisark]

React to Rolling Stones feat. Axl Rose - Salt Of The Earth.

[@KenMinor-ek1xs]

It is the one song that they will never play live

[@chavt66]

Im so glad to hear you say "I'm not much of a Beatles fan". I can't believe how many people can't believe I'm such a huge fan of rock, but don't really care for the Beatles. They really get pissed when I say they were the "Boys to Men" or "NSync" of the 60s.

[@londonlion5179]

As a rock fan myself I refuse to recognise the Beatles as a rock band. They are a pop group and should be classified with all other boy bands

[@oldiesaubrey1989]

Marty Stuart!!!

[@CanadaDan]

124 woo woos

[@marcusfox2443]

"I'll tell you one time your to blame", evil is manmade.

[@학교-f1m]

Red Velvet 'COSMIC' please