The Rolling Stones’ 1968 classic “Sympathy for the Devil” has been ranked among the list of “Classic Rock Songs With the Greatest Opening Lines,” placing the famous track among songs by some of rock music’s most important artists.
The ranking proves the song’s unforgettable opening, which immediately introduces Mick Jagger as the Devil speaking directly to the listener. The song begins with the line, “Please allow me to introduce myself,” followed by the description of the character as a “man of wealth and taste.”
Released in 1968 as the opening track of Beggars Banquet, “Sympathy for the Devil” became one of the most recognizable songs in The Rolling Stones’ catalog. Its opening sets up the dark story that follows, as Jagger’s character takes the listener through major events and tragedies in human history.
1964: Rock and roll band “The Rolling Stones” pose for a portrait. (L-R) Bill Wyman, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts, Brian Jones. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Collider placed the song at No. 8 on its list, which also includes classic rock acts such as The Beatles, Queen and David Bowie. It noted that great opening lines can set the mood for an entire song and can remain part of popular culture for decades.
What makes the opening of “Sympathy for the Devil” stand out is the way it introduces the song’s central character without delay.
Jagger sings from the Devil’s point of view, presenting him as a polished and confident figure. Instead of beginning with a traditional rock introduction, the song starts almost like a personal meeting. The Devil introduces himself and then begins telling his story.
The lyrics move through events connected to religion and world history, including the death of Jesus Christ, the Hundred Years’ War, the Russian Revolution and World War II. The song also refers to the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy.
The Kennedy reference changed while the song was being recorded. The original lyric referred to who shot Kennedy, but after Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in June 1968, the wording was changed to refer to both Kennedy assassinations.
That change added an even stronger connection between the song and the troubled period in which it was created.
The song’s history also reaches beyond rock music. Per uDiscover Music, its inspiration can be traced to Mikhail Bulgakov’s novel The Master and Margarita, a work that explores good and evil against the background of the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin.
The novel had only recently appeared in English translation when it reached Jagger through Marianne Faithfull. Jagger later said he was reading poetry and philosophy while developing the song. He also cited the influence of French poet Charles Baudelaire.
The song was originally called “The Devil Is My Name” and had earlier been known as “Fallen Angels.” Although credited to the Jagger-Richards songwriting partnership, the song was largely composed by Jagger.
“Sympathy for the Devil” did not begin with the powerful samba-driven sound that fans know today.
Jagger originally developed it as an acoustic folk song. When The Rolling Stones began working on the recording at Olympic Sound Studios in London in June 1968, the band tried several different musical approaches.
The band went through many takes before finding the groove that would define the final version. Keith Richards suggested changing the tempo and adding percussion, helping transform the song from a folk-style piece into a samba-influenced rock performance, according to American Songwriter.
Charlie Watts also recalled trying different ways to play the song before settling into a jazz-Latin feel.
The recording sessions were also filmed by French New Wave director Jean-Luc Godard. His cameras captured the band as the song changed during the studio sessions, giving audiences a rare look at how the track developed.
The final recording included a strong rhythm section, percussion and piano from Nicky Hopkins. Ghanaian percussionist Rocky Dzidzornu added congas and cowbell, while Richards played bass and electric guitar.
The famous “woo-woo” backing vocals also came about during the recording process. The sound was suggested after producer Jimmy Miller and Anita Pallenberg noticed how a repeated vocal idea worked during a take.
Against that background, “Sympathy for the Devil” became closely linked with the darker image surrounding the group.
But the song’s meaning was not simply about celebrating evil. Keith Richards later described it as a song about confronting evil rather than ignoring it. Jagger also described the work as being concerned with the darker side of humanity.
More than five decades after its release, the song continues to stand as one of The Rolling Stones’ signature recordings.
Related: 1983 Power Ballad, Recorded in New York Studio, Is Still a Major Hit 43 Years Later
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