Sympathy for the Devil

By Bryan Ferry

On These Foolish Things

Released on October 5, 1973

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[Verse 1]

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


[Chorus]

Pleased to meet you

Hope you guess my name

But what's puzzling you

Is the nature of my game


[Verse 2]

I stuck around St. Petersburg

When I saw it was a time for change

I killed the Czar and his ministers

Anastasia screamed in vain

And I rode a tank

Held a general's rank

When the Blitzkrieg raged

And the bodies stank


[Chorus]

Pleased to meet you

Hope you guess my name

But what's puzzling you

Is the nature of my game


[Verse 3]

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


[Verse 4]

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


[Chorus]

Pleased to meet you

Hope you guess my name

But what's puzzling you

Is the nature of my game


[Verse 5]

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


[Verse 6]

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, hey


[Chorus]

Pleased to meet you

Hope you guess my name

But what's puzzling you

Is the nature of my game