Sympathy For The Devil (Part III)
The Final Reveal
In the last installment, we met our narrator for the first time while he toyed with us making a game of his identity. The narrator then lightly touches one his role in World War II with the next set of lyrics, before purposing his riddle for you again, perhaps teasing you, asking again incase his latest clues has revealed the answer.
“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, oh yeah”
When you still have not guessed correctly, the narrator reassures you that it is ok if you have not figured it out yet, by telling you that toying with your mind is simply part of the essence of who he is. Yet, another momentary clue before moving on to his next clue, continuing his boasting sermon.
“I watched with glee
While your kings and queens
Fought for ten decades
For the gods they made”
Now the narrator takes us back to the Late Middle Ages when England and France were engaged in a series of battles. Although it’s called The Hundred Years’ War, it acutely lasted 116 years from 1337-1453. It began as a struggle for claims to the French throne with England’s House of Plantagenet battling the French House of Valois. As time went on, it became a wider struggle of power that bled into other countries of Western Europe and was fed by growing nationalism on both sides.
The Hundred Years’ War had a lasting impact on Western Europe. Fought through 5 generations of kings on either side, they raced to advance their military technology as well as their tactics. Despite peaking during the war, chivalry began to decline only to be replaced by stronger national identities which led to both countries becoming stronger global powers.
“I shouted out
Who killed the Kennedys?
When after all
It was you and me”
We are then taken back to American events that took place in the 1960’s. The first event was the Assassination of American President John F Kennedy in November 1963 (just as The Rolling Stones were making a name for themselves). Lee Harvey Oswald shot and killed the president. Two days later, while being transferred from Dallas Police Headquarters, Oswald was shot and killed on live television by nightclub owner Jack Ruby.
In June 1968, John’s brother Robert Kennedy, who was a senator and presidential candidate, was shot and killed. It is believed that the Italian Mafia was behind both assignations due to the threat that both men posed to the world of organized crime.
“Let me please introduce myself
I'm a man of wealth and taste
And I laid traps for troubadours
Who get killed before they reached Bombay”
The Narrator offers another tease before showing another badge of his. Now we get a little vague. It is thought that this part of the story is a reference to route from Europe through The Middle East to South Asia that people took from the mid 1950’s until the late 1970’s known as The Hippy Trail. Many were killed and/or robbed by drug smugglers in Afghanistan and Pakistan, never reaching their final destination.
He gives you his reoccurring clue once more before entering the guitar solo, giving you some time to review the above-mentioned clues. Just as you conclude your thoughts, he teases the clue again now taunting you.
“Just as every cop is a criminal
And all the sinners saints
As heads is tails
Just call me Lucifer
'Cause I'm in need of some restraint
So if you meet me
Have some courtesy
Have some sympathy,
And some taste
Use all your well-learned politesse
Or I'll lay your soul to waste, mm yeah”
Bringing his sermon to a conclusion, the narrator breaks down his view of human nature for you before finally revealing his identity. Now that you know ho is telling the story, Satan both demands your respect and cautions you to be on your best behavior or he gains the right of your soul. Now that the puzzle is complete, he repeats his taunting clue again to ensure you put it all together. Lucifer then continues to taunt you, almost as if he is dancing around you in circles asking in a teasing, but mean-spirited manor...
“Tell me baby,
What's my name?
Tell me honey,
Can ya guess my name?
Tell me baby,
What's my name?
I tell you one time,
You're to blame
What's my name
Tell me, baby,
What's my name?
Tell me, sweetie,
What's my name?”
I thank you for taking this journey with me. This is a subject I have been wanting to dig into for a long time. With all this information that I have learned, I listen to the song now with more revered respect.
Until Next Time,
Thanks for reading!
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©2023 Grazie Santangelo. All Rights Reserved
