This tune has some rich and vibrant history with the band! It was the first track on their 1968 album, “Beggars Banquet.” This album is considered one of the finer and more eclectic albums to ever be written by The Rolling Stones. Furthermore, “Beggars Banquet” has been ranked by Rolling Stone Magazine as the 32nd out of the 500 best songs to ever be written for rock and roll. This tune was a hit that was written and composed by Keith Richards and Mick Jagger and was originally written as a folk song by the band (rare). Yet an interesting thing to note is that Mick Jagger suggested that the timing be changed – to what it is today – so that the song would more represent a samba.

If you think about it, many Christians and the middleclass, conservative sector of Americans at the time utilized this song to really play into the role that rock and roll music was actually music of the devil. When indeed, this song is clearly not as such and there were many close minded people who used it to create a poor reputation for The Stones. The song was actually intended as a song from the first person perspective of being the devil, as Mick Jagger clearly represents in his lyrics for the tune.

“Please allow me to introduce myself: I'm a man of wealth and taste. 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.”

Rolling Stones - Sympathy for The Devil (Live 1969 Altamont)
Perhaps some of the rarest Rolling Stones footage that you will ever get to watch is imbedded below for your viewing pleasures! Trekking back in time, nearly to when this song was first written, we come across a great video of a live performance in Altamont in 1969, as the Stones were on yet another intercontinental, world tour! This is also during the heyday of the other fab four, The Beatles. And no, I am not saying that one band is better than the other…just that they both rocked! As you can see, the crowd loves Mick Jagger and his Rolling Stones. It is also worth noting – based upon comparing years of footage – that their live performances are equally as intense now, forty some-odd years later, as they were when the band was young and more agile. This is why The Rolling Stones have remained such a household name and mainstay in rock and roll to the present!