The song asks several times "What's the nature of my game?". The answer is given ONCE towards the end, "I'll tell you one time, you're to blame".

“The greatest trick the devil ever played was convincing the world that he did not exist.” Charles Baudelaire

The Stones holding up a huge mirror & asking "Whose to blame? Really, you're going to going to pin all your greed, your lust, your love of violence on the Devil? Take some responsibility, all of this was your choice - YOUR choice." Ignoring for a moment the song's deceptive complexity & Bill Wyman's truly epic Bass lines - the lyrics never fail to make the hairs on the back of neck stand up. Poetry - epic, perspective changing, frightening Poetry.

Anastasia isn't a Disney reference. It refers to the youngest daughter of Nicholas II, the last Emperor of Russia who, along with his entire family in the early 1900s was executed in Russia. Anastasia was 17 at the time she was executed by firing squad.

This and Gimme Shelter are my favourite Rolling Stones songs, it was released in 1968 and in my opinion still sounds good today. RIP Charlie Watts 🙏

There’s a reason the Stones have been around for 50 plus years. So many great songs.

I've heard this song about 10,000 times...it literally never gets old. A masterpiece from The Stones

What I got from this song was that the Devil was saying we should have sympathy for him. Every thing he pointed out in the song all sprung from the weakness and evil inside man. He was just playing a part in their evil. But then, remember, the Devil is a liar 🙂

This song should be in a museum.

"Gimme Shelter" has to be your next Stones song. It's a tour-de-force, especially by featured vocalist Merry Clayton. You've got to do it.

I think the sympathy they talk about is the acknowledgement that when we talk about the devil, we are talking about ourselves. We are blaming the Devil for our own actions, inventing a scapegoat to suit ourselves.

The Bass line is everything!

30 years after they released this, Keith Richards said they'd carried that 'devil moniker' for a good ten years after it came out. On the 'Get Yer Ya Ya's Out live album, a girl in the audience hollers 'Paint it Black, you devils', and the band breaks into this live.

CAN"T YOU HEAR ME KNOCKING,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,BEST ROLLING STONES SONG,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,THANKS

"Tell you one time, you're to blame " kind of sums it up .

This is probably my favorite Stones song. (Well ... until I hear the next Stone's song.) I like that you got the message of the song. For me, its people saying, "The Devil made me do it." ... when in reality, its us. And the guitar work was fantastic!

Percussion and Nicky Hopkins on the piano set the unique vibe early. Keith comes in on bass with the perfect voodoo groove. Mick’s vocal is one of the best he’s ever recorded.

Greatest rock tune all time.

There's a lot more to a singer than just their range. Knowing how to fill the gaps and making the parts you want to stand out, stand out. It's all about the timing and of course staying in key.

A history lesson via the rolling Stones 🤔😁💯

The 'WooHoos' arrive mid song. This song was heavily influenced by Mick reading the book 'The Master and Margarita' by Mikhail Bulgakov. Well worth a read. Great song by my favourite Rock n Roll band. I've been listening to them for more than 50 years, probably nearer 60 and they never get boring.

The best Stones song IMHO, and that is not an easy choice to make.

Mick Jagger was inspired to write this song after reading Mikhail Bulgakov’s novel “The Master and Margarita” about the Devil arriving in officially atheist Soviet Union in the guise of a University Professor who criticizes the Soviet citizens beliefs on religion and condemn their crimes against humanity. The line “What’s puzzling you is the nature of my game”. Which is the Devil doesn’t do evil but instills it in the heart of man who then commit acts of evil. The Devil then lays down the threat that you had better respect his nature or he will lay your soul to waste.

The French film director Jean-Luc Godard made a film "Sympathy For The Devil". He got permission from the Rolling Stones to film them as they were recording this song. Of course he added some other scenes of other things. You would find it very interesting how the song sounded the first time they sang it.

I always love your reactions to these classic songs that I grew to love over time!! The live version of Sympathy for the Devil is even better, seeing Mick dancing and conversing and interacting with the crowd is awe inspiring!! Keep up the great work, I always enjoy watching your reaction videos!!

As stated, you should listen to "Gimme Shelter" next. Here's an awesome story about it. The Stones recorded it in LA and called Merry Clayton at 4am to go down and sing her part. When she got to the studio, they couldn't hear her at the huge front door, so she forced it open herself. Then she sang her lungs out. At 3:01 of the official video (pasted below) she sings so hard that her voice cracks. (On the word "murder") You can then hear Mick say "whoo" to her crack. So, she did all this while pregnant. Well, she doesn't know if it was the heavy door or her kickass singing, but the next day (or 2 days later?), she had a miscarriage. She never felt any ill-will towards anyone or anything. She even recorded her own version of the song for her own solo album. Anyway...listen for the crack. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iMidhpaltrCbf6c.htmlsi=M8w3HXR9gtTYgfgd

This is without doubt my favorite Stones song. They did a lot of playing around with different sounds.

Gimme Shelter should be your next Rolling Stones song and it's a lyric video like this one. Powerful message. Merry Clayton is featured in the song and is amazing.

WELL THIS WAS A PURE CLASSIC SONG PHIL AND SAM! 💯😊 ENJOYYYYY!

There’s an amazing video of this song and John Lennon is clearly seen in the audience……great live version

The Rolling Stones were in their recording studio when they got the news that Bobby Kennedy Was shot and killed in LA.. They put it in the song.😮

I'd love to catch your take on Can't You Hear Me Knockin' from the Stones 1971 Sticky Fingers album.

At the very beginning of the video is a heart shape drawn around THANKS, NICKY - that being Nicky Hopkins, who was everywhere and in big demand back in those days... I like especially his keys on the Stone's SHE'S A RAINBOW and John Lennon's solo song, JEALOUS GUY. Nicky's piano is like Stone's lead guitarist Mick Taylor - tasteful.

This song Paint It Black, and Get Off My Cloud are three of my personal favorites by the Stones!!!

Johnny Depp based his charecter Captain Jack Sparrow on Stones guitarist Keith Richards, in fact in the third Pirates film, Keith played Captain Jacks dad.

Mick Jagger is an iconic front man, I strongly suggest you watch live performances….I love watching him move to this song,,

Now imagine a stadium full of people shouting Woo Woo, every time it comes around. Nice.

Of all their hits, this is my favourite.

Got to do "Can't you hear me knocking'"..Stones weren't known to be a "Jam band', but CYHMK classifies as one, and they absolutely knock it (no pun intended) out of the park!..It's my personal favorite Stones song..When you hear it, the last parts with the guitar and Sax (Bobby Keys) were supposed to fade out, but guitarist Mick Taylor felt the groove so much he wanted to keep it going. The others already were set to put their instruments down, but joined back in, and luckily (for us) tape was still rolling!..Amazing jam ensues!

I was gonna say this reminds me of the intro to the movie Blow (killer soundtrack!) but that's Can't You Hear Me Knocking.

One of the best tunes in whatever you call this. Simply "The Rolling Stones". Everything in this had a purpose. Even the vocals were just a part of the song. So easy to slip back and forth or follow the instruments. The guitar part is one of "in my personal opinion" best uses of quiet. Give a little bit, then tease. Very fluid. Amazing tunes and after more than 50 years they still aren't sure what kind of music they play .. maybe country/western or jazz. Blues .. Rock, Disco .. Cover tunes ... "The Rolling Stones" .. Like that ..

One of my favorite Stones songs! I absolutely love the way both of you get in that groove when you’re digging a song! By far my favorite reactors! Would love to see you do more Shinedown. Will definitely be hitting up your request page here in the very near future. Get ready for a ride!

One of my favourite Stones songs❤

He's thinking Roman Empire, She's thinking Woo Woo.

The one musician on this on this track who was very well known in the industry but relatively unknown to the masses is Nicky Hopkins on piano. A hugely sought after musician who played in countless track of some of the most famous groups in the history of rock music. Look him up. You'll be amazed.

Can't You Hear Me Knocking? = world's best booty call/drug hookup call song in history

This song will knock you out. Such a history lesson! 😎

Gimme shelter, tumblin dice, can't you hear me knocking, Angie. "The world's greatest Rock and roll band" Is a deep dive of course. Their music catalog is as diverse as you can get. I'm in my 60s I saw and heard all this in real time ha ha. Lol

Don't forget the greats piano that kept the song moving - it was the great Nicky Hopkins playing the piano.

Great song.great reaction. I learn a lot when listening to people react to things and also reading comments

Ever seen Interview with the Vampire, you'll smile when this song starts if you have

So much great music from The Stones. Far away eyes, Love in Vain, Sweet Virginia, Mother's Little Helper, Jumpin' Jack Flash, It's Only Rock N Roll, Street Fightin' Man..and the list goes on. 79 and still touring! greatest Rock and Roll band in the world.

I think this song is about acknowledging that there is evil in the world, and not to hide from it, but face it. By confronting evil, we can overcome it. Hence the "you're to blame" lyric that appears in there - talking about those who ignore the evil that is happening around them. My 2 cents anyway. Musically, just love the bass line in there. Next, you MUST DO "GIMME SHELTER," it is fire.

Another amazing Stone's song. In the 1960s they were one of my favorite bands. I was always a Bob Dylan and Stones fan. Folk and reality was always my go to choice. Saw the Stones in1969 in San Francisco at the old Fillmore and Stevie Wonder played first, we were all so young.

Great Song One of Many Great Songs by The Rolling Stones. Their late 60’s early 70’s Song Catalog is Absolutely Amazing This Song was Perfectly Placed in the Denzel Washington film “Fallen”

“Sympathy for the Devil's” origins are often attributed to the works of French poet Charles Baudelaire. But, while Jagger admits that the initial spark was taken from “an old idea of Baudelaire's,” the meat of the song likely comes from “The Master and the Margarita” by Mikhail Bulgakov.

The first time I heard this song was while walking through Georgetown. Someone was blasting it on their car stereo. I couldn't catch the lyrics but distinctly heard the "Woo Woo" part. So, I went directly to Tower Records (in those days they were everywhere) and asked the guy behind the counter if he knew which song had "Woo Woo" in the lyrics. Then I proceeded to sing it actually thinking the guy would recognize it from my poor imitation. Lo and behold he knew exactly what I wanted. He reached behind the counter and pulled out "Hot Rocks 1964-1971". Great reactions and analysis.

Please allow me to introduce myself.... Such an all time classic!

The Rolling Stones song, jumping Jack flash, and the Don McLean lyric in American pie. Jack flash sat on a candle stick because fires the devils only friend. The next set of lyrics is and as the flames climb, high, into the night to Moonlight, sacrificial right I saw Satan laughing with delight this is A reference to the Rolling Stones concert in 1969 at the altamonte motors speedway where a man who had a gun was stabbed to death in front of the stage by members of the Hells angels who were hired for crowd control.

Love You Can't Always Get what You want, and Ruby Tuesday. Let's not forget Wild Horses 🎂

Nicky Hopkins plays piano on it who just recently passed . I thought he was British, but he was from Nashville, TN.

An all time classic based upon Bulgakov's novel Master & Margherita. Bulgakov was a Soviet writer. It was first released in English translation in the mid 1960s.

I love the Stones. I highly recommend "Gimme Shelter" as your next Stones reaction - my favourite song of all time! Also, the Stones just released a brand new single "Sweet Sounds of Heaven" - with Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder - which is awesome.

Nice reaction guys! Although I'm not a 'Stones' fan overall (like about 8 of theirs), sympathy for the devil is one of my all time fave tunes, if I did desert Island discs, this tune would be on there!..............Gimme Shelter is another fantastic one of theirs!

Great song with great lyrics. FWIW, my interpretation is that Lucifer as the Fallen Angel is not evil in and of himself. He just provides a path to tempt us to do evil as a test. Will you or won't you do the bad/evil thing? It's our choice not his and the line "...Who killed the Kennedys? When after all it was you and me" is brilliant and I believe at the heart of the meaning of the song IMHO.

This song is featured in “interview with a vampire.” With Tom cruise and a host of big names!. Great movie, great track from the stones.

The stones have a long list of great songs, but this one is way up there I love it

A great concept that was well delivered... Lol, after you resumed play after your first pause... So much for your statement about not going crazy into different octaves

"Gimme Shelter" by The Stones is a must to react to. The best!!!

I'll never get tired of this song. Wow... My personal interpretation of it is that it talks about the devil in all of us, or at least in some people. Doing bad, horrible actions.

I got to see The Stones perform this live in 1989. And even though the song was already over 20 years old, it was still the highlight of the show.

There is a great music based video of The Dirty Mac which was John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, and Mitch Mitchell recorded in 1968 as part of the film Rock and Roll Circus.

This is probably my top Stones tune, and probably a top 10 track, maybe even top 5, just an amazing song that I never tire of hearing.

Great reactions as always you guys, the next great Stones track has to be 'Gimme Shelter' 🙋‍♂

Haha my dog would always sing to Keith’s guitar part.

The Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the world have stood the test of time this song is a great history lesson. I love the Stones seen them 4 times first time was in 1981 as a 13 yr old last time was as a 53 year old not sure if we ever see them tour again since Charlie is gone.

Thank you for pointing out the ultimate irony of this song-- it has you moving, shouting woo woo, as though you're in celebration of it all. It's how the man (not Mick) works...

Don McLean in his song American pie was taking Jabs at McJagger because of this song and what happened at the Rolling Stones concert at Altamonte motor speedway 1969

live version from circus is a must. what a vibe. fantastic video.

Hey guys, if you're not aware Ren and his band the big push did a cover version of symphony for the devil aswell!! 😁

I really like your thoughtful comments and reactions. Keep up the great work. The Stones have so much to react to.

Best gospel song ever. 🜏

In my opinion, the two in front of me are correct, "Gimme Shelter" should be your next Stones song, "Rape, and Murder, it's just a shot away" There is a great version from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame shows, with U-2, Will I Am and Fergie from the Black-eyed Peas, and a surprise guest lead vocalist. Fergie does an incredible job with Merry Claytons part. In addition, if you are a history buff, try Billy Joels "We Didn't Start the Fire" you will love it.

You covered my two favorite Stones songs, so I’m good. No need to go any further. 😁

The song is based on the novel The Master and the Margarita by Russian author Mikhail Bulgakov. It tells the story of the Devil appearing in Moscow with a naked witch and a talking black cat. Marianne Faithful supposedly bought Jagger the novel for his birthday, which inspired the song.

Best Keith Richards solo, Lucky if you truly hear it for the time

I heard in a previous comment on this song that Satan is pretty much saying, "I couldn't have done it without you!" 😣

When I was 5 or 6 ( I am 62) the first song I remember hearing and adoring is "Satisfaction." I am a big Stones fan. One of my regrets is I missed them, in concert, when they passed thru. And, I have been to hundreds of concerts. However, this is my favorite Stones song and you are the first reactors to point out that it's a "history lesson" as well as a great song. There is another video of this song live, in a small venue, where you see John Lennon dancing around to it. It's very cool.

Don McLean and his song American pie was taking Jabs at McJagger because of this song and what happened at the Rolling Stones concert at Altamonte motor speedway 1969

The answer is at the end, we're all to blame, brilliant

This was the opening song to their Beggar's Banquet album which sent them on their way from Beatles alternative to becoming The Rolling Stones....

I was delighted to find that you're both sharing your first time experience of the Rolling Stones! You made a very nice reaction video. I think you'll get a better appreciation and understanding of the band's amazing growth and evolution if you first explore their music of the 1960s, then the 70s, and so on. This will be helpful because the Stones had 3 distinctly different line ups. Multi-instrumentalist Brian Jones, the band's founder, was part of their first line up from 1962 to 1969; then in their second era, Jones was replaced by guitarist Mick Taylor from 1969 to 1974; then in their third era, Taylor was replaced by guitarist Ron Wood from 1975 to the present day. Singer Mick Jagger, guitarist Keith Richards, drummer Charlie Watts and bassist Bill Wyman were all original members since 1962. Wyman retired in 1993; Watts passed in 2021. Jagger and Richards are still rolling. _________________________ I recommend you hear all of these Stones songs, which are all written by the songwriting partnership of guitarist Keith Richards and singer Mick Jagger: THE LAST TIME (1965) (I can't get no) SATISFACTION (1965) (their huge breakout anthem and first #1 hit single in the U.S.) PAINT IT BLACK (1966) ✓ RUBY TUESDAY (1967) JUMPIN JACK FLASH (1968) SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL (1968) ✓ STREET FIGHTING MAN (1968) HONKY TONK WOMEN (1969) GIMME SHELTER (1969) YOU CAN'T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT (1969) MIDNIGHT RAMBLER (1970) the LIVE version from the "Get Yer Ya Yas Out!" album is the definitive version. I hope this information helps. I think you're going to enjoy your Rolling Stones journey!

I think you two are now ready for "Can't You Hear Me Knockin'"

Wild Horses and You Can't Always Get What You Want would be great additions if you haven't already listened to them.

This song is one of my desert island songs. I cannot live without it. This was the first song where I noticed the bass line. (right after Mick says "Get down" toward the end. Turns out, Keith Richards played both the guitar and bass in the recording. The solo isn't complicated, but it is possibly the greatest snarl I've ever heard a guitar produce. What can you say about the lyrics? They are dense, but somehow cool. To me, this tune was why the Stones were cooler than the Beatles.

Wild Horses is a great song as well. You two should give that a listen.

Well mow youve done my 2 favorite Stones songs :) I love the Jam at the end of this one aand the percussion is over the mooin. Youy cant sit still and listen to this You still have a few Stones songs to do I believe :)

Another great song with some historical context - I recommend "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" by The Band

You should check out Gimme Shelter and Brown Sugar, they have the most disturbing lyrics and meanings but also two of their greatest songs per se. This group was so far ahead of their time! True genius!

Probably my favorite Stones song since it came out oi 1968 !!