Initially I was stumped when I saw that the theme for Song Lyric Sunday this week was a one-take recording. Surely any song that comes out of a studio has been dubbed, multi-tracked and heaven knows what else? Except maybe back in the fifties.
So what to do? Why, pick something from a live recording of course. And they don’t get much better than this: the Rolling Stones recorded at Madison Square Garden in New York and released on the 1970 album ‘Get Yer Ya-Yas Out’. Did I own this album? You bet your life I did.
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 faith
I was ’round when Jesus Christ
Had his moment of doubt and pain
Made damn sure that Pilate
Washed his hands and sealed his fate
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name
But what’s puzzling you
Is the nature of my game
I stuck around St. Petersburg
When I saw it was a time for a change
Killed the Tzar and his ministers
Anastasia screamed in vain
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
But what’s puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, oh yeah
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
Let me please introduce myself
I’m a man of wealth and taste
And I laid traps for troubadours
Who get killed before they reach Bombay
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah
But what’s puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, oh yeah, get down, hit it
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah
But what’s confusing you
Is just the nature of my game
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
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, um yeah
But what’s puzzling you
Is the nature of my game
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
Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richard
the only deadhead in the hameau 
Oh yes, one of my favorites from the Stones. 🙂
This song gives us a short view of history viewed through the eyes of someone who hopes you can guess his name. Nice choice going with a live recording.
Great choice!
I think this is one of the Stones’ most sophisticated songs. I feel a little guilty saying I admire this anthem to evil. Mick sings it just right, like he does on all of his songs.