The Rolling Stones » Tracks » Gimme Shelter

The Rolling Stones – Gimme Shelter (4:31)

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About This Track

Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, “Gimme Shelter” was created from the combined efforts of both the singer and the guitarist. Richards had been working on the song’s signature opening in London while Jagger was working on the film Performance. The song takes the form of a churning mid-tempo rocker. It begins with a rhythm guitar intro by Richards, followed by Jagger’s lead vocal. On the recording of the album, Jagger said in a 1995 interview with Rolling Stone, “Well, it’s a very rough, very violent era. The Vietnam War. Violence on the screens, pillage and burning. And Vietnam was not war as we knew it in the conventional sense…” On the song itself, he concluded, “That’s a kind of end-of-the-world song, really. It’s apocalypse; the whole record’s like that.”

The lyrics of the song speak of seeking shelter from a coming storm, painting a picture of devastation and social apocalypse while also talking of the power of love:

“ Oh, a storm is threat’ning, My very life today; If I don’t get some shelter, Oh yeah, I’m gonna fade away ”
“ War, children, it’s just a shot away, It’s just a shot away; War, children, it’s just a shot away, It’s just a shot away”

The track was used to great effect in the Martin Scorses 1995 classic, ‘Casino’ adding period atmosphere as only great music can.
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Albums featuring this track

  • Rolled Gold +
    The Rolling Stones Play
    Buy
  • Let It Bleed
    The Rolling Stones Play
    Buy
  • Forty Licks (disc 1)
    The Rolling Stones Play
    Buy
  • Forty Licks
    The Rolling Stones Play
    Buy
See all 37 albums

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  • lenore29

    Just the perfect song

    Monday evening

  • granpubah

    mary clayton aka little sister the most soulful backing vocal ever

    Monday afternoon

  • ModernSlangTN

    Hey we are new to lastfm! We are an old school rocknroll band out of Memphis ,Tn. To know more check out our official website www.modernslangmusic.com

    Saturday morning

  • culler22250

    makes me wanna jump about!

    Thursday evening

  • Ghostwhisperz59

    oldiesfanjohn- you are a force in rock knowledge friend!! Rock-on brother!!!!

    10 days ago

  • TheGrimMonolith

    I get the chills whenever I hear this song.

    13 days ago

  • iamBradshaw

    I think its funny this song is a Vietnam War protest song.....and they use it in COD Black Ops video game wonder how much $$$$ they got for it

    14 days ago

  • thekills1985

    The BEST song the Rolling Stones will ever do! <3

    20 days ago

  • BlueOclock

    Yeah, Merry makes your hair stand on end.....just incredible!

    27 days ago

  • oldiesfanjohn

    @Scott0329...On the original, Merry Clayton helped out Mick w/vocals...She was in the Raelets w/Ray Charles...recorded for Motown...formed a vocal group--"Sisters Love"...Even recorded her own version of this song in the Spring of 1970...Not sure what version you are hearing,but Tina did tour with the Boys!!!

    28 days ago

  • scott0329

    Love this track. Does anyone know who the female vocalist is? Tina Tuner perhaps? They were on tour together just about this time.

    30 days ago

  • greglypoop123

    just a kiss away

    last month

  • TraViiStyMo

    "theres a soilder in all of us"

    last month

  • Shmalevich

    Лучшие

    last month

  • Sinsinatti

    Great.

    last month

  • xtwntraphq

    This one should have been on Beggars. My opinion. It's all good anyhow ! :)

    last month

  • oldiesfanjohn

    Merry Clayton is the female singer on here...some real assholes making comments below!

    last month

  • BikerWriter

    There are just some songs that penetrate and stay with me for years...and this is one. I can remember what I was doing when I first heard it, I can remember what I was doing when I heard it last........(1LightComing@blogspot.com)

    March 2012

  • Sin1221

    This is a good song.

    March 2012

  • DarkRz0r

    cool song, really rocks.

    March 2012
See all 1,284 shouts

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