Gimme Shelter (4:31)
1,433,293 plays (307,822 listeners)
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.
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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Shouts
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Dustincopter wrote:
i absolutely love when the lady singing this voice pops out at around 3, right before some male yells.
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ciropessoa wrote:
not only the intro, the chorus, the guitar : all in this music is classic!
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xxbrooke16xx wrote:
Killer Intro! [3] One of the best songs ever recorded! Never gets old ~~
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Stompysaurus wrote:
The intro is too good....
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honeyandtea wrote:
(: GENIUS.
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missnumberthree wrote:
yes, i love the intro
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Jealousheart wrote:
awesome...
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Sala1311 wrote:
40 years...and still brilliant!
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argroman wrote:
brilliant piece
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DrBlur wrote:
Absolutely kick-ass...their best...
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Brunanalyzed wrote:
killer intro! [2]
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ironpanda wrote:
I'm new to the Stones, but I'm starting to really dig Mick and Keith's music...
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samiyam333 wrote:
timeless!
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mateozballa wrote:
Gives me goosebumps every time
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flippant23 wrote:
eerie, foreboding, menacing...if there should ever be an apocalypse this will be the overture.
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theocean1975 wrote:
killer intro
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Jimmy_Page66 wrote:
spine-tingling good song
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justcallmeD wrote:
never gets old
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cram99 wrote:
Such a good song...gets me every time. Fergie will be singing this with them at the Rock and Roll hall of fame concert. I don't like her but I guess her voice fits.
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the_sweetness wrote:
Not really a RS fan, but this song kills it!!
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