About The Song

“Gimme Shelter” is a song by the English rock band The Rolling Stones. It was released as the opening track of their 1969 album “Let It Bleed”. The song was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and covers the brutal realities of war, including murder, rape, and fear. The song features a prominent female vocal by Merry Clayton, who sings the line “Rape, murder! It’s just a shot away”. The song has been remastered several times, including in 2019. The song has been performed live by the Rolling Stones on numerous occasions, including in 1969 at the Altamont Free Concert, where it was played during the stabbing of Meredith Hunter. The song has been covered by several artists, including Patti Smith, Grand Funk Railroad, and The Sisters of Mercy. “Gimme Shelter” is widely regarded as one of the greatest rock songs of all time and has been included in several “best of” lists.

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Lyrics

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

Ooh, see the fire is sweepin’
Our very street today
Burns like a red coal carpet
Mad bull lost your way

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

Rape, murder!
It’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
Rape, murder!
It’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
Rape, murder!
It’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away

The floods is threat’ning
My very life today
Gimme, gimme shelter
Or I’m gonna fade away

War, children, it’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away

I tell you love, sister, it’s just a kiss away
It’s just a kiss away
It’s just a kiss away
It’s just a kiss away
It’s just a kiss away
Kiss away, kiss away