Ooh, a storm is threatening
My very life today
If I don't get some shelter
Ooh 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, yeah
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, yeah
The floods is threatening
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
My very life today
If I don't get some shelter
Ooh 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, yeah
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, yeah
The floods is threatening
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
Lyrics submitted by spliphstar
Gimme Shelter Lyrics as written by Mick Jagger Keith Richards
Lyrics © Abkco Music Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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A shout-out for Merry Clayton, the most famous female backup vocalist you never heard of, who recorded the vocals in just a few takes when summoned to the studio (literally) in the middle of the night in curlers and VERY pregnant. (She subsequently miscarried, and some blame the strain of this recording session).
Ms. Clayton is still alive, but sadly lost both her lower legs following a car crash in June 2014.
It's literally impossible for me to imagine this song without her vocals. I'm not sure Gimme Shelter would have become the instant classic it did without her voice.
We're thinking of you, Merry—and thanks for the memories!
@punkdad Great post about Merry. Frankly, I'd like to start a petition to get her a Lifetime Achievement Grammy, which (having worked with everybody from the Stones to Linda Ronstadt to Carole King to Neil Young to Bobby Darin, not to mention the truly awesome solo albums she put out) she so richly deserves. The 60s and early 70s wouldn't have sounded the way they did without voices like hers. Anybody have any idea how to start a petition?
@punkdad Love they way you congratulate yourself for your own post ☺