Gimme Shelter
Keith Richards Lyrics
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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
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 its 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 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
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, shot away, shot away
It's just a shot away
It's just a shot away
It's just a shot away, shot away, shot away
I tell you love, sister, it's just a kiss 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
It's just a kiss away
It's just a kiss away
It's just a kiss away, kiss away, kiss away, kiss away, kiss away
Gimme shelter
Gimme shelter
Gimme shelter
Gimme shelter
Gimme shelter
Gimme shelter
Gimme shelter
The song "Gimme Shelter" by Keith Richards and Mick Jagger is a haunting depiction of the turmoil and violence that characterized the late 1960s. The opening lines of the song set the mood, as the singer describes a storm that threatens his very life. Then, he pleads for shelter, lest he "fade away."
The storm serves as a metaphor for the political and social upheaval of the era. The "war" that is "just a shot away" refers to the Vietnam War and the many other conflicts that plagued the world at the time. The "rape" and "murder" that are just a shot away are references to the rampant violence that characterized the era, including the Manson Family murders that had occurred just a few months before the song was recorded.
The song's chorus, "War, children, it's just a shot away," is a bleak reminder that even innocent children are not immune from the horrors of war and violence. The repeated refrain of "Gimme shelter" is a desperate plea for safety in the face of chaos.
Keith Richards has said that the song came to him in a dream, and he woke up with the opening guitar riff in his head. Mick Jagger wrote the lyrics, which were influenced by the Vietnam War and the events of the late 1960s. The song features backing vocals by gospel singer Merry Clayton, whose powerful voice provides a haunting counterpoint to Jagger's lead vocals.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on
Let's go, hurry up, get ready
Oh, a storm is threat'ning, my very life today
There's a dangerous situation that's putting my life at risk today
If I don't get some shelter, oh yeah, I'm gonna fade away
If I don't find a safe place to protect me from this danger, I will die
War, children, it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away
There is a war going on and it's a very close threat, just one shot could kill us
Ooh, see the fire is sweepin', our very street today, burns like a red coal carpet, mad bull lost its way
There is a fire on our street that is raging out of control, it's like a red carpet made of hot coals and it's making people go crazy and act like mad bulls
Rape, murder! It's just a shot away, it's just a shot away
The threat of rape and murder is very close, just one shot could lead to it happening
Rape, murder yeah! It's just a shot away, it's just a shot away
The threat of rape and murder is still following us, just a single shot could trigger it
The floods is threat'ning, my very life today, gimme, gimme shelter, or I'm gonna fade away
The threat of a flood is putting my life in danger today and if I don't find shelter, I will die
I tell you love, sister, it's just a kiss away, it's just a kiss away
Even though there's so much violence and danger around us, love is still a possibility and it could be just as close as a kiss away
Gimme shelter
I need a safe place to protect me from all the danger around me
Gimme shelter
I need a place to hide from all the threats that are close to me
Gimme shelter
I need somewhere safe to go before it's too late
Lyrics © Abkco Music, Inc.
Written by: KEITH RICHARDS, MICK JAGGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dee G
The Winos holding down the groove. Imagine Mick in the late 80s dreaming of pop solo stardom with his album and tour going nowhere and then seeing Keith and the Wino's cook like this. He got his ass back to the Stones
Georgie Mac
A true rock legend of all time
cringe190
he should've sang more for the stones, this is so good.
Lone wolf
Better than jagger
Siggi Maier
He is too old for it. Now Bernhard Fowler and Lisa Fisher imitatate the backing vocals from a young Keith Richards.
Simon Edgbaston
🕊 Yes He is superb
Emmanuel SIMON
Keith,
The soul of the Stones.
BnZ Chacon
Greatest guitarist ever
Classic Entertainment
A true musical genius
Classic Entertainment
I love Keith Richards !