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.