The landscape of music shook at the end of 1969 when the Rolling Stones released Let It Bleed. The review from Ink Blot magazine puts it best:

"Gimme Shelter" is the sound of a frantically braking freight train about to crush the '60s under its wheels. Along with the tragedy at Altamont, Let It Bleed's opening salvo came to signal the end of a decade's optimism.

The song starts with the Keith's probing guitar, almost asking us "are you ready? are you?" Anticipation builds with the haunting "oooooh"'s. Gently, gently ... then it shifts to a firm shove with the transition from Charlie Watts. It reaches down and takes a firm hold of your soul, shaking the memories awake of things you would rather forget. Bad things. You try to pull away, but you really don't want to. The pain is sweet and you need the release. Mick tells us of a storm and mad bull, but we're lost in our own shame. Then, almost, without warning, Mary Clayton bursts our ears with such passion, forcing those bottled up tears to come loose. Our heads are down, our eyes are closed, our cheeks streaked with tears of anger, shame, regret, fear - we sway back and forth and scream silently. Then at the end, Mick's words of love are like a gentle hand under our chin. Just a kiss away ...

"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 it’s 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 ...

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

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Published: (2005-05-17 10:14:46.0)