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Today's song of the day is Gimme Shelter by the Rolling Stones. Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, it is one of the Stones biggest hits and my favorite of their songs. The song features an iconic opening guitar riff and amazing background vocals. Let me know what you think.

Gimme Shelter

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

Gimme Shelter was written during the Vietnam War and so it's very much about the awareness that war is always present; it was very present in life at that point." - Mick Jagger.

The recording features guest vocals by Merry Clayton. Her name was erroneously written on the original release, appearing as 'Mary'. Later she recorded her own version of the song which was released as a single.
Martin Scorsese has used this song in three of his films: "Casino", "The Departed" and "Goodfellas".

President Barack Obama once said in an interview that Gimme Shelter is his favorite Rolling Stones song.

Gimme Shelter was never released as a single, but it has been included on many compilations.