Lyric discussion by Stamphater 

Cover art for Gimme Shelter lyrics by Rolling Stones, The

A couple of other notes about this song:

-Keith wrote the musical part in his car in TEN MINUTES, waiting for Mick, who he had just found out was sleeping with then-wife Anita Pallenburg. In fact, he knew that was what was probably going on at that moment. -Mick did write the lyrics, and they are in fact about the chance that War is always around us, and he did have the Vietnam war in mind. -Opening played on an Electric acoustic. -Guitar tracks to this song are so amazing. The chugging sound never ceases and that is something that doesn't often happen. -I did hear that Keith did write everything for Wild Horses. -Rolling Stone called this the PERFECT SONG recently, and I tend to agree.

@Stamphater You have a load of inside info this song. :-) Love that. But facing this song at-face value, I simply think Rolling Stone pinned it right down: Thia is the PERFECT SONG. :-) I just cant stop loving/replaying it.