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Massacre Of The Innocents - Rubens 1612
ROCKMAN
..mmmh, now I get the meaning of the shots...
Actually most of "Let It Bleed" was written by Keith, inspired by this unfortunate incident.
And this was also when the drug abuse started escalating, so one can say it was sort of a cross roads in the Stones career... In an artistically good way - the "you write well when you suffer" cliché. On a personal level, it led to tragedy, scars, years of heavy addiction, the break up of "common law marriages", the cooling down of a formerly very warm and close friendship and a lot of suffering - in general.
Yes, Baboon, you got it right, too.
Here are the lyrics:
Oh, a storm is threatning
My very life today
If I dont get some shelter
Oh yeah, Im gonna fade away
War, children, its just a shot away
Its just a shot away
War, children, its just a shot away
Its 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, its just a shot away
Its just a shot away
War, children, its just a shot away
Its just a shot away
Rape, murder!
Its just a shot away
Its just a shot away
Rape, murder!
Its just a shot away
Its just a shot away
Rape, murder!
Its just a shot away
Its just a shot away
The floods is threatning
My very life today
Gimme, gimme shelter
Or Im gonna fade away
War, children, its just a shot away
Its just a shot away
Its just a shot away
Its just a shot away
Its just a shot away
I tell you love, sister, its just a kiss away
Its just a kiss away
Its just a kiss away
Its just a kiss away
Its just a kiss away
Kiss away, kiss away
IF it happened, than it didn´t bother Keith, in Keith´s own words. So I don´t believe the story of the "heartbroken" Keith, who wrote all his "pain" into that song, or album.
It was the 60s, back then it was nomal that everybody slept with everybody. And when Keith says, he did not care, than i don´t see a reason, not to believe it.
I think, it is unusual for Keith to write a political song, usually Mick writes them. that´s the reason, why it is hard for me to believe, that Keith wrote the lyrics.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008-07-28 09:20 by ilikemick.
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The text of Gimme Shelter
Posted by:
straycat58
()
Date: July 25, 2008 15:34
del
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2010-08-14 18:07 by straycat58.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2010-08-14 18:07 by straycat58.
Re: The text of Gimme Shelter
Posted by:
Rockman
()
Date: July 25, 2008 16:50
Massacre Of The Innocents - Rubens 1612
ROCKMAN
Re: The text of Gimme Shelter
Posted by:
straycat58
()
Date: July 25, 2008 17:59
well, we can open an art gallery... stones related.
... but what about the text of this song?
... but what about the text of this song?
Re: The text of Gimme Shelter
Posted by:
with sssoul
()
Date: July 25, 2008 21:49
... great lyrics resonate on many levels, of course, but since you're asking:
"just a kiss away" doesn't mean love is futile; it means it's imminent - it's there if people choose it.
just like war/violence is imminent - just a shot away - if people make that choice.
and yes, i think it qualifies as a protest song on one level. among its many intensely resonant levels.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008-07-26 11:01 by with sssoul.
"just a kiss away" doesn't mean love is futile; it means it's imminent - it's there if people choose it.
just like war/violence is imminent - just a shot away - if people make that choice.
and yes, i think it qualifies as a protest song on one level. among its many intensely resonant levels.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008-07-26 11:01 by with sssoul.
Re: The text of Gimme Shelter
Posted by:
duke richardson
()
Date: July 25, 2008 22:04
great scan of the Rubens, Rockman! love your knowledge of music and art history.
my favorite Rubens is the "Daniel In The Lion's Den" in Washington DC
my favorite Rubens is the "Daniel In The Lion's Den" in Washington DC
Re: The text of Gimme Shelter
Posted by:
Green Lady
()
Date: July 25, 2008 23:46
Gimme Shelter was written at a time when there was a real danger that many things might explode into violence and destruction - in the Stones' personal lives, on the streets of the world's cities, and on an international level - and the lyrics talk about that. There are problems that could so easily turn into "war, rape, murder - just a shot away". At the beginning, it's a song by somebody feeling pretty desperate, and I guess that's why it was popular in Vietnam, but it's not about that war.
But as the song goes on, the singer realises there can be another choice: love - just a kiss away. At the end of the song the choice is left open - but it's there. I don't agree with the "love is futile too" interpretation - I think it's a song with a lot of hope in it.
But as the song goes on, the singer realises there can be another choice: love - just a kiss away. At the end of the song the choice is left open - but it's there. I don't agree with the "love is futile too" interpretation - I think it's a song with a lot of hope in it.
Re: The text of Gimme Shelter
Posted by:
straycat58
()
Date: July 26, 2008 00:38
Interesting, thanks for your help.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010-08-14 18:07 by straycat58.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010-08-14 18:07 by straycat58.
Re: The text of Gimme Shelter
Posted by:
ryanpow
()
Date: July 26, 2008 01:36
I always interprited the fire sweeping like a red coal carpet as napalm
Re: The text of Gimme Shelter
Posted by:
stuart
()
Date: July 26, 2008 05:06
Here's a snippet from record review which contains comments from Mick about "Gimmie Shelter":
"“Gimmie Shelter” sends a political message, as Jagger vocalizes the need for shelter from the coming storm of worldly devastation and destruction. In his own words he put it: "That's a kind of end-of-the-world song, really. It's apocalypse; the whole record's like that." To get into a writing frame of mind I’ve listened to this album four times in the last two days and countless times in the last few weeks. Today, I dug through my meager collection of vinyl --and as I write these very words my eardrums are pulsating with pleasure from the energy rush. The airwaves in my room resonate while the needle dances through the grooves of the phenomenal composition, --and as the record revolves an injection of the soul of the band, screams: “It’s just a shot away, It’s just a shot away.”
[rollingstonesrecordreview.blogspot.com]
"“Gimmie Shelter” sends a political message, as Jagger vocalizes the need for shelter from the coming storm of worldly devastation and destruction. In his own words he put it: "That's a kind of end-of-the-world song, really. It's apocalypse; the whole record's like that." To get into a writing frame of mind I’ve listened to this album four times in the last two days and countless times in the last few weeks. Today, I dug through my meager collection of vinyl --and as I write these very words my eardrums are pulsating with pleasure from the energy rush. The airwaves in my room resonate while the needle dances through the grooves of the phenomenal composition, --and as the record revolves an injection of the soul of the band, screams: “It’s just a shot away, It’s just a shot away.”
[rollingstonesrecordreview.blogspot.com]
Re: The text of Gimme Shelter
Posted by:
stuart
()
Date: July 26, 2008 05:10
An addendum to my prior post. This is from a wikipedia entry regarding "Gimmie Shelter":
"On the recording of the album, Jagger said in a 1995 interview with Rolling Stone, "Well, it's a very rough, very violent era. The Vietnam War. Violence on the screens, pillage and burning. And Vietnam was not war as we knew it in the conventional sense..." On the song itself, he concluded, "That's a kind of end-of-the-world song, really. It's apocalypse; the whole record's like that."[1]
[en.wikipedia.org]
"On the recording of the album, Jagger said in a 1995 interview with Rolling Stone, "Well, it's a very rough, very violent era. The Vietnam War. Violence on the screens, pillage and burning. And Vietnam was not war as we knew it in the conventional sense..." On the song itself, he concluded, "That's a kind of end-of-the-world song, really. It's apocalypse; the whole record's like that."[1]
[en.wikipedia.org]
Re: The text of Gimme Shelter
Posted by:
straycat58
()
Date: July 26, 2008 13:04
Thanks Stuart. I went 'thru many books and magazines and there's common point on the first part of the text, also confirmed by Jagger as per your post.
It the "Just a kiss away verse" that gives me perplexities and is not explained.
If I intend "Just" as synonimous of "Nothing more than", the meaning turns to be that "Love is nothing else than a kiss given (or thrown) away".
Or what different meaning can have the word "just"?
There's an additional point: why the term Sister? Can "Sister" stand for "Death"?
In such a case, "Love, Death, is a kiss away" to indicate that you're reaching the end and Death, will get you sweetly, like a kiss in love.
It the "Just a kiss away verse" that gives me perplexities and is not explained.
If I intend "Just" as synonimous of "Nothing more than", the meaning turns to be that "Love is nothing else than a kiss given (or thrown) away".
Or what different meaning can have the word "just"?
There's an additional point: why the term Sister? Can "Sister" stand for "Death"?
In such a case, "Love, Death, is a kiss away" to indicate that you're reaching the end and Death, will get you sweetly, like a kiss in love.
Re: The text of Gimmie Shelter
Posted by:
with sssoul
()
Date: July 26, 2008 13:12
>> Or what different meaning can have the word "just"? <<
"just a kiss away" means "very close". so does "just a shot away."
think of constructions like "just a few meters away" - that's the parallel.
and ... well, we can all interpret lyrics, but for me interpreting "sister" as "death"
is stretching things mighty far. it was hip at the time to call people brothers and sisters.
"just a kiss away" means "very close". so does "just a shot away."
think of constructions like "just a few meters away" - that's the parallel.
and ... well, we can all interpret lyrics, but for me interpreting "sister" as "death"
is stretching things mighty far. it was hip at the time to call people brothers and sisters.
Re: The text of Gimme Shelter
Posted by:
stuart
()
Date: July 26, 2008 20:09
You're welcome Straycat.
To me, not at all saying this is the correct interpretation, I think the "love, sister, is just a kiss away" is simply an offer/appeal to the ladies from Mick. World falling apart but hey, i've got some love for you, how bout we weather the storm together (making love) or whatever. A very 60s response and also I presume many young males and females were perhaps using love (sex) as a way to offer peace or protest the war. i.e. exploiting it to get laid. i'm a lover not a fighter kinda thing. I'm mostly just thinking out loud here.
To me, not at all saying this is the correct interpretation, I think the "love, sister, is just a kiss away" is simply an offer/appeal to the ladies from Mick. World falling apart but hey, i've got some love for you, how bout we weather the storm together (making love) or whatever. A very 60s response and also I presume many young males and females were perhaps using love (sex) as a way to offer peace or protest the war. i.e. exploiting it to get laid. i'm a lover not a fighter kinda thing. I'm mostly just thinking out loud here.
Re: The text of Gimme Shelter
Posted by:
angee
()
Date: July 26, 2008 20:30
There was the saying "make love not war". Sexual experimentation was not so much about people exploiting each other but about breaking away from the 1950's in the States before unmarried people lived together or admitted to having sex. There was a sexual revolution that coincided with the hippie counterculture and the political protests against the war.
I agree that with with sssoul that "just" a kiss away means very close, for the noticing or taking, if people are aware.
I agree that with with sssoul that "just" a kiss away means very close, for the noticing or taking, if people are aware.
Re: The text of Gimme Shelter
Posted by:
Addicted
()
Date: July 26, 2008 23:35
I think I read in Christopher Sandford's Keith bio, that Keith sat outside the film studio in his Bentley while Mick and Anita were filming "Performance". Keith, sick with jealousy, totally heartbroken, felt what was going on, and also sent people in with messages. So, if at all "Gimme Shelter" is an anti war song, some also mean that it's about how terribly betrayed he felt, by both Mick and Anita, at that moment.
Does anyone else recall reading / hearing this story?
Does anyone else recall reading / hearing this story?
Re: The text of Gimme Shelter
Posted by:
straycat58
()
Date: July 27, 2008 00:06
Addicted, Yes I know the story but Keith wrote the music. The text is Mick's and in that period he was in personality-conflict. According to Marianne biography he really considered himself as a superior being and deeply involved in satanism.
That's why I hardly believe we're in front of a Joan Baez or Marty Balin kind of lyrics, such as "Make love, not war" as our friend "angee" supposes.
This song is written by the Rolling Stones, not CSN&Y or Gilbert O'Sullivan and, please note: the Rolling Stones of 1969.
Don't know what to say, I'm not english nor american; can't catch the sense 100% but it looks me childish (beatlesian) a message that sounds like the world is fuc.ing up, give me a kiss and everything turns to be ok. One of the best (out of three) tracks ever written in rock music!
Don't you agree?
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2008-07-27 00:09 by straycat58.
That's why I hardly believe we're in front of a Joan Baez or Marty Balin kind of lyrics, such as "Make love, not war" as our friend "angee" supposes.
This song is written by the Rolling Stones, not CSN&Y or Gilbert O'Sullivan and, please note: the Rolling Stones of 1969.
Don't know what to say, I'm not english nor american; can't catch the sense 100% but it looks me childish (beatlesian) a message that sounds like the world is fuc.ing up, give me a kiss and everything turns to be ok. One of the best (out of three) tracks ever written in rock music!
Don't you agree?
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2008-07-27 00:09 by straycat58.
Re: The text of Gimme Shelter
Posted by:
angee
()
Date: July 27, 2008 01:18
straycat58, my friend, hi--
I mentioned the make love slogan in answer to Stuart's comment about explotation and sex, not in relation to the philosophical underpinnings of the song.
I think it's best to go by what the writer/singer says which is that it is/was definitely related to the Vietnam War. The song's lyrics are partly stimulated by and situated within the political and cultural time of when it was written.
However, imo, the song works well much beyond any specifics of time, place, or circumstance, as intended, and as great songs do.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2008-07-27 01:24 by angee.
I mentioned the make love slogan in answer to Stuart's comment about explotation and sex, not in relation to the philosophical underpinnings of the song.
I think it's best to go by what the writer/singer says which is that it is/was definitely related to the Vietnam War. The song's lyrics are partly stimulated by and situated within the political and cultural time of when it was written.
However, imo, the song works well much beyond any specifics of time, place, or circumstance, as intended, and as great songs do.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2008-07-27 01:24 by angee.
Re: The text of Gimme Shelter
Posted by:
Baboon Bro
()
Date: July 27, 2008 01:20
Gimme Shelter is about Mick banging' Anita & Keith waitin' at the parking lot.
Re: The text of Gimme Shelter
Posted by:
straycat58
()
Date: July 27, 2008 02:39
Quote
Baboon Bro
Gimme Shelter is about Mick banging' Anita & Keith waitin' at the parking lot.
..mmmh, now I get the meaning of the shots...
Re: The text of Gimme Shelter
Posted by:
Baboon Bro
()
Date: July 27, 2008 02:43
One only have to listenna Keef singin to comprehend.
Re: The text of Gimme Shelter
Posted by:
with sssoul
()
Date: July 27, 2008 10:55
>> as our friend "angee" supposes <<
... but straycat58, the meaning of "just a __ away" isn't a matter of opinion.
it's a straightforward construction, and it means "very close". it doesn't mean "futile".
and please don't trivialize the sense of the words - it's not "give me a kiss and everything turns to be ok".
they're beautifully effective words and there's nothing trivial about the track (which Keith wrote, whatever Marianne imagines)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008-07-27 19:15 by with sssoul.
... but straycat58, the meaning of "just a __ away" isn't a matter of opinion.
it's a straightforward construction, and it means "very close". it doesn't mean "futile".
and please don't trivialize the sense of the words - it's not "give me a kiss and everything turns to be ok".
they're beautifully effective words and there's nothing trivial about the track (which Keith wrote, whatever Marianne imagines)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008-07-27 19:15 by with sssoul.
Re: The text of Gimme Shelter
Posted by:
Addicted
()
Date: July 27, 2008 12:32
Quote
Addicted
I think I read in Christopher Sandford's Keith bio, that Keith sat outside the film studio in his Bentley while Mick and Anita were filming "Performance". Keith, sick with jealousy, totally heartbroken, felt what was going on, and also sent people in with messages. So, if at all "Gimme Shelter" is an anti war song, some also mean that it's about how terribly betrayed he felt, by both Mick and Anita, at that moment.
Does anyone else recall reading / hearing this story?
Actually most of "Let It Bleed" was written by Keith, inspired by this unfortunate incident.
And this was also when the drug abuse started escalating, so one can say it was sort of a cross roads in the Stones career... In an artistically good way - the "you write well when you suffer" cliché. On a personal level, it led to tragedy, scars, years of heavy addiction, the break up of "common law marriages", the cooling down of a formerly very warm and close friendship and a lot of suffering - in general.
Yes, Baboon, you got it right, too.
Here are the lyrics:
Oh, a storm is threatning
My very life today
If I dont get some shelter
Oh yeah, Im gonna fade away
War, children, its just a shot away
Its just a shot away
War, children, its just a shot away
Its 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, its just a shot away
Its just a shot away
War, children, its just a shot away
Its just a shot away
Rape, murder!
Its just a shot away
Its just a shot away
Rape, murder!
Its just a shot away
Its just a shot away
Rape, murder!
Its just a shot away
Its just a shot away
The floods is threatning
My very life today
Gimme, gimme shelter
Or Im gonna fade away
War, children, its just a shot away
Its just a shot away
Its just a shot away
Its just a shot away
Its just a shot away
I tell you love, sister, its just a kiss away
Its just a kiss away
Its just a kiss away
Its just a kiss away
Its just a kiss away
Kiss away, kiss away
Re: The text of Gimme Shelter
Posted by:
ilikemick
()
Date: July 27, 2008 21:13
Quote
AddictedQuote
Addicted
I think I read in Christopher Sandford's Keith bio, that Keith sat outside the film studio in his Bentley while Mick and Anita were filming "Performance". Keith, sick with jealousy, totally heartbroken, felt what was going on, and also sent people in with messages. So, if at all "Gimme Shelter" is an anti war song, some also mean that it's about how terribly betrayed he felt, by both Mick and Anita, at that moment.
Does anyone else recall reading / hearing this story?
Actually most of "Let It Bleed" was written by Keith, inspired by this unfortunate incident.
I don´t believe that, until Mick or Keith tell that Keith wrote the lyrics. Because that incident did not happen, according to Anita. And according to Keith, he did not know anything about it, IF it happened.
Re: The text of Gimme Shelter
Posted by:
virgil
()
Date: July 27, 2008 22:17
I don´t believe that, until Mick or Keith tell that Keith wrote the lyrics. Because that incident did not happen, according to Anita. And according to Keith, he did not know anything about it, IF it happened.[/quote]
Interesting
Interesting
Re: The text of Gimme Shelter
Posted by:
Slimharpo
()
Date: July 27, 2008 22:27
Keith has gone on record saying "Lyrics and music came together" simultanuosly for "gimme Shelter." Check the "Time is on My Side" site for stories behind the songs.
The other give away tha Keith wrote the whole song is that he preforms it with the Winos. He did that with "Connection" which he also wrote by himself.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008-07-27 22:30 by Slimharpo.
The other give away tha Keith wrote the whole song is that he preforms it with the Winos. He did that with "Connection" which he also wrote by himself.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008-07-27 22:30 by Slimharpo.
Re: The text of Gimme Shelter
Posted by:
Addicted
()
Date: July 27, 2008 22:36
Quote
ilikemickQuote
AddictedQuote
Addicted
I think I read in Christopher Sandford's Keith bio, that Keith sat outside the film studio in his Bentley while Mick and Anita were filming "Performance". Keith, sick with jealousy, totally heartbroken, felt what was going on, and also sent people in with messages. So, if at all "Gimme Shelter" is an anti war song, some also mean that it's about how terribly betrayed he felt, by both Mick and Anita, at that moment.
Does anyone else recall reading / hearing this story?
Actually most of "Let It Bleed" was written by Keith, inspired by this unfortunate incident.
I don´t believe that, until Mick or Keith tell that Keith wrote the lyrics. Because that incident did not happen, according to Anita. And according to Keith, he did not know anything about it, IF it happened.
Well, the sex scenes from "Performance" who did not make it past the clipping, was put together in a pornographic movie. It won an award in a porn festival.
So, yes, it did happen. Mick and Anita did have sex, and a lot more than was required in the movie.
There are sevaral sources on this one. Christopher Sandford's "Satisfaction" and I think I remember Tony Sanchez and a couple of others writing about this, too. Also in a Mick biography...
Re: The text of Gimme Shelter
Posted by:
angee
()
Date: July 28, 2008 00:03
From what I've read, the "incident" may well have happened.
Does anyone have more evidence that one or the other wrote the lyrics?
There's no reason either that personal and social reasons could both
have motivated the song's music and words.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008-07-28 00:05 by angee.
Does anyone have more evidence that one or the other wrote the lyrics?
There's no reason either that personal and social reasons could both
have motivated the song's music and words.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008-07-28 00:05 by angee.
Re: The text of Gimme Shelter
Posted by:
ilikemick
()
Date: July 28, 2008 09:05
Quote
angee
From what I've read, the "incident" may well have happened.
Does anyone have more evidence that one or the other wrote the lyrics?
There's no reason either that personal and social reasons could both
have motivated the song's music and words.
IF it happened, than it didn´t bother Keith, in Keith´s own words. So I don´t believe the story of the "heartbroken" Keith, who wrote all his "pain" into that song, or album.
It was the 60s, back then it was nomal that everybody slept with everybody. And when Keith says, he did not care, than i don´t see a reason, not to believe it.
I think, it is unusual for Keith to write a political song, usually Mick writes them. that´s the reason, why it is hard for me to believe, that Keith wrote the lyrics.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008-07-28 09:20 by ilikemick.
Re: The text of Gimme Shelter
Posted by:
Baboon Bro
()
Date: July 28, 2008 10:02
Funny how some people never surrender.
The lyrics can be interpreted in at least two ways,
and I'm sure Jagger had a say before it went to print.
So,"Ilikemick", ya might got a point. But just one.
The lyrics can be interpreted in at least two ways,
and I'm sure Jagger had a say before it went to print.
So,"Ilikemick", ya might got a point. But just one.
Re: The text of Gimme Shelter
Posted by:
straycat58
()
Date: July 28, 2008 11:05
Explanations from sssoul and angee were exhaustive and understood and I'm very grateful for their help.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2010-08-14 18:09 by straycat58.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2010-08-14 18:09 by straycat58.
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