@@lewashby8662What? Where'd you here that from? If you look at interviews with Mick Jagger, he'd say it was a response to the turmoil going on around the world and explicitly mentions the Vietnam War. Keith Richards said that the creation of the song was prompted by watching people seeking cover from a rainstorm in London, with them evolving the lyrics to reflect how they were viewing the world at the time.
Merry Clayton gave a piece of her soul to the song, that's all you need to know. A generations vibe captured within a timeless song. The universe got together on this.
Check out "Dylan's Gospel" by The Brothers & The Sisters. Merry Clayton does a version of "All Along the Watchtower" that is equal to, if not better than the Hendrix masterpiece.
She was pregnant when she sang having been dragged out of bed in the middle of the night to do a session with a band she'd never heard of and.......she owned it.
Approx 2:40 - 3:05 on the third "rape murder" the way Merry Clayton's voice breaks into a shriek gives me chills every time. You can even hear Jagger acknowledge it in the background. 🙏🏾🔥
She was pregnant at the time this was recorded. She has talked about the fact that shortly after leaving the studio, she miscarried. The raw emotion in her voice makes me wonder if she was in pain and fighting through it during the song. Her voice gives me chills every time I hear this song.
True. She told them at the time that she wanted to do another take because her voice cracked. Mick and Keith said, "No, no we love the crack!! leave it in there!"
The female counterpoint was called into the studio early in the morning - she was still in her bathrobe, with her hair up in curlers. She was handed the lyrics which, as you saw, were very dark, and told to let 'er rip. You can hear her voice cracking with emotion as she gave it everything she had. One of the defining moments of Rock 'n Roll, and this is one of the best anti-war songs of the Vietnam era.
"Love, children, is just a kiss away, it's just a kiss away." The real highlight of this song is Mary Clayton doing the high vocals. The first time I heard that back in the 60s she just blew my mind. I was 18 the year that album came out. I'm 69 now. I can tell all you young people that it does get better over the years. Keep listening to rock and roll.
I think I was ripped on acid when I first heard this tune --- It was great then and it is great now. Few people in the history of the world are or were as talented as these guys. And that's saying a lot.
@@samlewis7878 The Greatest Rock & Roll Band in the World, the Rolling Stones. Keith Richards was my idol and I went on to play in a band for 10 years and we did a lot of Stones songs. I'm sure I was high on something back then, I tried them all. Here's to "Gimme Shelter."
@@ericschulze5641, She was pregnant at the time plus it was in the middle of the night, and this was done in one take, which is why her voice cracks from not warming up, after her voice cracks you can hear Mick Jagger saying “Woah” which he asked to keep in. They finished it the same morning
Hey, Trump said back in 2011 that the pres would start a war with Iran before the election as his only way to stay in office. Self-fulfilling prophecy.
@Kevin Burrow I want no part of any more wars in the Middle East. Assassinating a foreign general could certainly trigger a war. Imagine the US response should that have happened in reverse.
@Kevin Burrow I'm sure there were many levels before that too. It's an ongoing back-and-forth, but murdering high-ranking government officials in peace time is dangerous business.
You seem to have missed the fact this song rocks balls out and has transcendent vocals. A true masterpiece. One of the greatest rock sings of all time.
Yeah you couldn't vote until you were 21 but you could be drafted at 18. The 26th amendment was proposed March 23, 1971 and ratified more quickly than any other constitutional amendment in the history of the United States on July 1, 1971.
That clipped semitone at the top of Merry Clayton's register at 4:23 does more to illustrate the futility of war than listening to hours of politicians rhetoric. A stone cold classic. Thanks for reminding me how good this track is.
I just want to mention the way the soldiers were treated like crap when they came back from fighting a war no one thought we should be in. Thank you for your service!
And after the war was over, Robert McNamara said the was was "a mistake". After 56,000 American lives were lost, the uncounted maimed and mentally damaged by the fighting. And only God knows how many Vietnamese died.
Will Dwyer That’s why so many soldiers suffered from PTSD before the psychiatric medical community recognized it as a problem in Vets. In addition the ready supply of illegal drugs available during the Vietnam war (Heroine, marijuana).
yeah, poor soldiers treated badly for American politicians .. but thats a drop in the ocean compared to what they did... what about the millions of vietnamese napalmed, killed and abused ? only a few years ago USA established relations with Vietnam - and no apology or compensation of course!
Lots of kids 14, 15 and some younger in World War One. Before that there were drummer boys in the Civil War. Too many children in wars through history, and today in some places.
Until July 1, 1971 the voting age in the United States was 21. Therefore anyone who was drafted younger than 21 prior to that date was not allowed to vote for or against the politicians who sent them off to war.
Another HEAVY song. One of the best songs ever....there is nothing that could improve on it...not the content, the playing, the singing....and Merry Clayton....shit...for my money one of the best female vocal performances ever committed to tape. Phenomenal!,
If that 3rd repeat of Merry Clayton's "Rape -- Murder" doesn't stop you in your tracks you have a head(or ears) full of sawdust. That note just rips right through me.
Female singer Merry Clayton lost her baby that night from a miscarriage... "Clayton sang with such emotional force that her voice cracked. ("I was just grateful that the crack was in tune," she told Gross.) In the isolated vocal track above, you can hear the others in the studio shouting in amazement. Despite giving what would become the most famous performance of her career, it turned out to be a tragic night for Clayton. Shortly after leaving the studio, she lost her baby in a miscarriage. It has generally been assumed that the stress from the emotional intensity of her performance and the lateness of the hour caused the miscarriage.
About Vietnam. The earth moving vocal performance accompanying Mick is Merry Clayton. It's a legendary performance. She was called out of bed in the middle of the night to provide vocals for the track. She was in curlers and pregnant. She sadly had a miscarriage the next day, some speculate from the stressful vocals of this recording session.
Her name - Merry Clayton and you can hear Mick yell "woo" when she screams that note. She had a miscarriage a month or two after the song was recorded. Talk about putting all your heart and soul into a song. Mick had to convince her to sing because she was not comfortable with the lyrics. He explained it was to describe the pain someone who had suffered such a circumstance and she then agreed to sign. She was amazing on so many other tracks of different artists. She is still living and has been sampled in various songs, most notably Watch for the Hook by Cool Breeze featuring Goodie Mob and Outkast.
Or a false flag away or a lie away (as in the case of the Gulf of Tonkin "incident"). *All* wars are fought under false pretenses for the money-issuing banksters.
Everyday, you came home from school, turned on the TV, watched the news about how many American soldiers were killed that day, it was a war that consumed everyone. American kids were heartbroken that they might be sent over to die in a war conducted by fools and started by the US as a false flag operation in the Golf of Tonkin in the first place. A horrible war!
Tell that to the people who were left to rot in that communist hell hole. I can see the left-wing indoctrination has done its job the last 40 years. Watch the helicopters on the roof of the embassy in Hanoi. As thousands of Vietnamese tried to get out of their country !
@@charlest.velten6983 That's right, stand up for your American way and feel sorry for the rotting corpses, all the while the US leadership were blanket bombing day in and day out, killing hundreds of thousands innocent people along with the enemy soldiers, who were hiding underground the whole time. That's right, you weren't born then. So how would you know! US propaganda controlled your thinking and ever since you've been programmed.
@@charlest.velten6983 - It is you with whom the indoctrination has taken full hold. Until you realize that the left vs right paradigm is a false construction and employment of the Hegelian Dialectic, you will be just another manipulatable sheeple. Do some real research, not using the false history books and false media/government narratives.
The Stones’ first UK hit was ‘Not Fade Away’ about love not fading. 1963 (song written by Buddy Holly in 1958)The year of this song, 1969, was the Altamont music concert. A film of the Stones and the concert is titled ‘Gimme Shelter.’ Considered basically the end of ‘The Summer of Love.’ Although the My Lai massacre was still internal US Army secrets at this time, people knew how hellacious Viet Nam was, the massacres and slaughters and rapes and murders. ML King killed, R Kennedy killed, riots around the US.
@@tommcfadden5232 - yes, they started recording her tracks about 11 pm and finished about 4 am. She worked very hard and performed well for 1 night's work.
The line about "war children" isn't just about soldiers, it's about the impact of war on children, whether in Vietnam or Syria or Afghanistan. Way more civilians die in modern wars than soldiers.
the song refers to the violence of 1968 and 1969 in both Vietnam and in America in general. The stones toured the states in 1969 and the last concert on the tour was at the Altamonte speedway in California during that concert ,the hell's angels stabbed a man named Meridith hunter whom they say had pulled a gun out and was aiming to shoot Mick Jagger on stage..hence gimme shelter is also a documentary that still might be on you tube.
GREAT song by The Stones! War is just a shot away...one person overreacting can start a whole war between nations leading to thousands and thousands of deaths! Rape and murder are just one act of violence away...but love is just one kiss (or act of peace/love) away. Powerfully sung by both Mick and the backup who nearly steals the song, and fantastic, chaotic yet drivingly catchy guitar & music! Nice reaction, India! 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 ❤️✌🏻✌🏻❤️
You have to understand that at the time of this song there was a draft for the military in this country. At the age of 18 if you were male your name went into a lottery pool. Each day of the year was given a number from 1 to 365. The first was televised live on TV, and balls were pulled from a spinning basket(December 17, 305!). Usually those 200 and below had to worry about being drafted and inducted into the military. At the time the war in Vietnam was raging and young people in this country didn't want to fight and die in an undeclared war. In this country the civil rights movement was also a war being waged, and people of color were marching in the streets protesting the blatant and covert institutionalized racism in this country. At the time there was no women's rights movement, no LGBTQ movement. Those would come later. The 1960's were a violent decade. The civil rights movement began in the fifties, but it reach its violent peak in the 60's. In 1963 John F. Kennedy was murdered in Dallas. In March of 1968 the great Martin Luther King was murdered. In June of 1968 the future president of this country Bobby Kennedy was murdered. Malcom X had been murdered in 1965. 1965 was also the year of the Watts Riots, which was a reaction to discrimination and police brutality. It raged for 7 days and much of Watts was burned to the ground, and most retail stores were looted. In 1968 there were worldwide protests against the Vietnam war and violence across Europe, Asia and Africa. In Northern Ireland a separatist movement was marked by British military intervening and many were killed. In 1968 in many communist countries across Europe there were violent protests against the lack of free speech, and the then Soviet Union rapidly and violently crushed much of it. In 1967 the collective army of almost the entire Arab world massed on the surrounding boarders of Israel. When Israel realized what was happening they attacked Egypt and the other Arab countries and destroyed their armies in 7 days. As a protest against that in 1972 a group of Arab terrorists kidnapped and killed the entire Israeli Olympic team. The terrorists were later killed. In May of 1968 a massive student protest occurred in France. Hundreds of students were arrested, and the country virtually shut down. Two years later in 1970 student at Kent State University were shot down by National Guardsmen during a large student protest. These were violent times, and Woodstock was in many ways a protest against war and world wide violence. This song was released in 1969, the year of Woodstock, and it was a reaction to and a reflection of the times.
@@JonJaeden In the first draft my friend was born December 17th, I the 18th. His draft number came up first as 305. Mine came up a scary 10 minutes later...289. Pass the joint!
I have seen the Stones over 30 times in concert . I am 60 yrs old and Pretty Lady They BRING IT ALL TO THE TABLE and leave it there 4ever.. Love your reactions
Love Love this song. You can't mistake Keith Richards' playing on this one. When this song first came out I could not get it out of my head! This was after the Kennedy's and MLK were killed and it picked up the fear gripping our nation. It was the late 1960's. Gimme Shelter and Under My Thumb two kick butt songs!
God bless Merry Clayton who sang her part SO strong. Damn. Right to my heart like a crying mother who found out her child's been drafted into Vietnam. All boys age 18 are requited to sign up by Federal Law into the Selective Service in case of war.
@Kevin Burrow , the existence of the military industrial complex is supported by real evidence, the bullshit assertions the US government make are nothing but unsubstantiated propaganda meant to sell gullible idiots a war. What kind of stupid bullshit are going to reply with, more conspiracy theory shit? You're the one who believes fairy tales, don't forget that.
You could be a soldier at 18 and die but couldn't vote until you were 21, during the Vietnam War conflict.That changed in 1988, lowering the voting age to 18.
You're not gonna get to the heart of the Stones by analyzing the lyrics. I LOVE the Stones. I know a lot of the lyrics but I could care less about them. It is about the the music, the vibe, the style & attitude in Mick's singing--the whole thing. It is not about the individual droplets of water, it is about the wave.
the song, according to the lead singer mick Jagger, was written and recorded as a reaction to the times. Back then the world was in turmoil of the Kennedy assisnation and the Vietnam war. Times were very tense and it would literally have taken one "shot" to start WW3. All in all a great song.
There's nothing more fun to me than watching someone discover music I grew up on. Nice reaction. Glad I subscribed to you, I watched you a lot last year, I don't know what took me so long lol
In a dark room, headphones on and loud...then you really experience this song. Oh, did I mention I dropped two purple microdots beforehand? PS. Remember what era this song was written in before you try to decipher the lyrics...then decipher them again according to this age.
I was born in 62, so the Vietnam war was on tv. Everyday, reports of deaths. Destruction . Then in the 70's, it ended and I was learning oh, this thing that has been going on since i was born can end. When the US went to Afghanistan, i immediately said we will be there a min of 20 yrs. I learned this all on TV as a kid.
This was released during the Vietnam War and was about lives being on the line everyday in Vietnam. It was also about the unpopularity, at home, of the war. There was violence here at home and on the battlefield and there were atrocities on both sides. Merry Clayton , who primarily sang Gospel, killed the vocals on this song. Epic performance on her part.
She was called in the middle of the night to come to the studio showed up in her curlers scarf and eight months pregnant when she recorded this loved ur analysis of the song!
Wow.. I've heard this song many times in my life and never realized the context of the song.. thank you for taking me on a trip and lesson, has a completely new meaning to me as the Stones greatest song ! 🙏🏽
Hi India! You should consider reacting to some U2 and Radiohead. I am always searching for reactions to those 2 bands but not many people include them. Since you had such a reaction to the Cranberries "Zombie" you might really enjoy reacting to U2's live version of "Blood Sunday" from the Rattle and the Hum documentary of their Joshua Tree tour. "Bloody Sunday" is about the Troubles in Ireland as well. Also, people have reacted to U2's appearance at Live Aid without it getting struck and that is also a great performance.
The called the lady at last minute at night to do the vocals. "Honey, Stones need some vocals. Now. We will send a car..." Merry Clayton says to her family...hold my beer I'll be back in a few...😊
Wrong she was over 7 months pregnant. He husband took the call it was almost midnight. She didn't want o do it. her husband told her - These boys - Rollings Stone are from England and I think you need to go. She went in PJ's and Curlers. One toke for her. They Loved Her. She lost the baby. Doesn't blame it on the session. See - 40 Feet From Stardom
Reading a book on the Vietnam War now. When the Stones wrote this, the cut-off age for soldiers was 19. And Keith Richards talked about how he noticed how many kids were being drafted and were gone after the band toured the States.
The draft age was 18. If you were drafted at the time it was almost guaranteed you went 'nam. They're saying War is just a shot away but Love is just a kiss away. It doesn't get much plainer than that. This is my favorite Stones song. Great stuff.
an Epic song from the Stones in their PRIME !! guitarist Keith Richards, about how he wrote it;; “It was just a terrible fucking day,” he recalls in his memoir, Life, “this incredible storm over London. So I got into that mode - looking at all these people… running like hell.” , so I began singing,,,,,, ‘Oh, a storm is threatening, my very life today.’ Sounded good. I continued to strum, added another line: ‘If I don’t get some shelter, oh yeah, I’m gonna fade away…’
See the documentary "20 Feet From Stardom" and you see Mary Clayton and Mick Jagger talk about her vocal on this song. You also get to hear her amazing and powerful vocals without the instruments.
Children is mankind and none of us are immune to war. My first funeral was for my neighbors son in 1971. It was a closed coffin affair. I used to play "War" with the neighborhood kids throughout the neighborhood but not after I saw his Mom crying at the back porch watching us. War affected me then and while I can understand the necessity of it at times, I abhor the free use of it.
I agree. Lyrically heavy. Many years I've heard this song; and as a kid always belted out what "I thought were the lyrics". ... and man....such heavy lyrics about war. Vietnam war. Lots of soul in this Stones song. Passionate!!
When a person's life is threatened, they seek shelter...some in violence, others in love. And any of us is always just one action away from violence or from love.
Gimme Shelter is bigger than the time in which it was written. It apocalyptic, the human condition towards war and violence. It was in written 50 years ago, but it is as relevant then as now. And forever.
Musical note: If you listen carefully, at 4:24 in this video, just after Mary's voice cracks on the last, "Rape! Murder!", you can hear Mick in the background losing his mind. She was amazing in this, and they new it when they recorded it.
One of the most iconic Vietnam era anti-war songs ever made.
you nailed that!!
It's about waiting for a bus
It's really more about heroin and loneliness, but it fits that theme as well.
It is a protest about the social ills of the day, Vietnam War, race riots, serial killer Charles Manson etc.
@@lewashby8662What? Where'd you here that from? If you look at interviews with Mick Jagger, he'd say it was a response to the turmoil going on around the world and explicitly mentions the Vietnam War. Keith Richards said that the creation of the song was prompted by watching people seeking cover from a rainstorm in London, with them evolving the lyrics to reflect how they were viewing the world at the time.
Merry Clayton gave a piece of her soul to the song, that's all you need to know. A generations vibe captured within a timeless song. The universe got together on this.
Mary Clayton is awesome on this song...
She was spectacular.
Her voice is haunting.
Merry Clayton vaulting this song with her soulful voice.
Check out "Dylan's Gospel" by The Brothers & The Sisters. Merry Clayton does a version of "All Along the Watchtower" that is equal to, if not better than the Hendrix masterpiece.
She was pregnant when she sang having been dragged out of bed in the middle of the night to do a session with a band she'd never heard of and.......she owned it.
Approx 2:40 - 3:05 on the third "rape murder" the way Merry Clayton's voice breaks into a shriek gives me chills every time. You can even hear Jagger acknowledge it in the background.
🙏🏾🔥
She was pregnant at the time this was recorded. She has talked about the fact that shortly after leaving the studio, she miscarried. The raw emotion in her voice makes me wonder if she was in pain and fighting through it during the song. Her voice gives me chills every time I hear this song.
True. She told them at the time that she wanted to do another take because her voice cracked. Mick and Keith said, "No, no we love the crack!! leave it in there!"
@@SarahHappyPanda Oh how sad. I had no idea this happened. No wonder her vocals are so very powerful
I realize Im quite off topic but does anybody know a good site to watch newly released series online?
@Seth Reese Flixportal :D
there is a strange phenomenon at my house when I listen to the Stones my neighbors listen as well :)
jim beam that’s funny. Mine do as well. 😎
well it said on the back of the album to play loud
I'd be one happy neighbor
jim beam This album should be played loud. That’s a rule. Look at the liner notes.
I hear ya. Not only did my neighbors listen when I did. But occasionally, the cops would come knocking to hear as well. Awww. The 70s.
The female counterpoint was called into the studio early in the morning - she was still in her bathrobe, with her hair up in curlers. She was handed the lyrics which, as you saw, were very dark, and told to let 'er rip. You can hear her voice cracking with emotion as she gave it everything she had. One of the defining moments of Rock 'n Roll, and this is one of the best anti-war songs of the Vietnam era.
Soooo true💙☮🙏🔥
"Love, children, is just a kiss away, it's just a kiss away." The real highlight of this song is Mary Clayton doing the high vocals. The first time I heard that back in the 60s she just blew my mind. I was 18 the year that album came out. I'm 69 now. I can tell all you young people that it does get better over the years. Keep listening to rock and roll.
I was 15 when I heard this song, a biased Beatles fan. Mary Clayton, ironically, let the Stones into my life.
I think I was ripped on acid when I first heard this tune --- It was great then and it is great now. Few people in the history of the world are or were as talented as these guys. And that's saying a lot.
@@samlewis7878 The Greatest Rock & Roll Band in the World, the Rolling Stones. Keith Richards was my idol and I went on to play in a band for 10 years and we did a lot of Stones songs. I'm sure I was high on something back then, I tried them all. Here's to "Gimme Shelter."
She missed carriages recording this
Merry Clayton's vocal in this song is amazing. She pushed her voice to the limit.
I have never heard anyone without electrical enhancement do something like this I'm sure the equipment & mixing helped but !!!!!!!????? Unreal
@@ericschulze5641, She was pregnant at the time plus it was in the middle of the night, and this was done in one take, which is why her voice cracks from not warming up, after her voice cracks you can hear Mick Jagger saying “Woah” which he asked to keep in. They finished it the same morning
When I hear Merry Clayton I drop down and do the Wayne's World 'we're not worthy, we're not worthy'
"Let's see what they bring to the table"...Maam the table's been brought...and etched upon it is carved the BEST SONG ever made
@@aoleon3908 bought me some tickets for the Stones in a few months just yesterday...as the presale sold out in less than an hour for a stadium
@@aoleon3908 I will thanks...it cost me my unborn first child so I am going to enjoy every second!
@Barbara Witchey I am keeping the tickets to the next month schedule...even if it means next year....love my Stones
@Barbara Witchey you as well Barbarino! ROCK ON
A history lesson. Study history or we're doomed to repeat it. and repeat it and repeat it.
Just look at what's going on today.
yes. here we are again. :`(
Hey, Trump said back in 2011 that the pres would start a war with Iran before the election as his only way to stay in office. Self-fulfilling prophecy.
@Kevin Burrow I want no part of any more wars in the Middle East. Assassinating a foreign general could certainly trigger a war. Imagine the US response should that have happened in reverse.
@Kevin Burrow So, if Iran retaliates and murders the drone pilot (or those responsible for requesting the drone hit), you're fine with that?
@Kevin Burrow I'm sure there were many levels before that too. It's an ongoing back-and-forth, but murdering high-ranking government officials in peace time is dangerous business.
This song doesn't get old. Wow, what a wicked groove!
War is just a shot away" it's that simple
" Love is just a kiss away"
Pretty straightforward
Merry Clayton's vocals on this is one of the best things ever sent down from heaven.
The album was released in 1969 during the height of the Viet Nam conflict.
It's just a shot away .....
@TheGooners11 Interesting. But I was referring to the entire album, not just the song.
You seem to have missed the fact this song rocks balls out and has transcendent vocals. A true masterpiece. One of the greatest rock sings of all time.
When the draft was in effect, you were drafted at18. I certainly was. This album means a lot to us old hippies.
Yeah you couldn't vote until you were 21 but you could be drafted at 18. The 26th amendment was proposed March 23, 1971 and ratified more quickly than any other constitutional amendment in the history of the United States on July 1, 1971.
That clipped semitone at the top of Merry Clayton's register at 4:23 does more to illustrate the futility of war than listening to hours of politicians rhetoric. A stone cold classic. Thanks for reminding me how good this track is.
The South Vietnamese thank you.
I just want to mention the way the soldiers were treated like crap when they came back from fighting a war no one thought we should be in. Thank you for your service!
We shouldn't have been there. I lost friends for what?😠
That's a myth concocted by the Nixon administration to discredit anti-war protesters.
And after the war was over, Robert McNamara said the was was "a mistake". After 56,000 American lives were lost, the uncounted maimed and mentally damaged by the fighting. And only God knows how many Vietnamese died.
Will Dwyer That’s why so many soldiers suffered from PTSD before the psychiatric medical community recognized it as a problem in Vets. In addition the ready supply of illegal drugs available during the Vietnam war (Heroine, marijuana).
yeah, poor soldiers treated badly for American politicians .. but thats a drop in the ocean compared to what they did... what about the millions of vietnamese napalmed, killed and abused ? only a few years ago USA established relations with Vietnam - and no apology or compensation of course!
This song is ther masterpiece.
oh but they have so many
For me, Sympathy for the Devil is their master piece
17 to join, 18 to Vietnam. My uncle lied and fought in Korea. He turned 18 the week he came back.
I won the draft lottery in 69 at 18, went in at 19, was in Vietnam at 21.
Lots of kids 14, 15 and some younger in World War One. Before that there were drummer boys in the Civil War. Too many children in wars through history, and today in some places.
@@TheZodiacz Effectively all were male, showing just how disposable society has always viewed all males.
Until July 1, 1971 the voting age in the United States was 21. Therefore anyone who was drafted younger than 21 prior to that date was not allowed to vote for or against the politicians who sent them off to war.
There was a saying in Barry's eve of destruction "Old enough to kill but not for voting"
India REAAAAAACTS is BACK!! Much love to you gorgeous girl
I was never a Stones gal, but this was always one of my favorite songs of theirs.
Another HEAVY song. One of the best songs ever....there is nothing that could improve on it...not the content, the playing, the singing....and Merry Clayton....shit...for my money one of the best female vocal performances ever committed to tape. Phenomenal!,
Merry Clayton’s voice is perfection 🙌😢
Just a random comment but I love your glowy ghost earrings!
If that 3rd repeat of Merry Clayton's "Rape -- Murder" doesn't stop you in your tracks you have a head(or ears) full of sawdust. That note just rips right through me.
Female singer Merry Clayton lost her baby that night from a miscarriage... "Clayton sang with such emotional force that her voice cracked. ("I was just grateful that the crack was in tune," she told Gross.) In the isolated vocal track above, you can hear the others in the studio shouting in amazement. Despite giving what would become the most famous performance of her career, it turned out to be a tragic night for Clayton. Shortly after leaving the studio, she lost her baby in a miscarriage. It has generally been assumed that the stress from the emotional intensity of her performance and the lateness of the hour caused the miscarriage.
Merry Clayton was a hell of a solo artist. Listen to her cover of Neil Young's Southern Man.
She literally makes this song. It's almost sickening thinking of someone else singing it lol.
@mark totton True! I would have expected her to be a tad more emotional when detailing the story. Amazing documentary btw.
She got paid union scale for her vocal.
A violent song, a violent reaction to violent times. And as appropriate today as then.
Best Rolling Stones song imo
About Vietnam. The earth moving vocal performance accompanying Mick is Merry Clayton. It's a legendary performance. She was called out of bed in the middle of the night to provide vocals for the track. She was in curlers and pregnant. She sadly had a miscarriage the next day, some speculate from the stressful vocals of this recording session.
God bless Merry Clayton. So amazing. One of the best female recordings of all time to date. I didn't know that about her. Wow.
I knew all of that except the miscarriage part...never heard that
Omg never knew that...how sad
Her name - Merry Clayton and you can hear Mick yell "woo" when she screams that note. She had a miscarriage a month or two after the song was recorded. Talk about putting all your heart and soul into a song. Mick had to convince her to sing because she was not comfortable with the lyrics. He explained it was to describe the pain someone who had suffered such a circumstance and she then agreed to sign. She was amazing on so many other tracks of different artists. She is still living and has been sampled in various songs, most notably Watch for the Hook by Cool Breeze featuring Goodie Mob and Outkast.
"War, children, is just a shot away".
Ain't that the truth?
Or a false flag away or a lie away (as in the case of the Gulf of Tonkin "incident"). *All* wars are fought under false pretenses for the money-issuing banksters.
i tried to understand rock lyrics for 5 decades, now google can do it for me in 10 seconds
Everyday, you came home from school, turned on the TV, watched the news about how many American soldiers were killed that day, it was a war that consumed everyone. American kids were heartbroken that they might be sent over to die in a war conducted by fools and started by the US as a false flag operation in the Golf of Tonkin in the first place. A horrible war!
Tell that to the people who were left to rot in that communist hell hole. I can see the left-wing indoctrination has done its job the last 40 years. Watch the helicopters on the roof of the embassy in Hanoi. As thousands of Vietnamese tried to get out of their country !
Favorite 💖 Classic
@@charlest.velten6983 That's right, stand up for your American way and feel sorry for the rotting corpses, all the while the US leadership were blanket bombing day in and day out, killing hundreds of thousands innocent people along with the enemy soldiers, who were hiding underground the whole time. That's right, you weren't born then. So how would you know! US propaganda controlled your thinking and ever since you've been programmed.
@@charlest.velten6983 - It is you with whom the indoctrination has taken full hold. Until you realize that the left vs right paradigm is a false construction and employment of the Hegelian Dialectic, you will be just another manipulatable sheeple. Do some real research, not using the false history books and false media/government narratives.
The Stones’ first UK hit was ‘Not Fade Away’ about love not fading. 1963 (song written by Buddy Holly in 1958)The year of this song, 1969, was the Altamont music concert. A film of the Stones and the concert is titled ‘Gimme Shelter.’ Considered basically the end of ‘The Summer of Love.’
Although the My Lai massacre was still internal US Army secrets at this time, people knew how hellacious Viet Nam was, the massacres and slaughters and rapes and murders. ML King killed, R Kennedy killed, riots around the US.
The Stones are bad ass! Still to this day.
Song still is relevant! I have to always listen to this more than once. The BEST
Whenever I hear this song I immediately envision vietnam, helicopters, troops with sleeveless BDUs, oldskool m16, etc.
Fun fact, Merry Clayton was very pregnant and wearing a Chanel scarf when she sang backing vocals on this track. Her voice cracking still gets me.
Lester Nester yes very true and she did it in one take
Lester Nester sadly she miscarried shortly after providing the vocals to this song.
@@tommcfadden5232 - yes, they started recording her tracks about 11 pm and finished about 4 am. She worked very hard and performed well for 1 night's work.
The line about "war children" isn't just about soldiers, it's about the impact of war on children, whether in Vietnam or Syria or Afghanistan. Way more civilians die in modern wars than soldiers.
War children is a reference to what the Stones and people born during and after WW2 are.
It's not "war children", it's "war, children". As in he's addressing the children and talking about war being just a shot away.
Statistically, 3x as many.
I always thought the children was just like saying "people" like listen up people, war is just a shot away.
Exactly
Precisely
the song refers to the violence of 1968 and 1969 in both Vietnam and in America in general. The stones toured the states in 1969 and the last concert on the tour was at the Altamonte speedway in California during that concert ,the hell's angels stabbed a man named Meridith hunter whom they say had pulled a gun out and was aiming to shoot Mick Jagger on stage..hence gimme shelter is also a documentary that still might be on you tube.
You can't go wrong with the Rolling Stones!! Decades of great music!! Try Can you hear me knocking! Great song too
Never an obsolete message Mr President. War really is just a shot away !
I've always loved Charlie Watts' drums on this song-those staggered and emphasized beats really keep the tension tight in this song.
GREAT song by The Stones! War is just a shot away...one person overreacting can start a whole war between nations leading to thousands and thousands of deaths! Rape and murder are just one act of violence away...but love is just one kiss (or act of peace/love) away. Powerfully sung by both Mick and the backup who nearly steals the song, and fantastic, chaotic yet drivingly catchy guitar & music! Nice reaction, India! 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 ❤️✌🏻✌🏻❤️
You have to understand that at the time of this song there was a draft for the military in this country. At the age of 18 if you were male your name went into a lottery pool. Each day of the year was given a number from 1 to 365. The first was televised live on TV, and balls were pulled from a spinning basket(December 17, 305!). Usually those 200 and below had to worry about being drafted and inducted into the military. At the time the war in Vietnam was raging and young people in this country didn't want to fight and die in an undeclared war. In this country the civil rights movement was also a war being waged, and people of color were marching in the streets protesting the blatant and covert institutionalized racism in this country. At the time there was no women's rights movement, no LGBTQ movement. Those would come later.
The 1960's were a violent decade. The civil rights movement began in the fifties, but it reach its violent peak in the 60's. In 1963 John F. Kennedy was murdered in Dallas. In March of 1968 the great Martin Luther King was murdered. In June of 1968 the future president of this country Bobby Kennedy was murdered. Malcom X had been murdered in 1965. 1965 was also the year of the Watts Riots, which was a reaction to discrimination and police brutality. It raged for 7 days and much of Watts was burned to the ground, and most retail stores were looted. In 1968 there were worldwide protests against the Vietnam war and violence across Europe, Asia and Africa. In Northern Ireland a separatist movement was marked by British military intervening and many were killed. In 1968 in many communist countries across Europe there were violent protests against the lack of free speech, and the then Soviet Union rapidly and violently crushed much of it. In 1967 the collective army of almost the entire Arab world massed on the surrounding boarders of Israel. When Israel realized what was happening they attacked Egypt and the other Arab countries and destroyed their armies in 7 days. As a protest against that in 1972 a group of Arab terrorists kidnapped and killed the entire Israeli Olympic team. The terrorists were later killed. In May of 1968 a massive student protest occurred in France. Hundreds of students were arrested, and the country virtually shut down. Two years later in 1970 student at Kent State University were shot down by National Guardsmen during a large student protest. These were violent times, and Woodstock was in many ways a protest against war and world wide violence. This song was released in 1969, the year of Woodstock, and it was a reaction to and a reflection of the times.
Draft number 300 ... didn't need my college deferment anymore.
@@JonJaeden In the first draft my friend was born December 17th, I the 18th. His draft number came up first as 305. Mine came up a scary 10 minutes later...289. Pass the joint!
It's an anti-war song. Remember this came out in the early 70's
1969.
Can you hear me knockin is a great stones song too.
I have seen the Stones over 30 times in concert . I am 60 yrs old and Pretty Lady They BRING IT ALL TO THE TABLE and leave it there 4ever.. Love your reactions
Eighteen. EIGHTEEN. They can march you off to war when you're Eighteen.
The have to get you young enough to be willing to do it.
18, or 17 with parental consent. We send children off to fight wars because you can't convince a rational adult to do it.
Rolling Stones "Brown Sugar"
Love Love this song. You can't mistake Keith Richards' playing on this one. When this song first came out I could not get it out of my head! This was after the Kennedy's and MLK were killed and it picked up the fear gripping our nation. It was the late 1960's. Gimme Shelter and Under My Thumb two kick butt songs!
Under My Thumb was mid 60s tho', but yeah great songs.
Why is your sentence broken up like that?
It's hard to read and makes me cry.
Do us all a favor and proof-read your shit
BEFORE you hit !
@@aiden_macleod I've read far worse on TH-cam!
They should have traded for Jimmy Page.
@@williamjordan5554 I don't think Plant would have taken too kindly to that.
God bless Merry Clayton who sang her part SO strong. Damn. Right to my heart like a crying mother who found out her child's been drafted into Vietnam. All boys age 18 are requited to sign up by Federal Law into the Selective Service in case of war.
Yes my love 51 years ago, could be today☮🙏🔥
Today this song is ringing true sadly. War.........it's just a shot away.
...just a drone-strike away
@Kevin Burrow , the existence of the military industrial complex is supported by real evidence, the bullshit assertions the US government make are nothing but unsubstantiated propaganda meant to sell gullible idiots a war.
What kind of stupid bullshit are going to reply with, more conspiracy theory shit? You're the one who believes fairy tales, don't forget that.
And Iran shot down a Ukranian plane.
Classic Stones ... ... 🖤 🇬🇧 threatening my very life today ( 2020 ) Just a Shot away 🖤 War Children is just shot away 🎶🎵 🇺🇸 🇫🇷 🇳🇱 🇭🇳
This was the group that opened my eyes to all sorts things.
Even the devil. #sympathyforthedevil
Whoa chilrey!!! Is how Mick says "War Children!" This is the ultimate Stones song out of a brilliant catalog.
Thanks for breaking that down for me ,never heard itl like that love the group and the song
You could be a soldier at 18 and die but couldn't vote until you were 21, during the Vietnam War conflict.That changed in 1988, lowering the voting age to 18.
1970, in the US.
You're not gonna get to the heart of the Stones by analyzing the lyrics. I LOVE the Stones. I know a lot of the lyrics but I could care less about them. It is about the the music, the vibe, the style & attitude in Mick's singing--the whole thing. It is not about the individual droplets of water, it is about the wave.
What a great analogy
@@kentishmale1969 Thanks, but I stole it..;0)
@@burningmarl5664 well at least youre honest, and it is a great analogy so you stole well.. ;)
@@kentishmale1969 Thank you, Keef!
the song, according to the lead singer mick Jagger, was written and recorded as a reaction to the times. Back then the world was in turmoil of the Kennedy assisnation and the Vietnam war. Times were very tense and it would literally have taken one "shot" to start WW3. All in all a great song.
A timely reaction. Such a strong song.
There's nothing more fun to me than watching someone discover music I grew up on. Nice reaction. Glad I subscribed to you, I watched you a lot last year, I don't know what took me so long lol
In a dark room, headphones on and loud...then you really experience this song. Oh, did I mention I dropped two purple microdots beforehand?
PS. Remember what era this song was written in before you try to decipher the lyrics...then decipher them again according to this age.
India you really feel the music it's around you, it's in control. Nice job.
The Stones are one of the all time greats! They have so much emotion, depth and feeling in their music.
I was born in 62, so the Vietnam war was on tv. Everyday, reports of deaths. Destruction . Then in the 70's, it ended and I was learning oh, this thing that has been going on since i was born can end. When the US went to Afghanistan, i immediately said we will be there a min of 20 yrs. I learned this all on TV as a kid.
This was released during the Vietnam War and was about lives being on the line everyday in Vietnam. It was also about the unpopularity, at home, of the war. There was violence here at home and on the battlefield and there were atrocities on both sides. Merry Clayton , who primarily sang Gospel, killed the vocals on this song. Epic performance on her part.
I love this song since 1989....(i was 14). Thanks From Rio Brazil 😘😘🤩😍
Love the Stones ! Were still touring in 2019. You may like Heart Breaker or Tumbling Dice...sooo many great Stones tunes.
I saw them in '89 and I thought then that it might be the last time they toured. Boy was I wrong!
50 plus years career and they still haven't outsold the Beatles. How long does it take?
@@williamjordan5554 2 more years and its 60 years, its quite remarkable really.
Thanks India. Was hoping you'd play some Stones - my favourite band.
She was called in the middle of the night to come to the studio showed up in her curlers scarf and eight months pregnant when she recorded this loved ur analysis of the song!
You hear that the flower power of the 60s is over.
another great song on this album is Love In Vain (Robert Johnson cover).
Wow.. I've heard this song many times in my life and never realized the context of the song.. thank you for taking me on a trip and lesson, has a completely new meaning to me as the Stones greatest song ! 🙏🏽
One of the greatest 1960's songs ever.
The average age of a combat soldier in Vietnam was 19. Look for a song 19 destruction. Luv ya baby!
Hi India! You should consider reacting to some U2 and Radiohead. I am always searching for reactions to those 2 bands but not many people include them. Since you had such a reaction to the Cranberries "Zombie" you might really enjoy reacting to U2's live version of "Blood Sunday" from the Rattle and the Hum documentary of their Joshua Tree tour. "Bloody Sunday" is about the Troubles in Ireland as well. Also, people have reacted to U2's appearance at Live Aid without it getting struck and that is also a great performance.
The called the lady at last minute at night to do the vocals. "Honey, Stones need some vocals. Now. We will send a car..." Merry Clayton says to her family...hold my beer I'll be back in a few...😊
Wrong she was over 7 months pregnant. He husband took the call it was almost midnight. She didn't want o do it. her husband told her - These boys - Rollings Stone are from England and I think you need to go. She went in PJ's and Curlers. One toke for her. They Loved Her.
She lost the baby. Doesn't blame it on the session. See - 40 Feet From Stardom
Reading a book on the Vietnam War now. When the Stones wrote this, the cut-off age for soldiers was 19.
And Keith Richards talked about how he noticed how many kids were being drafted and were gone after the band toured the States.
The draft age was 18. If you were drafted at the time it was almost guaranteed you went 'nam. They're saying War is just a shot away but Love is just a kiss away. It doesn't get much plainer than that. This is my favorite Stones song. Great stuff.
War is just a shot away. Meaning the Vietnam and civil unrest of the 60s. It was almost like hell would break loose with one shot!
an Epic song from the Stones in their PRIME !!
guitarist Keith Richards, about how he wrote it;; “It was just a terrible fucking day,” he recalls in his memoir, Life, “this incredible storm over London. So I got into that mode - looking at all these people… running like hell.”
, so I began singing,,,,,, ‘Oh, a storm is threatening, my very life today.’ Sounded good. I continued to strum, added another line: ‘If I don’t get some shelter, oh yeah, I’m gonna fade away…’
I have been waiting for this one.
See the documentary "20 Feet From Stardom" and you see Mary Clayton and Mick Jagger talk about her vocal on this song. You also get to hear her amazing and powerful vocals without the instruments.
How about the totally RAW "Star, Star" off of the Goat's Head Soup album (last track) :)
This girl looked confused? I love the Stones and this is one of their best.
Children is mankind and none of us are immune to war. My first funeral was for my neighbors son in 1971. It was a closed coffin affair. I used to play "War" with the neighborhood kids throughout the neighborhood but not after I saw his Mom crying at the back porch watching us. War affected me then and while I can understand the necessity of it at times, I abhor the free use of it.
Came across your channel while you were reacting to the Stones " Gimme Shelter". Subscribed 👍😊
I agree. Lyrically heavy.
Many years I've heard this song; and as a kid always belted out what "I thought were the lyrics".
... and man....such heavy lyrics about war. Vietnam war. Lots of soul in this Stones song. Passionate!!
When a person's life is threatened, they seek shelter...some in violence, others in love. And any of us is always just one action away from violence or from love.
Mary, best vocal performance ever.still kills and thrills me every single time. amazing
Gimme Shelter is bigger than the time in which it was written. It apocalyptic, the human condition towards war and violence. It was in written 50 years ago, but it is as relevant then as now. And forever.
Musical note: If you listen carefully, at 4:24 in this video, just after Mary's voice cracks on the last, "Rape! Murder!", you can hear Mick in the background losing his mind. She was amazing in this, and they new it when they recorded it.
You hit the jackpot. Doesn't get anymore iconic than the Stones. React to...eh...any of their songs!
On the original 9/11 this song ran thru my head all day....it's the best song about illustrating the fragility of every day 'peaceful' life
Oh Mary Clayton..that's how angels sing in the sky!
A good night for this one ✌
☮🙏🔥
My favorite Stones album ❤🤘😊 So many super songs. "Sister Morphine" is one of my favorites.
For the story of Mary Clayton and the performers of Muscle Shoals, I highly recommend “20 Feet From Stardom.” Great documentary!