With her punk intensity and her poetic sensibility, Smith managed to interpret it effectively and magnificently.

Patti Smith – “Gimme Shelter”

“Gimme Shelter” (2007 – original from 1969)

Patti Smith recorded this cover of the Rolling Stones’ apocalyptic song on her 2007 album of covers, and also released it as a single.  

Punk Poet Cover

“Gimme Shelter”  was the first track on the Rolling Stones’ 1969 album “Let It Bleed.”  Although the song did not chart very highly, it became a staple of their shows, and remains one of the band’s signature tunes.

As a Stones classic, “Gimme Shelter”  does not lend itself to great or even good cover versions. Only Patti Smith, with her punk intensity and her poetic sensibility, has managed to interpret it effectively and magnificently.

Patti Smith

Patti Smith is a US singer / songwriter / poet who became one of the shining lights of the New York punk scene in the mid 1970s.

She has been called the “punk poet laureate”  – even though most punks don’t care the least about laurels.   

Words Under Her Command

Over her career, she has released over 10 albums and published numerous books of poetry, as well as 2 memoirs.    

In 2005, France’s Ministry of Culture honored Patti by naming her a Commander of the “Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.” 

Just 2 years later, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.   _{(Image source)}

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 his 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  [3 x]

The flood 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   [4 x]

I tell you love, sister, it's just a kiss away
It's just a kiss away   [4 x]
Kiss away, kiss away   _{(Image source)}

        The Rolling Stones – “Gimme Shelter”    
          _{(Right-click to hear on YouTube)}

Lyrics by Mick Jagger / Keith Richards, courtesy of – AZLyrics.com
Reference – Wikipedia
Reference – Wikipedia

Into your ears … through 5 channels

 The various posts are categorized into 5 channels _{(Right-Click to see details)}
         1 – “Music to Your Ears” (MTYE)
         2 – “Cover Versions”
         3 – “Honor Roll”
         4 – “Documentaries”
         5 – “Mock’n’Roll”

More “Cover Versions – Music to Your Ears” ...

          Previous posts in this series – "Cover Versions 1–20"  

Links to my other series ...

          Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 1"
          Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 2"

          Great Lyrics, a compilation – “Part One – My Lyrics Posts 3~30”
          Great Lyrics, a compilation – “Part Two – My Lyrics Posts 31~60”  

          Vocab-Ability – "Introduction to Vocab-Ability"  
          Vocab-Ability – "Index"  to all Chapters and Sections  

          Notes from Under the Tatami Mats – "Part One – Notes 1~50"  
          Notes from Under the Tatami Mats – "Part Two – Notes 51~87"