[Intro: Merry Clayton]
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh

[Verse 1: Mick Jagger]
Ooh, a storm is threatening
My very life today
If I don't get some shelter
Ooh yeah, I'm gonna fade away

[Chorus: Mick Jagger & Merry Clayton]
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, yeah

[Verse 2: Mick Jagger & Merry Clayton]
Ooh, see the fire is sweepin'
Our very streets today
Burns like a red-coal carpet
Mad bull, lost your way
[Chorus: Mick Jagger & Merry Clayton]
War, children, yeah
It's just a shot away
It's just a shot away
War, children, yeah
It's just a shot away
It's just a shot away

[Guitar Solo]

[Bridge: Merry Clayton]
Rape, murder, it's just a shot away
It's just a shot away
Rape, murder, yeah, 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
Yeah

[Verse 3: Mick Jagger & Merry Clayton]
Mmm, a flood is threatening
My very life today
Gimme, gimme shelter
Or I'm going to fade away

[Chorus: Mick Jagger & Merry Clayton]
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
[Outro: Mick Jagger & Merry Clayton]
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

[Instrumental Outro]
[Harmonica Solo]