In her podcast, Grace Bassett places “Gimme Shelter” at the center of the anti-war and Civil Rights movements as a song that, in her words, “somehow captured the feelings of impending doom felt by many Americans” in 1969. Using the lens of apocalypse to analyze the song’s lyrical and sonic chaos, the anxiety and righteous anger of the moment, and the biography of Merry Clayton (whose fiery vocals elevate the song’s power), Grace delves deeply into the song’s social overtones and brings them into the present.

At the end of this podcast, you'll be able to hear an interview with its creator, where she digs deeper into her podcast research, conclusions, and production process.