Context

This line is sung by the Rolling Stones in the song "Gimme Shelter," written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards from the album Let It Bleed (1969).

"Gimme Shelter" came out right in the middle of the volatile cauldron that was the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, and Woodstock. Death was everywhere with the assassinations of political figures like Robert F. Kennedy, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King, Jr. and the death of numerous young people on the battlefield. The Rolling Stones dipped into the sad, violent spirit of the age with their song "Gimme Shelter."

This song is all about finding somewhere to hide from the terrible things going on in the world, which is why it occasionally pops up in coverage of natural disasters.

Well, if the world has to end, at least it'll be to the tune of Merry Clayton's soulful vocals. She sang the chorus of "Gimme Shelter" and is the reason why everyone has it stuck in their heads.

Where you've heard it

Unless you've completely closed yourself off from the world of TV and movies, you've probably heard this song in either Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas, the trailer to Mark Wahlberg's The Gambler, or an episode of Supernatural, Dexter or Entourage. These are just a few of the reasons why Watch Mojo put it in on their Top 10 Most Overused Songs list. 

Additional Notable References

• Gimme Shelter is the name of a 1970 documentary about the Rolling Stones' 1969 world tour, which included the Altamont Free Concert that three audience members were killed at.
• If you're a goth kid who never grew up, you may enjoy Sisters of Mercy's cover of "Gimme Shelter," which was a B-side to their 1983 single "Temple of Love."
• And if you're more of a punk singer/songwriter kind of person, Patti Smith did a cover of it in 2007.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

Talking about how violence and natural disasters are coming soon is one way to make you super unpopular at dinner parties.