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  1. Tracks
  2. Massive Attack
  3. Protection
  4. Protection
Protection by Massive Attack

SINGLE

Massive Attack

Protection

Release date: 25th September 1994

From Protection
Track 1
7:52
ElectronicMusicRockAdult Alternative
Spotify Apple Music More on Massive Attack

About This Track

A collaboration between Massive Attack and Tracey Thorn, 'Protection' builds around a lulling bassline, pulsing synth and piano. Thorn's dusky vocal draws out each syllable of the title, speaking to both personal experience and a deeper need for care and interdependence. The song moves between voices and perspectives, each verse exploring different facets of vulnerability and mutual support. The lyrics trace a conversation about responsibility and compassion. A figure in crisis is met with indifference; the song asks whether you could forgive yourself for leaving someone as you found them. What emerges is not rescue but reciprocity. Gender roles dissolve across the verses. By the end, the refrain has become a statement of principle: that putting your arms around someone, offering shelter when they need it, is not sentiment but the way things should be.

"Protection" is a single by Massive Attack, from the album Protection, released 25th September 1994. The track is 7:52 long. It's filed under Electronic. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 9 articles about Massive Attack.

About the Artist

Massive Attack

Massive Attack

Lyrics

Protection

This girl I know, needs some shelter
She don't believe anyone can help her
She's doing so much harm
Doing so much damage

But you don't want to get involved
You tell her she can manage
And you can't change the way she feels
But you could put your arms around her

I know you want to live yourself
But could you forgive yourself
If you left her just the way you found her?

I stand in front of you
I'll take the force of the blow
Protection
I stand in front of you
I'll take the force of the blow
Protection

You're a boy and I'm a girl
But you know you can lean on me
And I don't have no fear
I'll take on any man here
Who says that's not the way it should be

I stand in front of you
I'll take the force of the blow
Protection
I stand in front of you
I'll take the force of the blow
Protection

She's a girl and you're a boy
Sometimes you look so small, you look so small
I've got a baby of your own
When your baby's grown, she'll be the one
To catch you when you fall

I stand in front of you
I'll take the force of the blow
Protection
I stand in front of you
I'll take the force of the blow
Protection

You're a girl and I'm a boy
You're a girl and I'm a boy, yeah
You're a girl and I'm a boy
You're a girl and I'm a boy, hey

Sometimes you look so small
You need some shelter
You just runnin' 'round and 'round
Helter skelter
And I've leaned on you for years
Now you can lean on me
And that's more than love
That's the way it should be
Now I can't change the way you think
But I could put my arms around you

That's just part of the deal
That's the way I feel
I put my arms around you

I stand in front of you
I'll take the force of the blow
Protection
I stand in front of you
I'll take the force of the blow
Protection

You're a boy and I'm a girl
You're a boy and I'm a girl, hey
You're a boy and I'm a girl
You're a boy and I'm a girl, yeah

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From Protection

7:521994Single
Listen
Album
Protection
Protection
Massive Attack
26th September 1994
Track number
1
Release year
1994
  1. 1Protection
    7:52
  2. 2Karmacoma
    5:16
  3. 3Three
    3:49
  4. 4Weather Storm
    5:00

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2016
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2010
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    • Credits

    Production & Engineering

    Writer
    Andrew “Mushroom” Vowles, Grantley “Daddy G” Marshall, Robert “3D” del Naja, Tracey Thorn
    Writer
    Andrew Vowles, Grant Marshall, Robert Del Naja, Tracey Thorn
    Producer
    Massive Attack, Nellee Hooper
    Vocals
    Tracey Thorn
    Mixing Engineer
    Mark “Spike” Stent, Massive Attack, Nellee Hooper
    Video Director
    Michel Gondry
    READ MORE ABOUT MASSIVE ATTACKREAD MORE ABOUT MASSIVE ATTACKREAD MORE ABOUT MASSIVE ATTACKREAD MORE ABOUT MASSIVE ATTACK
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