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Massive Attack — Protection
Album: Protection
Avg rating:
7.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 4488









Released: 1995
Length: 7:46
Plays (last 30 days): 3
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, look so small
You'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
Comments (476)add comment
THE BEST
Massive Attack - nothing compares to them
 stacey.otte wrote:

This is Tracy Thorn singing, right?  Perfect accompaniment for Massive Attack!



Correct, and if her voice sounds familiar it is because she is the Tracy Thorn of Everything But The Girl
 jp33442 wrote:

Well at least your polite and not being trollish about it


*you're  
i thought this was everything but the girl...wow.
What is it about this song? It is impossible to get tired of it... and it's nearly 30 years old
 Antsonjahli wrote:
This was our wedding waltz song in January 1995....still married.  
 khardog145 wrote:
Great choice.  

Great choice for a dance, perhaps... not so much for a waltz.
Waltzes are usually in 3/4 time - never in 4/4 time.
And, yes, I know that is pedantic.
 vandal wrote:


Must you always be so needlessly pedantic? 

You're probably right; in my defence I've had incurable toothache for about two years, and it tends to make me cranky. 
up'ed it from 9 to 10 - so, so nourishing...
Never never bored with this. It's in my top 10 all time favourite tracks. So good. Love Tracy Thorn -I had a girl crush on her in the '90s  just coz her voice. 
<checks rating in first 10 seconds of music> 

Yep. Already voted it a 9.  The little synth pulses in the background are a nice supplement to Ms Thorn's exquisite vocals.
 stacey.otte wrote:

This is Tracy Thorn singing, right?  Perfect accompaniment for Massive Attack!



Yes!  definitely yes!  Cannot miss that iconic voice.  I thought this was Everything But the Girl and ws suprised to see it was Massive Attack.  Then I HAD to do a bit of research, especially after I saw your comment.  BTW, after 23 years,  Everything But the Girl  is putting out a new album!
 lizardking wrote:

...or should one say "a terrific run of music over the last" 17 years?

Funny thing is the 1st song I remember hearing on RP was James Blunt's "Wiseman" about 11 years ago now. 


First song I heard, back in 2002, was Traffic "Many a Mile to Freedom" and I thought this was going to be a classic / prog / album rock station. 20 years later, it has been so much more, thanks to B&R, artists like Massive Attack, and continual evolution. 
 Edweirdo wrote:

Whatever it was, it wasn't a waltz; a waltz is in 3/4 and this is in common time. 


Must you always be so needlessly pedantic? 
This song is good to test loudspeakers bass
Very good
 Antsonjahli wrote:

This was our wedding waltz song in January 1995....still married.



Didn't see that coming. 
A completely timeless piece of music. 
 Antsonjahli wrote:

This was our wedding waltz song in January 1995....still married.


Never seen anyone waltz to a piece of music in 4/4 time, that must've been hard. No wonder you're still married!

Beautiful track from an excellent album.
One of the few songs on RP to give me a headache. And I like Massive Attack.
 Antsonjahli wrote:

This was our wedding waltz song in January 1995....still married.


Whatever it was, it wasn't a waltz; a waltz is in 3/4 and this is in common time. 
This song triggers so many sad emotions in me - grief, loss, lost love.
It hurts, but it is such a beautiful song.
Keep the music coming RP :)
 Wonderloaf wrote:


so you made everyone watch you for 7+ minutes?
glad i wasn't invited


with that attitude, I'm also glad you weren't.
Tracy Thorn is the perfect choice of vocalist for this song, sublime.
!nice song.  Love Tracy's voice. It's been here for 17 years in 2022.  I decided to read the lyrics this time and notice a whole verse is missing.
 Antsonjahli wrote:

This was our wedding waltz song in January 1995....still married.



so you made everyone watch you for 7+ minutes?
glad i wasn't invited
Cut this shit down to 3 minutes..........
Back when techno had some creative inventiveness. ♥️♥️♥️
Is this block / song playing silence for anyone ?
 Antsonjahli wrote:

This was our wedding waltz song in January 1995....still married.



Waltz?  Great choice nontheless.
 Ptijoc wrote:

I see all the reviews of this band are laudatory but personally I have always found their music incredibly boring.



You did use the superlative "incredibly", so this seems like a sort of laudatory comment.
Second Tracey Thorn song this afternoon. I am not complaining. 
dang this woman has an incredible voice....
 stacey.otte wrote:

This is Tracy Thorn singing, right?  Perfect accompaniment for Massive Attack!



Yes, that is her unmistakable voice. While not credited here in the Artist listing, she is given credit on the album.
Ten.

Another ten for The Eno Mix of this track 👍👍👍
Every time I hear this I like it more. Which the ratings could go higher than 10...
I like it! It is the first time I've heard them. Thanx RP!
 Ptijoc wrote:

I see all the reviews of this band are laudatory but personally I have always found their music incredibly boring.


Well at least your polite and not being trollish about it

I see all the reviews of this band are laudatory but personally I have always found their music incredibly boring.

This is so perfect... Chillin and sipping wine 
 stacey.otte wrote:

This is Tracy Thorn singing, right?  Perfect accompaniment for Massive Attack!


Thanks...was trying to place the vocalist and couldn't quite get there...
 MIkePogo wrote:


Same!


Yes!  I do this all the time to Awesome tunes!  :)
Love this!  just bumped from 7 >>>> 10 with no regrets! 
 SquiddlyDiddly wrote:

I had to mark this back to 9. . . just so I had the satisfaction of giving it a 10 again. 



Same!
Just sublime.......
 lizardking wrote:

...or should one say "a terrific run of music over the last" 17 years?

Funny thing is the 1st song I remember hearing on RP was James Blunt's "Wiseman" about 11 years ago now.

 





You mean 21 years?
 Antsonjahli wrote:

This was our wedding waltz song in January 1995....still married.



'waltz' - brave girl!!  ;D
So much 10 for this song!
 bkrans9 wrote:

I can't believe that voice isn't Tracy Thorn of Everything But the Girl.



It is!
 hempmandan wrote:

Love Beth Orton
 



huh? 
I can't believe that voice isn't Tracy Thorn of Everything But the Girl.
 dtl wrote:
Tracey Thorn!  I had no idea this is the singer from "Everything But the Girl"
 

I knew it immediately - I love her voice.  I didn't see her attributed anywhere though.  OK, she was on Wikipedia.
  
Masterpiece! the whole album is in my top 10!
Ploddy, dull bass. Apart from that, fine.
I never get tired of this song <3
 Antsonjahli wrote:
This was our wedding waltz song in January 1995....still married.
 

Great choice.  
I am confused, so am I a boy or a girl? Feels like a math problem song
 DrLex wrote:
This song is like being fond of both the taste of coffee, and the taste of a certain cookie, and then being handed this favourite cookie dipped in coffee.
 

A sublime description
This song is like being fond of both the taste of coffee, and the taste of a certain cookie, and then being handed this favourite cookie dipped in coffee.
 memoryboxer wrote:
On the heels of Stand or Fall from the Fixx; nice one, Bill. Another beautiful and bleak song about our deeply broken world.
 
If it was deeply broken one year ago, what the he!! is it now?

But yes, a beautiful and bleak song. But with a tinge of love and hope too.
c.
The big payback!!
It appears to me that some lyrics are missing from those to the left of the comments. 

Bumping this up to an 8 from 7 just for Tracey Thorn's voice.
This is Tracy Thorn singing, right?  Perfect accompaniment for Massive Attack!
Stunningly beautiful song,sing it my lovey😎
I have so much to say, but I won't. Folks fear thte truth.
Thanks Bill for taking GEMS like this one out of the box where they were sitting for too long... 
I've been trying to enjoy this music for years, but it's hopeless, I can not help but find it annoying and boring
their best.
stunning. have always love Massive Attack
Tracey Thorn!  I had no idea this is the singer from "Everything But the Girl"
8 to 9. Thanks Bill for turning me on to this band. Long live RP.
<3 Tracey. 
On the heels of Stand or Fall from the Fixx; nice one, Bill. Another beautiful and bleak song about our deeply broken world.
This was our wedding waltz song in January 1995....still married.
Loving this on a California Sunday afternoon!
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..........truly brilliant 
Blue Lines and Mezzanine exist on a very different plane. A much higher one.
Yet another early entry in my RP Favorites playlist. My friends love it almost as much as I. And wonder where I came up with such wonderful music!
Groups like Massive Attack and Portishead were truly what trip-hop was all about. Like just about every other genre, they inspired a lot of dreck masquerading as good music by grafting on those beats. But, others - like EBTG - were inspired by the two giants and crafted some great songs themselves. Some good stuff here.
Tracey Thorn and Poe only a few hours apart on the playlist. Can't ask for anything better. Thanks BillG.
 Lemonhead wrote:
Never ages. Always sounds as fresh as first day I heard.{#Notworthy} 

 
And no preservatives either. How do they do it?!
 kcar wrote:

Huh?

What are you getting up to in Nassau?

ear-pulling contest with two people and rubber band

 
Brilliant.
Never ages. Always sounds as fresh as first day I heard.{#Notworthy} 
 maxjboxer wrote:
Thanks Bill and Rebecca for a terrific run of music over the last several hours.

 
...or should one say "a terrific run of music over the last" 17 years?

Funny thing is the 1st song I remember hearing on RP was James Blunt's "Wiseman" about 11 years ago now.

 


Said it before, this takes me to a horizontal position from the past.
Hi Pam. {#Hug} 
 SquiddlyDiddly wrote:

So do I. But this is Tracey Thorn {#Shifty}

 
Yep. Her voice is unmistakable.
cool on the JB wah piece....until it becomes super irritating
like Chinese water torture  
The mix this morning is mind-blowing. That is all
Yeah this has been a good stretch of music and I love this song
Solid.
Thanks Bill and Rebeca for a terrific run of music over the last several hours.
Tracey:

"Beautiful and sophifisticated woman that will probably never give you the time of day. Generally Traceys have advanced degrees, wear very high heels and know that you are not worthy.  "
Rubbed from some reference or t'other. 

 Stratocaster wrote:
If I hold my ears just right, this sounds like George Michael.

 
{#Roflol}
This album is incredible and may even be better than their excellent début Blue Lines.

 
 Stratocaster wrote:
If I hold my ears just right, this sounds like George Michael.

 
Huh?

What are you getting up to in Nassau?

ear-pulling contest with two people and rubber band
Perfect song to write to... Have always loved this; what a great voice, and what a nice, slow, chillin' groove... smooth as silk, for sure...
No doubt that is Tracy Thorn from Everything But the Girl.  Lovin it.
Very easy 9 from a very easy 10 band. They're the Midas of trip-hop.
{#Hearteyes}
{#Cowboy}
 ckcotton wrote:
Truly not their best

 
well, it's not. It was an 'Everything but the girl' thing they remixed....it's nice. These guys really don't do anything that's not nice.

If I hold my ears just right, this sounds like George Michael.
 SquiddlyDiddly wrote:

So do I. But this is Tracey Thorn {#Shifty}

 
"Everything But The Girl" sound confirmed. :)
Sounds a lot like the group "Everything But The Girl".  
 Piranga wrote:
Incredibly beautiful.

 
Agreed! Her voice enchants me!
Incredibly beautiful.
 hempmandan wrote:
Love Beth Orton
 
So do I. But this is Tracey Thorn {#Shifty}
Love Beth Orton
 
 fitmartin wrote:
Always loved this womans voice, has a quality very unique and soothing!

Thanks Bill! solid 9

 
Yes
This IS my wife... {#Hearteyes}
For a male, I'm a romantic sap - this song is gorgeous!! {#Kiss}
Always loved this womans voice, has a quality very unique and soothing!

Thanks Bill! solid 9
Can tell that's Tracey Thorn, all right.
Truly not their best


Just.  So.  Good...
 NeuroGeek wrote:
First song all day that made me look up....liking this.  Can't believe I've not heard it before now (on RP).

 
This song is so good for the ears on this sunny September afternoon. {#Cheers}
First song all day that made me look up....liking this.  Can't believe I've not heard it before now (on RP).
A stunningly beautiful song that is not widely known. 10.
I had to mark this back to 9. . . just so I had the satisfaction of giving it a 10 again.