Protection (1994) is the second studio album by English electronic music group Massive Attack. DJ Mad Professor remixed the album in 1995 under the name No Protection.
“Protection” is a collaboration between English trip hop collective Massive Attack and Tracey Thorn from English duo Everything but the Girl, that appears on Massive Attack’s second studio album, Protection (1994). Released as a single on 9 January 1995, the song reached number 14 on the UK Singles Chart, staying in the chart for four weeks, and also peaked at number 27 in New Zealand. The song was also included on Everything but the Girl’s compilation The Best of and Like the Deserts Miss the Rain.
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 wanna 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 wanna 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?
And I’ll 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’re 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 feel
But I could put my arms around you
That’s just part of the deal, that’s the way I feel
I’ll 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
Delìrivm Còrdia 