Protection
Everything But The Girl/Massive Attack Lyrics

This girl I know needs some shelter
There is a girl who is in need of a safe haven.

She don't believe anyone can help her
She doesn't trust anyone to provide her with the help she needs.

She's doing so much harm, doing so much damage
She's causing a lot of harm and damage to herself and others.

But you don't want to get involved
You're hesitant to get involved because it's not your problem.

You tell her she can manage
You try to encourage her by telling her that she can handle things on her own.

And you can't change the way she feels
You acknowledge that you can't change her emotions.

But you could put your arms around her
You could offer her physical comfort and emotional support.

I know you want to live yourself
You have your own goals and desires.

But could you forgive yourself
Would you be able to live with the guilt of not helping her?

If you left her just the way
If you abandoned her as she is,

You found her
the way you first encountered her.

I stand in front of you
The artist offers themselves as a protector.

I'll take the force of the blow
They are willing to take any negative consequences on behalf of the person they are protecting.

Protection
This is why they are offering their help--to shield the person from harm.

You're a boy and I'm a girl
These are the genders of the person offering protection and the one receiving it.

But you know you can lean on me
The person offering protection assures the other that they are able to depend on them.

And I don't have no fear
The protector is not scared to take on any threats.

I'll take on any man here
They're willing to confront anyone who stands in their way.

Who says that's not the way it should be
To anyone who denies the validity of this arrangement.

Sometimes you look so small, look so small
There are moments when the person in need of protection seems vulnerable and helpless.

You've got a baby of your own
Despite appearing weak, the person has their own child to worry about.

When your baby's grown, she'll be the one
Once the child has matured, they will take care of their parent instead.

To catch you when you fall
The child will be there to support their parent like the protector is doing now.

Sometimes you look so small, need some shelter
The person still requires protection and comfort even though they are a parent.

Just runnin' round and round, Helter Skelter
The person is lost and confused, wandering aimlessly through life.

And I've leaned on you for years
The singer is grateful for the support they have received in the past.

Now you can lean on me
The protector offers to reciprocate the favor.

And that's more than love, that's the way
This is more than just romantic love or friendship, it is a deep bond.

It should be
This is how people should treat each other--with kindness and protection.

Now I can't change the way you think
The singer acknowledges that they can't force the other person to think differently.

But I could put my arms around you
They can, however, offer physical comfort and reassurance.

That's just part of the deal
This is something that is expected in a relationship between two people who care for each other.

That's the way I feel
The artist genuinely wants to offer comfort, it's not just an obligation.

You're a boy and I'm a girl, hey
Restating the genders of the two people involved.