10-Safe From Harm
Massive Attack Lyrics


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Midnight rockers
City slickers
Gunmen and maniacs
All will feature on the freakshow
And I can't do nothing 'bout that, no
But if you hurt what's mine
I'll sure as hell retaliate
You can free the world, you can free my mind
Just as long as my baby's safe from harm tonight

You can free the world, you can free my mind
Just as long as my baby's safe from harm tonight

Terious, terious, terious, infectious and dangerous
Friends and enemies find us contagerious
I was lookin' back to see if you were lookin' back at me
To see me lookin' back at you

Lucky dippers
Crazy chancers
Seems to be moving fast
What happened to the nicities
Of my childhood days
Well I can't do nothing 'bout that, no
But if you hurt what's mine
I'll sure as hell retaliate

You can free the world, you can free my mind
Just as long as my baby's safe from harm tonight

You can free the world, you can free my mind
Just as long as my baby's safe from harm tonight

Terious, terious, terious, infectious and dangerous
Friends and enemies I find it's contagerous
And they're spreading through your system like a virus
Yes the trouble in the end it makes you anxious

I was lookin' back to see if you were lookin back at me
To see me lookin back at you

I was lookin' back to see if you were lookin back at me
To see me lookin back at you

But if you hurt what's mine
I'll sure as hell retaliate
You can free the world, you can free my mind
Just as long as my baby's safe from harm tonight





You can free the world, you can free my mind
Just as long as my baby's safe from harm tonight

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Massive Attack's "Safe From Harm" have a tone of protectiveness and loyalty towards loved ones while also acknowledging the dangers of the world. The opening lines describe a dangerous city filled with "midnight rockers, city slickers, and gunmen," and the singer feels helpless in the "freak show" of a world. However, there is one thing the singer can control: protecting their loved ones. The line "But if you hurt what's mine, I'll sure as hell retaliate" communicates the strong sense of loyalty and protectiveness the singer feels towards their loved ones.


The chorus emphasizes this desire to protect loved ones with the lines "You can free the world, you can free my mind, just as long as my baby's safe from harm tonight." The singer is willing to sacrifice their own freedom and mental state as long as their loved ones are safe. The verse that follows describes the fast-paced and dangerous nature of the world, where niceties from childhood no longer exist. The repetition of "I was looking back to see if you were looking back at me, to see me looking back at you" feels like a reflection on the current state of society and the lack of trust between people.


The bridge brings back the idea of the contagious and dangerous nature of society, and how it can make people anxious. The ending repeats the chorus and emphasizes the singer's desire to protect their loved ones at all costs. Overall, the lyrics of "Safe From Harm" portray a sense of protectiveness, loyalty, and acknowledgement of the dangers of the world.


Line by Line Meaning

Midnight rockers, city slickers
The people out at night, living recklessly and in the city.


Gunmen and me yeah
There are dangerous people out there, and I'm one of them.


On a feature on the freak show
Life is crazy and unpredictable, like a freak show.


And I can't do nothing 'bout that, no no
There are things in life that I can't control.


But if you hurt what's mine
If someone harms something that belongs to me,


I'll sure as hell retaliate
I'll definitely take action and fight back.


You can free the world, you can free my mind
Everything in the world could be fine, but what's most important to me is the safety of my loved ones.


Just as long as my baby's safe from harm tonight
As long as my loved ones are safe from danger, I'm okay with anything that happens in the world.


Terious, terious, terious, infectious and dangerous
The world is filled with mysterious, infectious, and dangerous things.


Friends and enemies find us contagious
People are drawn to us, and sometimes it's hard to tell if they're friends or enemies.


I was lookin' back to see if you were lookin' back at me
I was trying to see if someone was paying attention to me.


To see me lookin' back at you
I wanted them to see that I was watching them too.


Lucky deepest, crazy chances seems to be moving fast
Life is moving quickly and taking unexpected turns.


What happened to the niceties of my childhood days
I miss the simple and innocent times of my childhood.


T-t-terious, infectious and dangerous
There are many things in the world that are mysterious, infectious, and dangerous.


And they spread into your system like a virus
The dangerous things in the world can spread and affect us very easily.


Yes the trouble is it kind of makes you anxious
It's scary and anxiety-inducing to think about all the dangerous things that could happen in the world.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Cloud9, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Andrew Lee Isaac Vowles, Grantley Marshall, Robert Del Naja, Shara Nelson, William Emanuel Cobham Jr.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@henriqueramos3197

"Safe from Harm"

[Verse 1: Shara Nelson]
Midnight rockers, city slickers
Gunmen and maniacs
All will feature on the freak show
And I can't do nothing 'bout that, no

[Refrain: Shara Nelson]
But if you hurt what's mine
I'll sure as hell retaliate

[Pre-Chorus: 3D]
Serious, infectious, and dan-
Serious, in-, serious, infectious, and dangerous

[Chorus: Shara Nelson]
You can free the world, you can free my mind
Just as long as my baby's safe from harm tonight
You can free the world, you can free my mind
Just as long as my baby's safe from harm tonight

[Post-Chorus: 3D]
Serious, in-, serious, in-
Serious, infectious, and dangerous
Friends and enemies, I find it's contagious
I was looking back to see if you were looking back at me
To see me looking back at you

[Verse 2: Shara Nelson]
Lucky dippers, crazy chancers
Seems to be moving fast
What happened to the niceties of my childhood days?
Well I can't do nothing 'bout that, no

[Refrain: Shara Nelson]
But if you hurt what's mine
I'll sure as hell retaliate

[Pre-Chorus: 3D]
I was, I was, I was looking back to see if you were
I was looking, I was
I was looking back to see if you were looking back at me
To see me looking back at you

[Chorus: Shara Nelson]
You can free the world, you can free my mind
Just as long as my baby's safe from harm tonight
You can free the world, you can free my mind
Just as long as my baby's safe from harm tonight

[Verse 3: 3D]
Se-, serious, se-, serious
Serious, infectious, and dangerous
Friends and enemies, I find it's contagious
And they're spreading through your system like a virus
Yes, the trouble in the end, it makes you anxious
I was looking, I was
I was looking back to see if you were looking back at me
To see me looking back at you
I was, I was
I was looking back to see if you were looking back at me
To see me looking back at you

[Refrain: Shara Nelson]
But if you hurt what's mine
I'll sure as hell retaliate

[Chorus: Shara Nelson]
You can free the world, you can free my mind
Just as long as my baby's safe from harm tonight
You can free the world, you can free my mind
Just as long as my baby's safe from harm tonight

Written By Grantley “Daddy G” Marshall, Billy Cobham, Shara Nelson, Robert “3D” del Naja & Andrew “Mushroom” Vowles
Album BLUE LINES (1991)



All comments from YouTube:

@lucyj.5535

The very first time I heard this song was at my boyfriend's house in London in 1994. He passed away in 2010. I miss him terribly but he left me his great taste in music and love. Such a beautiful man. Such a beautiful song. Love you always Dave.

@OversikerSTUDIO

I am very sorry for your loss, true love is so hard to find.

@kiddmakow3095

Yes sorry to hear if your loss, he obviously left a part of himself in the world with you at least.

@jak8720

He sounds like a really cool guy. My condolences

@mertkalkan4961

İm sad to hear that. İ m sure he was so good person because of taste music

@alexevansuk

My son's name is David, he lives in Australia. He'll be on the verge of adulthood soon enough - he loves MA.

6 More Replies...

@bornflippy1

December 2023 and this song still sounds like it was recorded yesterday. Better than ALL of the crap on the radio and what passes for music today and obviously a masterpiece.

@kelimakshewillbeloved527

I love the female vocalist, such a beautiful voice!

@kevinhanson6106

The amazing vocalist's name is Shara Nelson

@Johro66

Check her out in Massive Attack's "Unfinished Sympathy"

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