The debut Massive Attack album Blue Lines was released in 1991, with the single "Unfinished Sympathy" reaching the charts and later being voted the 63rd greatest song of all time in a poll by NME. 1998's Mezzanine (containing the top 10 single "Teardrop") and 2003's 100th Window charted in the UK at number one. Both Blue Lines and Mezzanine feature in Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
The group has won numerous music awards throughout their career, including a Brit Award—winning Best British Dance Act, two MTV Europe Music Awards and two Q Awards. They have released five studio albums that have sold over 13 million copies worldwide. Throughout their history, Massive Attack have been supporters and activists for political, human rights and environmental causes.
10-Safe From Harm
Massive Attack Lyrics
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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
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
@jonathangonzalez588
Midnight rockers, city slickers
Gunmen and me yeah
On a feature on the freak show
And I can't do nothing 'bout that, no 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 deepest, crazy chances seems to be moving fast
What happened to the niceties of my childhood days
Well I can't do nothing 'bout that, no no
But if you hurt what's mine
I'll sure as hell retaliate
I was lookin' back to see if you were
I was lookin I was
I was lookin' back to see if you were lookin' back at me
To see me lookin' back at you
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
T-t-terious, infectious and dangerous
Friends and enemies find us contagerious
And they spread into your system like a virus
Yes the trouble is it kind of 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
@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.
@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.
@machineheadlionheart
2024
@neindanke84
oh yeah <3
@IanB1969
Everybody wants a "I was lookin' back to see if you were lookin' back at me
To see me lookin' back at you" moment in their lives