The Spoils
Massive Attack Lyrics

The lyrics of "The Spoils" by Massive Attack describe a complicated mix of emotions: a sense of loss, melancholy, jealousy, and longing. The singer expresses a 'bad feeling' that the listener may not be aware of or might not understand yet. The first verse suggests that the subject of this feeling is female, and is possibly someone the singer knows. He hopes that she finds comfort, maybe from a difficult situation, but also feels a sense of possessiveness towards her.

The pre-chorus shifts the focus to the subject's past, implying that she might have been mistreated or neglected. The words "keeps you in the shade and ever owned you" suggest that she was kept hidden or held back from her true potential. The reference to "sentimental tears" could be interpreted as an indication of past emotional abuse or manipulation. The last line of the pre-chorus implies the possibility of a former lover who has moved on, leaving the subject to deal with the aftermath.

The chorus repeats a couple of times with slight variations, emphasizing the singer's desire to preserve his relationship with the subject, even if it means keeping her away. The words "somehow slowly love you" suggest that his emotions have grown over an extended period of time, while "wanna keep you this way" conveys his reluctance to let go. The line "keep you away" appears contradictory to the previous lines until one realizes that the singer is trying to shield the subject from potential harm, even if that means sacrificing their own happiness.

Overall, the song's mood is somewhat ambiguous, with emotions ranging from sadness to protectiveness, and the underlying message being that love can be both beautiful and painful.