Massive Attack
Protection Lyrics

This girl I know needs some shelter
There's a girl in need of help in my life

She don't believe anyone can help her
She's lost hope in finding support

She's doing so much harm, doing so much damage
Her actions are causing harm and destruction to herself and others

But you don't want to get involved
You hesitate to help her out

You tell her she can manage
You try to convince her to deal with everything on her own

And you can't change the way she feels
You can't control her emotions

But you could put your arms around her
But what you can offer is a comforting presence

I know you want to live yourself
I understand that you have your own life to live

But could you forgive yourself
Would you be able to live with yourself if you didn't help her?

If you left her just the way
If you let her be on her own

You found her
Without offering help or support

I stand in front of you
I'm here in front of you

I'll take the force of the blow
I'll take the brunt of any negative impact felt by those in need of help

Protection
My presence is here to protect

You're a boy and i'm a girl
We may be different genders

But you know you can lean on me
But you can rely on me for support

And I don't have no fear
I'm not afraid to help

I'll take on any man here
I'll stand up for what's right no matter who opposes me

Who says that's not the way it should be
I refuse to let anyone dictate who we can and can't help

She's a girl and you're a boy
The girl who needs help and the person who is hesitant to help are of different genders

Sometimes you look so small, look so small
Sometimes the person who is hesitant to help appears overwhelmed and vulnerable

You've got a baby of your own
The person who is hesitant to help also has their own responsibilities and priorities

When your baby's gone, she'll be the one
If the person who is hesitant to help ever needs support in the future, the girl who needs help will be there for them

To catch you when you fall
To be a safety net during tough times and to provide emotional support

Sometimes you look so small, need some shelter
Again referring to how the person who is hesitant to help is vulnerable and needs help themselves

Just runnin' round and round, helter skelter
They're lost and don't know what to do

And I've leaned on me for years
The person who is hesitant to help has been self-reliant for a long time

Now you can lean on me
But now they have someone to depend on

And that's more than love, that's the way it should be
This is more than just an act of kindness, it's something that should be expected of us all

Now I can't change the way you feel
I can't control your emotions or perspective

But I can put my arms around you
But at the very least, I can be there for you and offer comfort

That's just part of the deal
That's what being a supportive friend or partner means

That's the way I feel
And that's how I feel about it

You're a boy and i'm a girl
Reiterating that they're different genders