Protection

Album: Protection (1994)
Charted: 14
Play Video
  • This girl I know needs some shelter
    She don't believe anyone can help her
    She's doing so much harm, doing so much damage
    But you don't want to get involved
    You tell her she can manage
    And you can't change the way she feels
    But you could put your arms around her

    I know you want to live yourself
    But could you forgive yourself
    If you left her just the way
    You found her

    I stand in front of you
    I'll take the force of the blow
    Protection

    I stand in front of you
    I'll take the force of the blow
    Protection

    You're a boy and I'm a girl
    But you know you can lean on me
    And I don't have no fear
    I'll take on any man here
    Who says that's not the way it should be

    I stand in front of you
    I'll take the force of the blow
    Protection

    I stand in front of you
    I'll take the force of the blow
    Protection

    She's a girl and you're a boy
    Sometimes you look so small, look so small
    You've got a baby of your own
    When your baby's grown, she'll be the one
    To catch you when you fall

    I stand in front of you
    I'll take the force of the blow
    Protection

    I stand in front of you
    I'll take the force of the blow
    Protection

    You're a girl and I'm a boy
    You're a girl and I'm a boy, yeah
    You're a girl and I'm a boy
    You're a girl and I'm a boy

    Sometimes you look so small, need some shelter
    Just runnin' round and round, Helter Skelter
    And I've leaned on you for years
    Now you can lean on me
    And that's more than love, that's the way
    It should be
    Now I can't change the way you think
    But I could put my arms around you
    That's just part of the deal
    That's the way I feel
    I put my arms around you

    I stand in front of you
    I'll take the force of the blow
    Protection

    I stand in front of you
    I'll take the force of the blow
    Protection

    You're a boy and I'm a girl
    You're a boy and I'm a girl, hey
    You're a boy and I'm a girl
    You're a boy and I'm a girl, yeah Writer/s: Alex Santos, Andrew Vowles, Grant Lee Marshall, Robert Del Naja, Tracey Thorn
    Publisher: Round Hill, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 2

  • J from UtahI first heard this song upon release while in Korea back in 95. Ive always felt it was about domestic violence. Told from the perspective of a person who cares for someone trapped in a violent relationship. Some verses told from the witness perspective, some from the witnesses assumption of the victims. Shes saying what she wishes she could do but knows it won't change the situation. All she can do is put her arms around her to comfort her. The girl/ boy references could be literal, could be figurative based off societal expectations of what "we should do" in those situations. And the helplessness we feel trying to help those who aren't ready to help themselves. This is how I've always felt this song.
  • Vera from Pittsburgh, PaTracey Thorn wrote the lyrics to this song for her husband Ben Watt, who was recovering from Church-Strauss syndrome, a rare disease that he hardly survived. It is one of the most touching and sincere love songs ever; just listen to the vocals. She recorded the vocals in about 10 minutes, which adds to the intimate nature of the song.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Jeff Trott

Jeff TrottSongwriter Interviews

Sheryl Crow's longtime songwriting partner/guitarist Jeff Trott reveals the stories behind many of the singer's hits, and what its like to be a producer for Leighton Meester and Max Gomez.

Concert Disasters

Concert DisastersFact or Fiction

Ozzy biting a dove? Alice Cooper causing mayhem with a chicken? Creed so bad they were sued? See if you can spot the real concert mishaps.

Mike Scott of The Waterboys

Mike Scott of The WaterboysSongwriter Interviews

The stories behind "Whole Of The Moon" and "Red Army Blues," and why rock music has "outlived its era of innovation."

P.F. Sloan

P.F. SloanSongwriter Interviews

P.F. was a teenager writing hits and playing on tracks for Jan & Dean when he wrote a #1 hit that got him blackballed.

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," Kiss

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."