"Protection" by Massive Attack and Tracey Thorn

After my recent post of Tracey Thorn's welcome new single "Queen" here, I took a peek back at some of her past performances and songs. While it is hard to narrow down an enormous catalog of gorgeous songs (whether with Everything But The Girl, solo, or in collaboration), this 1994 song she did with Massive Attack is pretty special. Tender, touching, lugubrious, somnolent, "Protection" is a dream-like affair about domestic violence, courage, safety, healing, and simply getting through life. The one-take video (directed by Michel Gondry who made "The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and "The Science of Sleep") sums up the feeling quite well.

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'll 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'll 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, you look so small
You've got a baby of your own
When your baby's gone, she'll be the one
To catch you when you fall

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

You're a girl and I'm a boy

http://www.massiveattack.co.uk/
http://splash.traceythorn.com/