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Safe from Harm (song)

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For other uses, see Safe from Harm (disambiguation).
"Safe from Harm"
Single by Massive Attack
from the album Blue Lines
Released27 May 1991
Recorded1990
GenreTrip hop, electronica
Length5:18
LabelVirgin Records
Songwriter(s)Daddy G, Andrew Vowles, Robert Del Naja, Shara Nelson, Billy Cobham
Producer(s)Massive Attack, Jonny Dollar
Massive Attack singles chronology
"Unfinished Sympathy"
(1991) 		"Safe from Harm"
(1991) 		"'Massive Attack EP'"
(1992)
Shara Nelson singles chronology
"Unfinished Sympathy"
(1991) 		"Safe from Harm"
(1991) 		"Down That Road"
(1993)
Audio sample
Massive Attack with Shara Nelson - Safe From Harm (7" Version) (1991)

"Safe from Harm" is the third single and opening track from Blue Lines, the 1991 debut from Massive Attack, with vocals by Shara Nelson and Robert Del Naja. The bass, guitar, and drums are sampled from the song "Stratus" by Billy Cobham, from his album Spectrum (with guitar by Tommy Bolin). Additional drums are sampled from "Good Old Music" by Funkadelic. Other samples come from Herbie Hancock's "Chameleon", and some of the background vocals are based on Johnny "Guitar" Watson's 1961 song Looking Back.

"Safe from Harm" (Perfecto Mix) is featured at the end of the Michael Mann-directed movie The Insider.

Track listing

  1. "Safe from Harm" (radio edit) – 4:28
  2. "Safe from Harm" (12" version) – 6:57
  3. "Safe from Harm" (7" version) – 4:28
  4. "Safe from Harm" (Perfecto Mix) – 8:09
  5. "Safe from Harm" (Just a Dub)(by Steve Smith) – 3:14
  6. "Safe from Harm" (Just a Groove Dub)(by Steve Smith) – 3:18

Inspiration

The liner notes to Blue Lines mention the movie Taxi Driver as an influence, and it's clear that the movie was inspiration for this song's lyrics. The movie stars Robert DeNiro as a paranoid Vietnam vet who drives a taxi at night. He becomes obsessed with saving a child prostitute played by Jodie Foster, and ends up killing some people in his efforts. The spooky atmosphere in this song goes with the theme, as do the lines about protecting a child.[1]

Charts and sales

Peak positions

Chart (1991) Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart[2] 132
Austrian Singles Chart[3] 23
Dutch Singles Chart[4] 28
UK Singles Chart[5] 25
U.S. Billboard Alternative Songs 28
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play Chart[6] 35
U.S. Billboard Maxi-Singles Sale Chart[6] 32

References

  1. ^ "Safe From Harm by Massive Attack - Songfacts". www.songfacts.com. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 12 July 2016". Imgur.com. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  3. ^ "Massive Attack - Safe From Harm - hitparade.ch". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  4. ^ "Dutch Charts - dutchcharts.nl". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  5. ^ 'Massive Attack's UK peak chart positions' Retrieved 9 December 2010
  6. ^ a b 'Massive Attacks's singles in the U.S. music charts' Retrieved 9 December 2010
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