Protection

I love this song, especially the drum beat. The lyrics are more vague than usual for Ben Folds, though.

i love the bassline!

The pussy ass Sounds of white people Playing jazz

^ i nver heard that.....until i read the lyrics. i love this song so much . reminds me of the summertime. its just about how hes gonna try and not get involved with someone and he no longer cares about them so he feels he cant be hurt by them anymore.

it's actually pretty obvious what the song is about. It's about the things we do to prevent things that might happen later on. More specifically protecting yourself from the possibility of a failed relationship by convincing yourself you don't actually care so you aren't emotionally invested in it, that way if it fails you feel nothing. Much like one puts their wallets in their coats to prevent pickpocketing and how lawyers are very specific and write all sorts of clauses in just in case.

I believe the first verse is:

"Lawyers write some goofy terms in letters to the future So as not to get all screwed by methods hereinafter devised So will I "

I love the lyrics in the first verse - rhyming 'apprised' and 'devised' while using 2 different metaphors, come on that's great. Oh and the drum groove matched up with the rhythm of the piano part - YES.

I just had kind of an epiphany with this song, because I find myself in the same situation. It's the kind of situation you're in when you think you're in a secure relationship, and then you find that you aren't...you're still in the relationship, but it's not secure, or at least as secure as you thought it was.

What I hear in this song (that I'd never heard before) is the point of view of a guy who has just had the foundation of his relationship with his girl shaken...maybe she's expressed some interest in other people, or maybe she's just voicing doubts she's been having. Either way, it shakes him, and so he finds himself shifting into "self-preservation mode," and starts feeling the need to protect himself from being hurt by her.

But the thing I notice now is that it sounds like he's putting on a tough front. He says "I'll keep on reminding me I'm always free to walk," even though that's the last thing he wants to do.

He says, "You're not exactly what I'm looking for," but she's his world.

He says, "I don't give a shit about you," and "Whatever happens between you and me today probably will be okay but won't bother me," when in reality if he lost her, he'd be absolutely devastated.

Trust me, I know what I'm taking about.