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Donna Summer's cover version
Night after night I keep holding on
You say you love me, then you leave me so lonely
Baby, I don't believe a word you're saying
I think it's all some evil game you're playing
Still all day long, all I do is think about you
You got me believing that I can't live without you
Well, if you want it, well, here's my confession
Baby, I can't help it, you're my obsession
Protection, that's what I need
I need protection, baby, from your love
Protection, that's what I need
I need protection, baby, from your love
I wait at home by my telephone
When I call your house, baby, you're not home
Knock on the door and I rush down the stair
When I open up, baby, you're not there
When we're together and you put your arms around me
Your love sweeps away all the confusion that surrounds me
You keep my mind forever, ever in doubt
You want me to believe that, baby, I can't live without
Protection, that's what I need
I need protection, baby, from your love
Protection, that's what I need
I need protection, baby, from your love
We stand alone at my window
And stare out at the shadows down below
I feel your fingers on my face
I want to stay, I want to run away
Protection, that's what I need
I need protection, baby, from your love
Protection, that's what I need
I need protection, baby, from your love
Protection, that's what I need
I need protection, baby, from your love
Protection, that's what I need
I need protection, baby, from your love
Protection, that's what I need
I need protection from your love
Protection, that's what I need
I need protection, baby, from your love
So bad
Oh, my baby, babe
Oh, baby
Oh, my baby, baby, stay
I need protection
I want protection
I need protection
The above lyrics are for Donna Summer's cover version of PROTECTION. She first released it in July 1982 on her album Donna Summer. Bruce Springsteen appears on the recording of the track, playing guitar solo and providing backing vocals.
Donna Summer's cover of PROTECTION was nominated for a 1983 Grammy Award for "Best Female Rock Vocal Performance".
In early 1982, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band were at The Power Station in New York City, NY, working on Gary U.S. Bonds' On The Line album. They were also recording some of what later became the Born In The U.S.A. album, alternating between The Power Station and The Hit Factory nearby.
Meanwhile, record executive David Geffen, a friend of Springsteen's manager Jon Landau, asked Landau if his client could write something for Donna Summer who had joined his label Geffen Records in 1980. The idea was that Springsteen and Summer record the song as a duet, so Springsteen wrote COVER ME for that purpose. "She could really sing and I disliked the veiled racism of the anti-disco movement," Springsteen wrote in his 1998 book Songs.
Springsteen cut a demo of COVER ME with the E Street Band at The Hit Factory, but when Jon Landau heard it he intervened and suggested that Springsteen keeps it for himself. Springsteen then donated PROTECTION to Donna Summer, a song he had written in 1979 and recorded with the E Street Band earlier in 1982. See Springsteen's studio version for more details.
The track was originally planned as a Donna Summer and Bruce Springsteen duet, and such version was reportedly recorded but is not in circulation. The duet concept was abandoned and instead Springsteen contributed guitar solo and backing vocals on the released version. In the liner notes of the One Step Up / Two Steps Back: The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen various artists Bruce Springsteen tribute album, Summer wrote: "Bruce wrote the song for me, and in fact, came to my house in Los Angeles for several days to get it done. I love the song as well as being a big Bruce Springsteen fan. It was the icing on the cake and a big moment in my life. Hey Bruce, let's do it again."
Donna Summer's cover of PROTECTION was recorded in March 1982 in Los Angeles. It features Donna Summer on lead vocals, Bruce Springsteen on guitar solo and backing vocals, Ernie Watts on saxophones, Steve Lukather on guitars, David Paich on synthesizers, Greg Phillinganes on synthesizers, Roy Bittan on acoustic piano, Louis Johnson on bass, Jeff Porcaro on drums, and Steve Porcaro on synthesizer programming. Springsteen is only credited for guitar but he can clearly be heard on the track, specially on the fadeout vocals. The song was included on Donna Summer's self-titled album, produced by Quincy Jones and recorded and mixed at Westlake Audio and Allen Zentz Studios in Los Angeles, CA.
Donna Summer's cover of PROTECTION was released as a single in the United States (promo only), Europe, and Japan.
In addition to its release on the Donna Summer album and as a single, Donna Summer's cover of PROTECTION was also included on a few various artists releases.
Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake) for the lyrics help.
Please contact me if you have scans for or info about any official release containing Donna Summer's cover version of PROTECTION that's not mentioned on this page. I also need scans for the following releases:
Any additions, comments, or corrections to this page are welcome. You can contact me via the below form or by email: .
List of available versions of PROTECTION on this website:
PROTECTION [Unofficial studio version]
