The xx – Shelter Lyrics

The xx · xx

Rock

I find shelter, in this way
Under cover, hide away
Can you hear, when I say?
I have never felt this way

Maybe I had said, something that was wrong
Can I make it better, with the lights turned on
Maybe I had said, something that was wrong
Can I make it better, with the lights turned on

Could I be, was I there?
It felt so crystal in the air
I still want to drown, whenever you leave
Please teach me gently, how to breathe

And I'll cross oceans, like never before
So you can feel the way I feel it too
And I'll mirror images back at you
So you can see the way I feel it too

Maybe I had said, something that was wrong
Can I make it better, with the lights turned on
Maybe I had said, something that was wrong
Can I make it better, with the lights turned on

Maybe I had said, something that was wrong
Can I make it better, with the lights turned on
Maybe I had said, something that was wrong
Can I make it better, with the lights turned on

Maybe I had said, something that was wrong
Can I make it better, with the lights turned on

About This Song

"Shelter" is an achingly vulnerable exploration of emotional dependency and the fear of abandonment within an intimate relationship. The song captures the protagonist's desperate need for their partner's presence as both protection and life force, with the "shelter" serving as a metaphor for the psychological safety found in love. The lyrics reveal someone who feels fundamentally incomplete when alone, expressing an almost childlike plea to be taught "gently how to breathe" - suggesting their partner has become essential to their very survival. The xx's signature minimalist production amplifies this vulnerability, with sparse, crystalline guitar lines and whispered vocals creating an atmosphere of fragile intimacy that feels like overhearing a private confession. The repetitive musical structure mirrors the obsessive, circular nature of anxious thoughts about love and loss. What makes the song particularly powerful is how it captures the paradox of modern relationships - the simultaneous desire for deep connection and the terror of complete emotional exposure. The band's use of negative space in both the music and lyrics allows listeners to project their own experiences of romantic vulnerability onto the song. This raw honesty about emotional neediness, combined with the haunting beauty of the sparse arrangement, helped establish The xx as masters of intimate indie music and made "Shelter" resonate deeply with anyone who has ever felt utterly dependent on another person's love.

Comments (22)

Anonymous 2010-02-28 15:34:00

completely amazing... it's deep, it's true...... :)is a song very well achieved!!A portuguese opinion :)
Anonymous 2010-04-08 02:36:00

wow, just got shivers reading this for the first time. the xx make all of their lyrics so believable and real. i love how they're portrayed in such a dead and hopeless manner. anyone who's been hurt by love is reached in this album, and the redundancy of phrases just makes it hit you even harder.and i'll cross oceans like never beforeso you can feel the way that i feel tooand i'll mirror images back at youso you can the see the way i feel it toocan't wait to see them at lolla, resenting missing them last night in Bloomington.
Anonymous 2010-04-30 06:33:00

this song makes me think of my xgirlfriend...and how we fucked up our 14 year relationship...and now all I can do is imagine some psychological space where she is singing this back to me and I am hugging her tightly...and we could be together with no fear, or resentment...and trust.
Anonymous 2010-05-05 12:51:00

Pure beauty! I cant stop playing this song over and over...I absolutely love it!
Anonymous 2010-06-16 20:50:00

i just broke up with my boyfriend. i'm living in regret. and he doesn't want me anymore. i keep playing this song. this is a perfect caption of how i feel. :( andrew if you're reading this. come back to me.
Anonymous 2010-06-28 01:20:00

xx is the best, every song has its own character, sounds very fantastic, always play this on the road, driving my beetle. perfect cruising sounds.
Anonymous 2010-08-08 21:21:00

the xx are soooo good i cant find a song i dont like i have known about them for a while and they just get better and better every time i listen to them :)
Brittney Sparkle Foltz 2011-05-28 08:41:00

Love it when you find a song to completely fall in love with, after just a few seconds of listening in to it <3.
Cristina de Peralta 2011-05-31 02:50:00

I feel the same. Heard it from that movie, number four. downloaded it within minutes.
Nikki Daglis 2011-06-05 00:23:00

lovee this
Gabriel David William 2011-06-05 07:33:00

after watching ' I am number four ' , I'm goin to my laptop and search for this song.. this is good.
Jennifer Kathryn 2011-06-08 22:36:00

Completely in love with this song after hearing it once. <3
Jealy Santillana Masacote 2011-06-11 00:55:00

This song will make you fall in love even if you resist to... Ha ha! (It's the reason why I like the movie 'I am number four' -- just because of it LOL).
Jonathan Cowser 2011-06-16 13:04:00

It is a great song.
Jesse Botello 2011-06-16 15:03:00

The xx rocks man
Noemi Sifuentes 2011-06-25 21:59:00

I love this song so much! The xx is badass <3.
Malaika Kangudja 2011-07-02 02:22:00

great effin song.. lovin it so much.
Gaby Cruz 2011-07-20 23:00:00

Exactly what I did!!!
Gaby Cruz 2011-07-20 23:00:00

all it took was one time!!
MachiÃ«ste Ashley Christian Dav 2011-08-06 04:44:00

Whatever it's about, it's a HOT song.
BÃ¡rbara Atkinson 2011-11-30 07:29:00

The xx, is pretty great. Instrumentals, lyrics, vocals. Fell in love with their music instantly.
saeedah 2013-03-16 14:19:00

i wanna cry. i found the boy of my dreams and let him slip away. i'll never forgive myself. never. ever. i loved him. i messed up. unmendable. broken. he hates me now. i'll never forgive myself. never. ever.