In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
I know you think that I shouldn't still love you
Or tell you that
But if I didn't say it, well, I'd still have felt it
Where's the sense in that?
I promise I'm not trying to make your life harder
Or return to where we were
But I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be
I know I left too much mess and destruction
To come back again
And I caused nothing but trouble
I understand if you can't talk to me again
And if you live by the rules of "it's over"
Then I'm sure that that makes sense
But I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be
And when we meet
Which I'm sure we will
All that was there
Will be there still
I'll let it pass
And hold my tongue
And you will think
That I've moved on
I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be
I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be
I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be
Or tell you that
But if I didn't say it, well, I'd still have felt it
Where's the sense in that?
I promise I'm not trying to make your life harder
Or return to where we were
But I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be
I know I left too much mess and destruction
To come back again
And I caused nothing but trouble
I understand if you can't talk to me again
And if you live by the rules of "it's over"
Then I'm sure that that makes sense
But I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be
And when we meet
Which I'm sure we will
All that was there
Will be there still
I'll let it pass
And hold my tongue
And you will think
That I've moved on
I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be
I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be
I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be
Lyrics submitted by Matty, edited by squishybobb
White Flag [Radio Edit] Lyrics as written by Dido Armstrong Rollo Armstrong
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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love this song, and here's my look on it's meaning. i'll go stanz by stanz;
" I know you think that I shouldn't still love you I'll tell you that But if I didn't say it Well, I'd still have felt it Where's the sense in that? "
She's saying that not saying she loves him doesn't change anything, because she obviouslly still fells it, so why not say what she feels?
" I promise I'm not trying to make your life harder Or return to where we were "
She's not trying to complicate things for him, or make things the way they used to be.. but she has to say what she has to say, and feel what she feels.
" Well I will go down with this ship And I won't put my hands up and surrender There will be no white flag above my door I'm in love and always will be "
Shes saying that she'll go wherever this love takes her, she won't quit on it, and she'll never give up on it. Because it is a part of her. & ALways will be, because this feeling will never leave her.
" I know I left too much mess And destruction to come back again And I caused nothing but trouble I understand if you can't talk to me again And if you live by the rules of "It's over" Then I'm sure that that makes sense "
She knows that she messed up, and she's done too much harm to ever have her love come back to her. She knows that she screwed things up more than she fixed things for them... and she understands if her love follows the quote on quote "it's over" rule, because she realizes how much pain she's caused.
" And when we meet As I'm sure we will All that was then Will be there still I'll let it pass And hold my tongue And you will think That I've moved on "
When they see eachother again, like they're bound to do, she'll act as though it hasn't phased her, and she has found someone new... To save him pain, not her.
Tht's the best interpritation I've heard for this song. I agree completely.