9 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
Surrendering Lyrics
you were full and fully capable
you were self sufficient and needless
your house was fully decorated in that sense
you were taken with me to a point
a case of careful what you wish for
but what you knew was enough to begin
and so you called and courted fiercely
so you rached out, entirely fearless
and yet you knew of reservation and how it serves
and I salute you for your courage
and I applaud your perseverance
and I embrace you for your faith in the face of adversarial forces that I represent
so you were in but not entirely
you were up for this but not totally
you knew how arms length-ing can maintain doubt
and so you fell and you're intact
so you dove in and you're still breathing
so you jumped and you're still flying if not shocked
and I support you in your trusting
and I commend you for your wisdom
and I'm amazed by your surrender in the face of threatening forces
that I represent
you found creative ways to distance
you hid away from much through humor
your choice of armor was your intellect
and so you felt and you're still here
and so you died and you're still standing
and so you softened and you're still safely in command
self protection was in times of true danger
your best defense to mistrust and be wary
surrendering a feat of unequalled measure
and I'm thrilled to let you in
overjoyed to be let in in kind
you were self sufficient and needless
your house was fully decorated in that sense
a case of careful what you wish for
but what you knew was enough to begin
so you rached out, entirely fearless
and yet you knew of reservation and how it serves
and I applaud your perseverance
and I embrace you for your faith in the face of adversarial forces that I represent
you were up for this but not totally
you knew how arms length-ing can maintain doubt
so you dove in and you're still breathing
so you jumped and you're still flying if not shocked
and I commend you for your wisdom
and I'm amazed by your surrender in the face of threatening forces
that I represent
you hid away from much through humor
your choice of armor was your intellect
and so you died and you're still standing
and so you softened and you're still safely in command
your best defense to mistrust and be wary
surrendering a feat of unequalled measure
and I'm thrilled to let you in
overjoyed to be let in in kind
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
to me, this song is about someone whod given up on falling in love, but still wanted to fall. "case of careful what you wish for." Alanis knows this, and is "amazed" that the guy has surrendered to his feelings and let past go. The "adversarial forces" would be the hurt of past relationships. To me, the song is like saying "see you can fall in love and not get hurt."
I agree with the above- this is the polar opposite, evil twin, character foil, etc., of Head Over Feet. This is about the importance of holding back, and then unexpectadedly surrendering when love overwhelms you.
Well said, Ian-sama. Al's a meditating Buddhist. She's always looking for the "middle path." Likewise this reads like another one of her multi-level objectifications. Sounds like it's every bit as much notes to herself as to a former lover or anyone who just stumbles across it. Ever the delightful little professor who's class I'd =never= miss.
The title says it all: "Surrendering." The topic is not so much surrender as an action, but as a process -- surrendering. Alanis flirts with the language of war throughout: "I salute you for your courage;" "adversarial forces;" "your surrender;" "threatening forces;" "your choice of armor was your intellect;" "you died and you're still standing;" "in command;" "times of true danger;" "best defense." Love, like war, involves risk, calculation, tactics. Her lover is "self-sufficient and needless," but decides to compromise his safe and secure existence because he is "taken with" her and knows "enough to begin." She applauds his perseverance, commends his wise reservation and wariness, supports his trusting; that is, he wins her respect. And it is with mutual admiration and respect that both sides agree to end their romantic battle. The surrender occurs not on one side, but on both. The song is as much about Alanis' surrender as it is about her lover's: "And I'm thrilled to let you in/Overjoyed to be let in in kind." Omnia vincit amor.
@KangNKodos also realizing "fully decorated" is how you'd describe a veteran with lots of medals/honors/awards...
@KangNKodos also realizing "fully decorated" is how you'd describe a veteran with lots of medals/honors/awards...
Same as "Head over feet" by her.
if it is the same idea as Head Over Feet then it's a different viewpoint on the theme - Head Over Feet is about how she fell for a guy and this is more about how the guy was after her and she respected the way he was so persistent about it even though it was diving in at the deep end.
this song is nothing like head over feet. that's ridiculous.
Think this is about a man who surprised Alanis with his persistence and ability to put up with her, and in the end, she ended up falling in love. :)
The fine line between trying too hard and not trying enough... just right.