Surrender

I think you've pretty much nailed it, fiomojo. The break in the rhyming scheme in the second stanza looks like a deliberate poetic device. The listener would anticipate "whore" (not sure about "I've known she was a WHORE", though. In the outtake version of this song, an alternate lyric is used:<br /> <br /> Now I had heard the WACS recruited old maids, dykes and whores<br /> But mommy isn't one of those, I've known her all these years.<br /> <br /> Notice how the lyric is "one of those" in both versions? does that mean she's not "old" or a "maid"? or is it just a leftover from a previous version of the lyric? In either case, the alternate version implies to me that the hidden rhyme might not be "whores." Maybe it's somethng like "But mommy isn't one of those, at least not since the war". ;-)<br /> <br /> I agree with the third stanza, but i think rolling numbers just means rolling joints. <br /> <br /> I think the chorus is just amazing because it has so many simultaneous meanings. Surrender (to lust, conformity, Americans, soldiers, whores, etc.) but don't give yourself away (go too far, lose your moral purity, catch a disease, reveal your true self, etc.). Hell, it might even refer to the Philipines (surrendering to the Japanese, then the Americans, etc.) <br /> <br /> It's interesting that it has so many allusions to war (surrender, soldier, WACS, etc.)

overall, a pretty nice interpretation, though some new information from user GuitarGuy057 does make at least part of your theory obsolete:<br /> <br /> The lyrics about the mother being in the WAC's is a reference to the Women's Army Corps, which was active during World War II. And if you're wondering why those lyrics, "Now I had heard the WACs recruited old maids for the war," don't make much sense, it's because they weren't written that way. The original lyrics were deemed too racy: "Now I had heard the WACs were either old maids, dykes or whores."<br /> <br /> After hearing this, the line makes a lot more sense.<br /> <br /> Great rock song.<br />

No, no, and no. Your "alternate" rhyming scheme makes no sense (war actually meaning whore). None of the ending words in the first verse rhyme; therefore, none of your 'implied' rhymes about the WACs are plausible.<br /> <br /> Also, "rolling numbers" has nothing to do with cocaine. It's about rolling joints. Marijuana is a wholly different drug than cocaine, and the terminology you claim for one is only used for the other.<br /> <br /> So before you start your diatribe with "Okay, here's what "Surrender" really means," perhaps you should have a clue as to what you are speaking about. Because you are completely wrong in most of what you stated. I'm really curious if you consider yourself a "grown-up or a smart enough teenager," because your interpretation of this song is ridiculous and incorrect.

@flomojo You are definitely correct about the "whore" theory - have you ever heard the original demo version of this song? It went something along the lines of "Now I had heard the WACS recruited old maids, dykes and whores."

@flomojo I really like your analysis of Surrender. It's a great song! I am of the opinion that music is art, and it can be interpreted differently by each person. <br /> I think this song's bigger message is of teenagers growing up; The specifics deal with their relationship with their parents, sex, drugs, rock n roll. <br /> The song is great because it goes back and forth from the parents to the teenager. The chorus seems to be both... "mommy's all right, daddy's all right" is the teenager talking to himself about his parents; "Surrender, but don't give yourself away" is the parents coming to grips with getting older. It can also be interpreted as more parental advice to their teenager. <br /> <br /> I (obviously) understand the sexual references throughout the song, but I think the song is more than that. The last verse is great!<br /> How would you react if you saw your parents having sex while listening to your Kiss records? Talk about mixed emotions!

@flomojo You are right about the WACS as i'm not surprised most folks don't know that. I think you missed the mark on rolling numbers with rolled dollar bill to snort coke when in fact rolling a number is old slang for rolling a joint. For example the opening lines to Neil Young's lyrics to Albuquerque, " Well they say that Santa Fe is less than ninety miles away and I got time to roll a number and rent a car" Neil was never a big coke kind of guy but he has been known to smoke a number on occasion. Nice song too, give it a listen.