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.
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...