White Flag
03. DIDO Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "White Flag" by Dido are about a woman who is in love with someone who has left her. Although she left a lot of "mess and destruction" behind, she still wants to tell the one she loves how she feels. She understands that it might not make sense and that he may never want to speak to her again, but she is still in love and will always be. She won't put her hands up and surrender, even if it means going down with the ship.


The phrase "go down with the ship" is a metaphor for being willing to stay with something until the bitter end, even if it means facing destruction. In this case, the "ship" represents the relationship that the singer is willing to endure, no matter the cost. The white flag is also a symbol of surrender, which the singer refuses to do. She will never give up her hope and love for the person she is singing about.


The lyrics are raw and heartfelt, expressing the vulnerability of being in love and the pain of heartbreak. They are relatable to anyone who has ever loved and lost someone. The song became a hit and is still a popular song played in movies and TV shows. It connected with fans worldwide and became an anthem for people that relate to the emotions conveyed in the song.


Line by Line Meaning

I know you think that I shouldn't still love you
I understand that you believe I shouldn't love you anymore


Or tell you that
Or express it to you


But if I didn't say it, well, I'd still have felt it
But if I didn't express it, I would still feel it internally


Where's the sense in that?
Where would be the logic in that?


I promise I'm not trying to make your life harder
I vow not to cause any further hardships in your life


Or return to where we were
Or go back to the past


But I will go down with this ship
But I will stand by my decisions and beliefs


And I won't put my hands up and surrender
And I won't give up


There will be no white flag above my door
I will not accept defeat


I'm in love and always will be
I love you and always will


I know I left too much mess and destruction
I understand that I may have caused chaos and turmoil


To come back again
To return to a relationship


And I caused nothing but trouble
I acknowledge that my actions resulted in difficulty


I understand if you can't talk to me again
I comprehend if you don't want to communicate with me anymore


And if you live by the rules of 'it's over'
And if you adhere to the idea that the relationship is finished


Then I'm sure that that makes sense
Then, I believe that it is reasonable


And when we meet
And if we reunite


Which I'm sure we will
Which I believe is likely


All that was there
Everything that once existed between us


Will be there still
Will still remain


I'll let it pass
I won't raise the past to hinder us


And hold my tongue
I'll keep quiet


And you will think
And you will assume


That I've moved on
That I've progressed forward


I will go down with this ship
I will stand by what I believe in


And I won't put my hands up and surrender
And I refuse to give up


There will be no white flag above my door
I won't accept defeat


I'm in love and always will be
I love you forever


I will go down with this ship
I will stand by my beliefs


And I won't put my hands up and surrender
And I will not give up


There will be no white flag above my door
I will not accept defeat


I'm in love and always will be
I love you forever


I will go down with this ship
I will stand by my beliefs


And I won't put my hands up and surrender
And I will not give up


There will be no white flag above my door
I will not accept defeat


I'm in love and always will be
I love you forever




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Rollo Armstrong, Dido Armstrong, Richard W Nowels

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@brucebartup6161

"Life was easier". I don't think so. Mine wasn't

As the poet said

"The gale it plies the saplings double

I blows so hard t'will,, soon be gone.

Today the Roman and his trouble

Are ashes under Uricon"

A. E Houseman, A Shropshire Lad

same selfish wounded hearts

same pointless tears

same loneliness so acute you think you'll fall over when it hits

same despair so deep that only Morrisey can understand me.

Same stupidity, same dreams

all so po faced and serious.

We knew nothng (ok I knew nothing, still don't, truth be told)

Maybe you are just different? yes i'll buy that.



@Laura.D3101

"And when we meet
Of 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 moved on".
Pure pain and lost love turned into amazing poetry!



All comments from YouTube:

@matthewpayne42

2024 anyone listening.?

@waykurat3396

Me

@phyothihanevercare

Here

@josutankopat6357

Hi...

@joss5186

Aquí ♡

@mmaaddict78

I'll be checking in at least once a year.

81 More Replies...

@Caustic_Window

I have spent 12 years searching for this song. I can now rest in peace.

@shwetajoshi3481

love this song

@maryjassy9202

+MONA DUBLISH yes

@FW7737

good song

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