I Surrender All
Rev. Charles Nicks Jr. & The St. James Choir Lyrics


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Velvet fist in the gut while everyone is slingin' mud
Jesus found his politics but nobody listens
Rent it will rise but our doctors keep us high
(We can't get too low)
I know it's all broken
But I ain't got to focus

Is it hell, is it well, is there anybody can tell
I can't tell what side I am on
I can't tell what's right or wrong
We ain't ever gonna sing one song
Love goes, hate goes, now I am left all alone
Everyone seems to shout but we get lost in the sounds
Follow your sister, please, just try to hold her

I can't seem to focus
I know it's all broken
Is it hell, is it well, is there anybody can tell
I can't tell what side I am on
I can't tell what's right or wrong
We ain't ever gonna sing one song
Love goes, hate goes, now I am left all alone
All I ever wondered, all I ever wondered, would we make it through?
All I ever wondered, all I ever wondered, would we make it through?
Make it through

I can't tell what side I am on
I can't tell what's right or wrong
We ain't ever gonna sing one song
Love goes, hate goes, now I am left all alone

Love goes, hate goes, now I am left all alone




Love goes, hate goes, now I am left all alone
Love goes, hate goes, now I am left all alone

Overall Meaning

These lyrics are poignant and evocative of the confusion and disillusionment many people feel in today’s divisive and polarized world. The song begins with the image of a “velvet fist in the gut,” suggesting a feeling of being punched or knocked down even as people around you engage in mudslinging and conflict. Despite the singer's search for guidance through Jesus and his politics, they feel lost and unheard. The reference to rising rent and doctors keeping us high suggest a society where we are drowning our problems in medication, while the larger issues go unaddressed.


The chorus repeats the lines “I can’t tell what side I am on, I can’t tell what’s right or wrong,” underscoring the theme of moral ambiguity and uncertainty. The inability to "sing one song" suggests a lack of unity and cohesion, that love and hate seem to fluctuate rather than remain constant. Finally, the refrain “love goes, hate goes, now I am left all alone” adds to the sense of isolation and a feeling of being left behind in a world where everything seems to be constantly shifting.


Overall, the song captures the disorientation and confusion that many people feel in today’s world, where politics, society, and even morality seem uncertain and ever-changing.


Line by Line Meaning

Velvet fist in the gut while everyone is slingin’ mud
Despite all the negativity and violence in the world, we must remember that there is still hope and we can still persevere.


Jesus found his politics but nobody listens
Even though Jesus had a message of love and acceptance, many people still don't heed his teachings and instead focus on their own biases.


Rent it will rise but our doctors keep us high
As the cost of living continues to rise, it's important to rely on the love and support of our friends and family to keep us grounded and uplifted.


We can’t get too low
It's important to maintain a positive outlook and not let the challenges in life bring us down completely.


I know it’s all broken
Even though the world may seem chaotic and flawed, we must remember that there is still beauty and goodness within it.


But I ain’t got to focus
We don't have to obsess over the negativity around us; we can instead choose to focus on the positive things in our lives.


Is it hell, is it well can anyone even tell
Sometimes it's hard to distinguish between good and bad experiences or feelings; we must learn to find balance and learn from everything that comes our way.


I can’t tell what side I am on
It's easy to get lost in the chaos of the world and lose sight of our values and beliefs, but we can always find our way back to them.


I can’t tell what’s right or wrong
Moral ambiguity can make it difficult to make decisions, but we must use our instincts and best judgement to do what's right and stay true to ourselves.


We can’t ever just sing one song
Life is full of ups and downs and we must learn to adapt and change our perspective accordingly.


Love goes hate goes now I am left all alone
The ebb and flow of emotions can make us feel disconnected and lonely, but we must remember that love always persists and can bring us back together.


Everyone seems to shout but we got lost in the sound
Amid all the noise and chaos in the world, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and lost, but we can always find our way back to what's important.


Follow your sister please just try to hold her
We must support and uplift each other, especially in difficult times, and help each other find our way back to the light.


All I ever wondered, all I ever wondered would we make it through
Despite all the challenges and obstacles we face, we must hold onto hope that we will overcome them and find our way forward.


Make it through
No matter how hard things may seem, we must stay strong and persevere through them, knowing that we can come out the other side stronger for it.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: John Gamble, Paul William Janeway, Andrew Lee, Browan Lollar, Jesse Thomas Phillips

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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