Sweet Surrender
Rod Stewart Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

You come to me with open arms
Tryin' to rectify my charms
You say tonight, I'm to be your lover
And by the morning light I'm to discover

Everything that you've held inside of you
What's a man like me supposed to do
Sweet, oh sweet surrender
Sweet, sweet surrender

You tell me that you're lonely and you're sad
And tonight, I'm to be your only man
You wear those things that turn my head
You ruffle my ego but not my bed

Seems like summer when you're close at hand
If I seem eager then you'll understand

Sweet, sweet surrender
Sweet, sweet surrender

Heart is tired and full of doubt
Now you've sucked me in don't spit me out
Lay your head down next to mine
And in each others arms we'll entwine

Look me straight in the eyes and tell me
Between your heart and mind I see





Sweet, oh sweet surrender
Sweet, sweet surrender, surrender

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Rod Stewart's song Sweet Surrender describe a situation where someone is trying to win over the affection of the person whom they desire. The singer is being approached by another person with open arms, indicating that this person is ready to embrace them, to try and win them over. The other person seeks to address whatever qualities they observe in the singer that draws them near, and they express a desire to make love to the singer in that evening. The singer, however, is hesitant and unsure what they are supposed to do in this situation. The lyrics state that the other person has held something within themselves, and the singer wonders how they are supposed to react.


There is a sort of tension between the two, where the other person is attempting to manipulate the singer's heartstrings by pretending to be lonely and claim that they need the singer's love. Meanwhile, the singer is tempted by the other person's clothes, but doesn't really want to take the other person to bed. However, the singer still finds themselves drawn to the other person, and that person's presence can make the singer's heart sing. The singer's heart is full of doubt, but he still allows himself to be drawn closer to the other person.


Overall, the lyrics of Sweet Surrender describe a situation in which two people are drawn to one another, but one of them is trying to manipulate the other into being with them. The singer is hesitant, but still drawn to the other person, and ultimately decides to surrender to their desires.


Line by Line Meaning

You come to me with open arms
You approach me with complete acceptance and openness


Tryin' to rectify my charms
Attempting to make right any flaws in my appeal


You say tonight, I'm to be your lover
You declare that for tonight, I am to be your romantic partner


And by the morning light I'm to discover
By the time the sun rises, I will uncover something about you


Everything that you've held inside of you
All the emotions and thoughts that you have been concealing


What's a man like me supposed to do
How should I react or behave as someone like me?


Sweet, oh sweet surrender
An exclamation of the feeling of being overcome and submitting to something sweet


Sweet, sweet surrender
Reiteration of the aforementioned sentiment


You tell me that you're lonely and you're sad
You express that you are feeling both solitary and unhappy


And tonight, I'm to be your only man
Tonight, you have determined that I will be your exclusive lover


You wear those things that turn my head
You clothe yourself in ways that attract and compel me


You ruffle my ego but not my bed
You stroke my pride but do not immediately gratify my sexual desires


Seems like summer when you're close at hand
Your proximity generates a feeling of warmth and pleasure


If I seem eager then you'll understand
If I come across as overly eager, please comprehend that it is due to my enthusiasm


Heart is tired and full of doubt
My heart is weary and hesitant


Now you've sucked me in don't spit me out
You have lured me in, so do not abruptly end this relationship


Lay your head down next to mine
Please rest your head beside mine


And in each others arms we'll entwine
We will embrace one another


Look me straight in the eyes and tell me
Gaze at me directly and communicate


Between your heart and mind I see
I sense a conflict between your emotions and rationality


Sweet, oh sweet surrender
A repeated expression of the idea of yielding to something delightful


Sweet, sweet surrender, surrender
Reiteration of the previous sentiment




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ROBIN MARK LE MESURIER, ROD STEWART

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Susanne Roders

Love ya Rod. At 14 yrs this song took my heart ❤️, and it still does ! Your music is fantastic . 🎶🎶

Allan Clugston

I was18 the gig so amazing as rod,s gigs are I missed the gig at rugby pArk cos o was in hospital and still have the ticket to day

Richard Craven

I'll love 💘 that song

1rodfan631963

I'm a Rod Stewart of the old days and it does my heart so good to see people so much younger than me who can appericate this wonderful music!!!!!

Susanne Roders

Ohhh, My Rod ❣️ Fantastic song 🎶🎶 One of my favorites. 1983.... I was 13, my first album. You got my heart ❤️....
Love all of your music 🎶🎶🎶. Specially this one. Too bad it never made charts. I agree 👇. Someone thought something ❣️❤️🎶

Nazri Buang

Lies again? Superman Spiderman

That's Music

THIS SONG IS AMAZING!!! I can't undertsand why wasn't this song Nº1 in almost every country...

David Garcia

I Was in my Twenties at that Time.and. when I liste it. I still Remember my Lovely Girl Of my Life .A girl from EL Salvador.

reasoning2men

I believe because there were just too many good songs in the same album, also Rod Stewart was producing albums at a very fast pace so his new songs were out before you listened to the previous album. That could have contributed to it. Warm regards.

Socorro Luna

Essa música fez parte da minha trilha sonora da adolescência. Jamais esquecerei

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