What does White Flag mean?

Dido: White Flag Meaning

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Album cover for White Flag album cover

Song Released: 2003


White Flag Lyrics

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...

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  1. 1TOP RATED

    #1 top rated interpretation:
    asterodera
    click a star to vote
     Jan 11th 2009 !⃝

    This song is clearly about someone who is still hung up on an ex partner of theirs, the video puts emphasis on this too.

    In the video it's a mutual feeling unbeknown to one another, as they both have indications of the love of each others [namely pictures in their apartments] and they do meet up several times, but in order to show face they do not let slip how they feel. "they hold their tongues and let it pass, and you'll think that I've moved on".

    Beyond the video, this can again be a two way, or one way love interpretation and "I promise I'm not going to make your life harder or return to where we were" shows that although the feeling is strong, it is not right to act upon them any longer.

    The chorus describes surrendering to your feelings, how the heart overrules the heart:
    " I will go down with this ship,
    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".

    Do respond to this song, as I'd be interested to view other interpretations =]

  2. anonymous
    click a star to vote
     Jun 25th 2018 !⃝

    This song perfectly how I feel about my ex-girlfriend. I don't think the song reflects someone who is pathetic and "hung up" on their ex. I think rather that the poet that is Dido is simply stating a truth. Once we truly love someone, it never ends, ever.

    One loves their children even if they are in jail or highly estranged. One loves their parents long after their deaths. But, why doesn't the same apply to romantic love? Dido says that IT DOES apply, and I agree completely.

    Dido is a true poet. And, she is very honest about her feelings. So, basically she is saying this: "I fucked you over. I know it. No sane person would still be with me. But, I will always have a place in your heart for you. And, I would rather go down in flames and experience all the hurt of not being able to be with you that learn to hate you."

    Most people hate their ex-lovers, often with a horrific passion. Dido says she can't do that. She loves this man like a family member, basically. And, that doesn't mean that she thinks that things can work out. She fucked it up, and it can't. At least not right now.

    I've always found the bizarre notion of hating most of my ex-girlfriend's just that, bizarre. I hate my ex-wife for good reasons, but the woman I lost for whom this song is so special to me did not do anything in particular but happen to be from another country and I happened to not have enough money to support us both at the time and she was educated and working as a house cleaner made her so miserable that I loved her enough to let her go back to her home in Peru. And, we parted with the words, "I will always love you" and they were true.

    Yet, so many women I've truly cared for since her simply want to possess 100% of me for some odd reason. I don't expect them to like that I am honest in saying I'll always love her, but I do expect they respect it. But, the idea of "carrying a torch" (which I am and I am not) is repulsive to so many people. But, I'd rather die than lie about how I feel about her.

    As for the final verses, well, destiny is an odd thing and I believe in things like God and irony and fate. "And when we meet, which I'm sure we will" will probably happen at some airport one day with my new wife of 10 years and her new husband of similar time. And, I'll pretend that I have moved on, because it is socially acceptable, but in reality such an encounter would be horrific and lovely.

    I treasure every day I had with her...but I only got 3 years. Most people never get to experience "true love" for a day, much less 3 years. I am fucking lucky.

    Dido isn't hung up so much as she is just a very honest woman that loves with all her heart and cannot hold back her feelings.

    Emotional honesty is hard but rewarding. Trust me.

  3. anonymous
    click a star to vote
     May 3rd 2018 !⃝

    I love this song this is true for every one who has been in love with their ex and still is.And wishes things could of turned out differently but can't go back

  4. anonymous
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     Sep 20th 2014 !⃝

    Dido expresses devotion and loyalty to her past lover with the utmost acceptance and kindness.

  5. anonymous
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     Sep 3rd 2013 !⃝

    For me I personally think it's talking about being still in love with your ex bf/gf. Also,it can be lost love.It's one of those bittersweet songs.She states that she wrote this song on her ex fiance,things didn't work out,but she'll always love him no matter what.We love that's pretty much what she's saying.

  6. anonymous
    click a star to vote
     Sep 9th 2011 !⃝

    I think this song is much, much deeper than it appears ont he surfce. It is frighteneningly eerie in terms of the suffering that a couple has to go through when their lives were or are filled with trama. I wouldn't be suprised if it weren't my interpretation, but I think she is deeper than this appears


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