Take, take it all away
Save my heart for another day
I’m up late on the telephone
And I’m all alone with the dial tone
Wait, wait ’til the sun is up
Drown my dreams in a coffee cup
Palms out, wanna beg for luck
But I’m way too proud
Never giving up
Oh, something’s gotta happen
Something’s gotta give
And something’s got to break
I know someday it’s gonna happen
Someday it’s gonna give
Can’t always be this way
And if the riptide comes to get me
And pulls me under
It won’t upset me
I’ll go down
(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
I’ll throw the white flag of surrender
Knock me down
Not forever
Just for now
(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
Give, give everything I’ve got
Out of reach, but I’ll take a shot
Kick rocks in the parking lot
Feel like giving up
But I’ll never stop
Run, run, running like a fool
Never win if you never lose
Find hope and a little truth
Gonna learn new tricks
Gotta jump through hoops
Oh, something’s gotta happen
Something’s gotta give
And something’s got to break
I know someday it’s gonna happen
Someday it’s gonna give
Can’t always be this way
And if the riptide comes to get me
And pulls me under
It won’t upset me
I’ll go down
(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
I’ll throw the white flag of surrender
Knock me down
Not forever
Just for now
(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
Not forever, just for now
Not forever, just for now
Not forever, not forever, not forever
Won’t stay down
Not forever, just for now
Not forever, just for now
Not forever, not forever, not forever
Won’t stay down
And if the riptide comes to get me
And pulls me under
It won’t upset me
And if the riptide comes to get me
And pulls me under
It won’t upset me
I’ll go down
(Oh oh oh oh oh oh)
I’ll throw the white flag of surrender
Knock me down
Not forever
Just for now
(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
And if the riptide comes to get me
And pulls me under
It won’t upset me
And if the riptide comes to get me
And pulls me under
It won’t upset me
I’ll go down
(Oh oh oh oh oh oh)
I’ll throw the white flag of surrender
Knock me down
Not forever
Just for now
(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
Embracing Vulnerability: A Closer Look at “White Flag”
Sabrina Carpenter’s “White Flag” is a stirring anthem about facing life’s challenges with resilience and self-awareness. The song captures the internal tug-of-war between persistence and the need to momentarily surrender. Lines like “I’ll throw the white flag of surrender, knock me down, not forever, just for now” suggest that it’s okay to temporarily step back and regroup, rather than viewing setbacks as permanent defeat. The recurring theme of the riptide implies overwhelming emotions or circumstances, yet the acceptance of being pulled under without losing hope emphasizes strength in vulnerability. Carpenter’s delivery and the song’s uplifting tone inspire listeners to accept their struggles, knowing they won’t last forever.
Song Credits
- Artist: Sabrina Carpenter
- Songwriters: Sabrina Carpenter, Julia Michaels, JP Saxe, John Ryan
- Release Year: 2024
- Label: Island Records