The word surrender has many meanings and inferences. Some people apply it only in a military sense, but as a word, it is more important than just one meaning.
Surrender can be construed as someone giving their all to another. It can mean giving something up, or even something simple like surrendering an insurance policy. Of course, it can mean surrendering to authorities in a criminal case or giving authority over an issue to another.
Does It Make Us Vulnerable?
It can, depending on the circumstances, but not always. In some ways, it can also free us from something that has become oppressive that we need to be rid of.
Songwriters, of course, have used this word and its meaning in a variety of ways. Let’s look at some of the best songs about surrender.
Top 44 Best Songs About Surrender
1 I Surrender by Rainbow
Let’s start with an obvious choice for a song about surrendering. This song was written by the former Argent lead singer and guitarist Russ Ballard, well-known for writing some great songs. The first recording of the song was by Head East in 1980, which was not a success commercially.
Rainbow’s version, however, was, in the UK at least. Released the year after, in 1981, it peaked at #3 in the UK but only reached #105 in America. Graham Bonnet quit the band in the middle of the recording, and his lead vocal was replaced by Joe Turner.
The Biggest Success
“I Surrender” was Rainbow’s biggest success commercially. Whilst it was a success in the UK, it was viewed by some as a Pop-Rock song and not to be taken too seriously. I suppose, in some respects, like the band themselves.
They considered themselves a “supergroup.” That growing trend of bands formed by musicians with a big ego who thought they were better than the band they were currently in.
Nevertheless, with this, they produced a song that could be placed in the category of Classic Rock, even if it was a bit “Glam.”
2 I Surrender by Celine Dion
Same title as the previous track by Rainbow, but this song by Celine Dion is light years away in style. It starts as a gentle piano-based ballad, but it changes quite dramatically into more of a power ballad. In turn, it’s a great song about surrender.
Something to note is the typical Celine Dion orchestrations which are particularly good on this track. It was taken from her album, A New Day Has Come, and released in 2002.
The album was a huge success reaching #1 in the UK and America and a dozen other countries worldwide. It was possibly so popular because it was her first album back after her two-year absence to be with her new child and family.
A very good song sung well as always…
It tells a story of wanting to leave her current relationship for someone new. She says about how her life has just become too much of the same, and she would give it all up just to be with the new man.
A story that is all about forbidden love and something that may just be out of reach. That’s why it is one of the best songs about surrender.
3 Surrender by Tom Petty
When we lost Tom Petty, not only did we lose an influential songwriter and musician, we lost one of the good guys in music. He will be remembered as one of the great Rock and Roll songwriters, and that is what is displayed here.
The song has a strange history…
It has been recorded quite a few times but was never included on an album. Its first release came in 2000 as a radio single which was taken from a compilation album, Anthology: Through The Years. This was followed by a version recorded on stage and included on the album, The Live Anthology.
You will also find different versions of the song in two albums released after his death. Damn The Torpedoes from 2010. And a very early 1976 version of the song was included on the album, An American Treasure Deluxe.
A special sound…
Whilst he was most known perhaps for playing a Fender Strat and sometimes a Telecaster, he also heavily used his Rickenbacker. And that is one of the highlights of this track. That jangling “Rickie” sound carried the song along like it had been written for The Byrds.
In the song, he is asking the lady to surrender to him. He says he is “on my knees” and cannot comprehend why she has gone cold on the relationship.
4 Surrender by Natalie Taylor
This is a song written by Natalie Taylor with some help from her husband, John Howard, in 2015. It is very much a Pop song about two people who can’t face the problems in their relationship.
There is an inevitable split, but then she realizes that she is left alone. She asks if they are both able to surrender and apologize to each other.
5 Surrender by Elvis Presley
This isn’t one of the most widely known Elvis songs, but it was one of his most successful. It is a song that was adapted by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman from the 1902 Italian original entitled “Come Back To Sorrento” (Torna A Surriento).
It reached #1 in the UK, America, and Belgium. At less than two minutes long, you could argue that you hardly get your money’s worth.
An interesting song…
You might not know it by name, but as soon as you hear it, then it all comes back. Plenty of nice, almost flamenco-style guitar from Scottie Moore and Elvis crooning over the top.
It was typical of the sort of performance that made him an international icon in his early days. It is a romantic song about surrendering to love, but without all the arrangements that came a decade later.
He asks his lady to surrender her heart to him in that innocent way that was born musically in the 50s and early 60s. Short and sweet and with a vintage charm is the best way I can describe it.
6 Sweet Surrender by John Denver
John Denver, in some ways, was a misunderstood songwriter in some quarters. Some people, when they hear the name, immediately think of American Country music and turn it off.
But, he was so much more than that…
It is true that is how he made his name, and he had a lifelong association with Country music. But, he wrote and produced other material that was hugely different from that genre. “Annie’s Song,” dedicated to his then-wife was a good example of a great ballad that was a huge success.
As was my favorite track that he wrote and recorded, “The Eagle and the Hawk.” In that track, he brilliantly combined an orchestra with what is essentially a Pop song. And, he made the music soar like the birds may have done in a brilliant finish.
A song filled with so much positivity…
Interesting how he can take a subject that most see as having defeatist connotations and give us a song full of hope. As such, it is a positive song about surrendering to life.
The song tells us that life is for living in the moment. Live and enjoy today and think about tomorrow when it is here. The message is gentle but powerful. To let go of all your worries and stresses and surrender to the moment you are in.
7 No Surrender by Bruce Springsteen
This was a track taken from Springsteen’s album, Born in the U.S.A. It was very nearly not included on the album at all, but finally got its place and became a popular song at concerts. There were 12 tracks on the album, and seven were released as singles.
Some would consider that a bit naughty and just cashing in but there you go. “No Surrender” was not one of those single releases.
It was first released in 1984 and rose again to prominence in 2004 when Democrat John Kerry used the song in his campaign.
8 Shadows Of The Night by Pat Benatar
Pat Benatar didn’t record the first version of this powerful surrender song, but it was hers that achieved success. It was included on her album, Get Nervous.
The single reached #83 in the UK and #13 in America. The song was originally written for the film “Times Square” but was eventually excluded.
It is a powerful Rock ballad that shows Pat Benatar at her very best. A powerful band and great backing vocals make this a great track. The song talks about trying to persuade someone to “Surrender all your dreams to me tonight – They’ll come true in the end.”
8Surrender to the Night – Skylar Grey
9Letting Go of Control – Brett Dennen
10Yielding to You – Mat Kearney
11Embrace the Unknown – Wrabel
12Submission – Asher Monroe
13Surrender My Love – Tracie Spencer
14Let Go and Let God – PJ Morton
15Fall Into You – David Hodges
16Unreserved – Mandisa
17Hands Up – LP
18Yield – Indigo Girls
19Surrendered – Chris Quilala
20Surrendered All – Jonathan McReynolds
21Letting You Go – Bullet for My Valentine
22When I Give In – Justin Furstenfeld
23Open Hands – Laura Story ft. Mac Powell
24Laying It Down – Jon Foreman
25Relentless Love – Christian Collins
26Losing Control – Russ
27Free Fallin’ – John Mayer
28Give You Up – Dido
29Stepping Back – Lawrence Taylor
30Embracing the Silence – Matt Maher
31Hand It Over – Keb’ Mo’
32Falling Into Surrender – Jeremy Camp
33Lay My Burden Down – Alison Krauss & Union Station
34Breaking My Walls Down – Christian Lalama
35Falling Into You – Hillsong Young & Free
36Take It All – Helena Paparizou
37Empty My Hands – Tenth Avenue North
38Surrender to the Waves – Ayla Nereo
39Losing Control – Ross Copperman
40Embrace the Day – Nikki Hassman
41Offering – Paul Baloche
42Release Me – Agnes
43Not My Will But Yours – Marty Sampson
44Giving Myself – Jennifer Paige
Looking for More Great Songs?
We can help with that. Take a look at our detailed articles on the Best Love Songs For Him, the Best Songs About Unrequited Love, the Best Songs About Crushes, the Best Goodbye Songs, and the Best Songs About Time for more awesome song selections.
Best Songs About Surrender – Final Thoughts
Surrender need not be negative; it can have a positive outcome when it is used positively. And we have seen some of these songs reflect that.
Surrendering yourself in a relationship is giving yourself to the other person. I think that is what we are supposed to do if we want a lasting relationship.
Until next time, happy listening.
