Lyrics

It doesn’t mean much
It doesn’t mean anything at all
The life I’ve left behind me
Is a cold room
I’ve crossed the last line
From where
I can’t return
Where every step I took in faith
Betrayed me
And led me from my home

And sweet surrender
Is all that I have to give

You take me in
No questions asked
You strip away the ugliness
That surrounds me
Are you an angel
Am I already that gone
I only hope
That I won’t disappoint you
When I’m down here
On my knees

And sweet surrender
Is all that I have to give
Sweet surrender
Is all that I have to give

And I don’t understand
By the touch of your hand
I would be the one to fall
I miss the little things
I miss everything (about you)

It doesn’t mean much
It doesn’t mean anything at all
The life I’ve left behind me
Is a cold room

And sweet surrender
Is all that I have to give
Sweet surrender
Is all that I have to give

 

Appears on

Surfacing (1997)
Mirrorball (1999)
Remixed (2001)
Afterglow Live (2004)
Mirrorball: The Complete Concert (2006)
Closer: The Best Of Sarah McLachlan (2008)
The Essential Sarah McLachlan (2013)

Mirrorball DVD (1999)
Video Collection 1989-1998 (2000)
Afterglow Live DVD (2004)
VH1 Storytellers (2004)

Sweet Surrender (single)
Angel (single)
Surfacing Bonus Disc

 

Versions

Album Version
from “Surfacing”
Track lenght: 4:02

Live: Mirrorball
from “Mirrorball”
Track lenght: 3:59

Live: Afterglow Live
from “Afterglow Live”
Track lenght: 3:59

Radio Mix/Tom Lorde-Alge Mix
from “Sweet Surrender” (Single)
Track lenght: 4:07

Soft Jazz Version
from “Surfacing Bonus Disc”
Track lenght: 3:15

DJ Tiesto Mix
from “Remixed”
Track lenght: 7:05

Roni Size Mix
from “Sweet Surrender” (Single)
Track lenght: 3:58

Roni Size Vocal
from “Sweet Surrender Remixes” (12″ Promo)
Track lenght: 7:15

Roni Size Dub
from “Sweet Surrender Remixes” (12″ Promo)
Track lenght: 6:18

Überzone Mix
from “Sweet Surrender” (Single)
Track lenght: 4:31

Überzone Vocal Edit
from “Sweet Surrender Remixes” (12″ Promo)
Track lenght: 4:28

Boilerhouse Mix
from “Boilerhouse Remix” (Promo)
Track lenght: 3:58

 

Compilations

Credits

Vocals, Piano, Electric Guitar: Sarah McLachlan
Drums, Percussion: Ashwin Sood
Drum Machine, Bass: Pierre Marchand
Electric Guitars: Michel Pepin & Brian Minato

 

Collaborations

–

 

Trivia/Notes

– Nominated for ‘Best Video’ at the 1998 JUNO Awards

 

Sarah says

“Sweet Surrender took a very long time to write. The initial inspiration came actually after seeing Leaving Los Vegas, which I found to be this beautiful tragic love story. These two people who were rather pathetic in both their own rights, and yet they completely accepted each other for who they were…all the beautiful things and all the ugly things. That’s a lot to do with what this is about, accepting ugly things and being able to appreciate the fact that someone can love you for all those nasty things, when you think you are completely unloveable…there’s some great comfort in that. ”
– VH1 Storytellers

 

Music Video