Expert: Bong Santos - 7/25/2006

Question
I only know this one line, I will not surrender, I will not hang a white flag outside my door. I really need to find this song i believe the man that did it first was on american Idol and played the piano while he sang it, I also think a women just re did it.  Please help

Answer
Dear Jenn,

Got me confused there. Since I don't follow American Idol too much, I'm not sure if WHITE FLAG was sung there or if there is another song called WHITE FLAG. But this WHITE FLAG I know (and the most popular perhaps) was originally done by a female artist and has not been redone, I guess. Could it be you are talking about WHITE FLAG by DIDO? WHITE FLAG is from DIDO's second album called LIFE FOR RENT. It went to #18 on Billboard's Hot 100 Chart on January 24, 2004. DIDO is British, born DIDO FLORIAN CLOUD DE BOUNEVIALLE ARMSTRONG on December 25, 1971.

Here's how it goes:

WHITE FLAG / DIDO

I know you think that I shouldn't still love you
I'll 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

Well I will go down with this ship
And 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

I know I left too much mess
And destruction to come back again
And I caused but nothing but trouble
I understand if you can't talk to me again
And if you live by the rules of 'It's over'
Then I'm sure that that makes sense

Well I will go down with this ship
And 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

And when we meet
As I'm sure we will
All that was then
Will be there still
I'll let it pass
And hold my tongue
And you will think
That I've moved on

Well I will go down with this ship
And 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


Maraming salamat po!
And to whoever, A Very Happy 25th Wedding Anniversary!

BONG M. SANTOS
Manila, Philippines