I Will Go to War
Tessa Thompson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴Ran the whole way
Ran the whole thing
Never ran away
Never been afraid
Never goin' to break
Never halfway

I don't know if I can take it

I can't take it, I can't take it anymore
I don't know if I can do it
If it wasn't for who I do it for

Doesn't make sense but it makes dollars
Doesn't make sense but it makes dollars
And I wanna spend it all on you
Against the world but I'm with you
I will go to war

Don't let you down (Don't let you down)
Won't let you down (Won't let you down)
I will go to war (I will go to war)
I will go to war (I will go to war)
Don't let you down (Don't let you down)
Won't let you down (Won't let you down, down)

I will go to war (I will go to war)
I will go to war

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Tessa Thompson's "I Will Go to War" express unwavering loyalty and devotion to someone or something. The opening lines, "Ran the whole way, ran the whole thing," suggest that the singer has faced a particularly challenging or difficult journey, but has persevered through it without backing down or giving up. This strength of character is further emphasized in the lyrics "Never been afraid, never goin' to break, never halfway." The singer is making it clear that they will always give their all.

However, it soon becomes apparent that the singer is feeling worn down by this constant struggle. They confess, "I don't know if I can take it, I can't take it anymore. I don't know if I can do it, if it wasn't for who I do it for." The second line suggests that the singer's motivation for soldiering on is external - they are doing it for someone else. The chorus then kicks in, repeating the declaration "I will go to war" over and over like a mantra. The singer is reaffirming their commitment to the cause, promising not to let their ally down.

The bridge introduces another layer of complexity to the song's meaning. "Doesn't make sense but it makes dollars" refers to the idiom "makes sense but doesn't make dollars," meaning that something is logical or reasonable but not lucrative. The singer is playing with this phrase, turning it on its head. They assert that what they are doing may not make sense, but it is financially beneficial. However, they then claim that they will spend all their money on their ally instead of keeping it for themselves. In this way, they are prioritizing their relationship over material gain.

Overall, "I Will Go to War" is a powerful and emotive song about loyalty, perseverance, and selflessness.

Line by Line Meaning

Ran the whole way
I have put in all my effort from the start

Ran the whole thing
I have given my all to this mission

Never ran away
I have never backed out of a challenge

Never been afraid
I have always faced my fears head on and never backed down

Never goin' to break
I will never give up or let anything break me

Never halfway
I always go all the way and never half-heartedly

I don't know if I can take it
I am unsure if I can handle this situation

I can't take it, I can't take it anymore
This situation is becoming unbearable and overwhelming for me

I don't know if I can do it
I am uncertain if I am capable of accomplishing this task

If it wasn't for who I do it for
The only reason I am persevering is because of the person/people I am doing this for

Doesn't make sense but it makes dollars
This decision may not seem logical but it is profitable

And I wanna spend it all on you
I want to give everything I earn to the person I care about

Against the world but I'm with you
Even though it feels like everyone is against us, we are together in this fight

I will go to war
I am willing to fight and give my all for what I believe in

Don't let you down (Don't let you down)
I will not disappoint or fail the person I care about

Won't let you down (Won't let you down)
I will not let the person I care about down

Won't let you down (Won't let you down, down)
I will not under any circumstance disappoint the person I care about

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: James Fauntleroy, Ludwig Goransson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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