I am a lover of being in charge, though it’s my enemy
And it sounds unlike me to not be the one with the authority

It’s time to bow out of this race
‘bout time for me to be in last place
I got myself in a civil war
It’s time to fight for, fight for
What’s worth fighting for

Joining the lines of
Those who have raised and flown a white flag
And I know there is a victory
In losing myself
And gaining liberty

It’s time to bow out of this race
‘bout time for me to be in last place
I got my self in a civil war
Its time to fight for, fight for
What’s worth fighting for
Sins worth fighting for

Surrender is such
A hard pill to swallow
Surrender is such
A hard pill to swallow
Surrender is such
A bitter pill to swallow
Surrender is such
A bitter pill
It's a bitter pill
It's a bitter pill to swallow

It's time to bow out of this race
‘bout time for me to be in last place
I got my self in a civil war
It's time to fight for, fight for
Bow out of this race
‘bout time for me to be in last place
I got my self in a civil war
It's time to fight for, fight for
What's worth fighting for
A civil war
My civil war


Words & Music by: Trey Heffinger, Wes Willis & Kevin Huguley ©2011 Tunes From The Basement (SESAC) admin by Patton House Music Publishing / Meaux Hits / Wes Willis Music / Songs For Sinners (ASCAP) admin by EMICMG Publishing

Behind the Song:
"Yes, we're from the South, but don't get the wrong idea over the title. The war we sing of is about the heart, and the waging of war that is within our souls. It's a battle every day for the bruised and the broken. And, it feels like a civil war. A civil war with ourself, really. History teaches, even from Scripture, that sometimes wars just have to be fought. For the children of God, the war is daily. And it's a spiritual war. We have to fight against us. And it can be painful. In fact, most of the time, it is quite painful. It can taste bitter, but it's all apart of the fight. Surrender is a bitter pill to swallow. It hurts. The idea of truly singing the song, "I Surrender All," is not a happy or even realistic concept to us. Singing that from the heart, in a genuine emotionally attached state, takes the brave. But in "A Civil War," it takes the weak ones. The weak ones like us, who simply recognize that the Gospel is what's truly worth fighting for. And the fight is found to be fought when we really bow out of the race altogether. Utter dependence is a freeing and humbling place to be." - Rush of Fools