When I was just a little kid I used to love parades
The banners, bands, and red balloons, and even lemonade
But I came home one labour day and my neighbour's father said
"Them marchers is all commies. Tell me, kid, are you a red?"
Well I didn't know just what he meant; my hair back then was brown
Our house was plain and yellow, like the others in the town
So I went and asked my mama why our neighbour called me red
She sat me down upon her knee, and this is what she said
Well you ain't done nothing if you ain't been called a red
If you've marched or agitated then you're bound to hear it said
So you might as well ignore or learn to love the word instead
'Cause you ain't been doing nothing if you ain't been called a red
Well I moved into the city with a good friend that I had
We had a lousy, rotten landlord. Let me tell you, he was bad
But when he tried to throw us out I clapped my hands and said
"You haven't seen a struggle if you haven't fought a red"
And you ain't done nothing if you ain't been called a red
If you've marched or agitated then you're bound to hear it said
So you might as well ignore or learn to love the word instead
'Cause you ain't been doing nothing if you ain't been called a red
Well, I kept on organizing because what else can you do?
Are you gonna let these sons of bitches walk all over you?
I'll fight for liberation, then as far as I can see
If that's what being red is then it's good enough for me
And you ain't done nothing if you ain't been called a red
If you've marched or agitated then you're bound to hear it said
So you might as well ignore or learn to love the word instead
'Cause you ain't been doing nothing if you ain't been called a
(Ain't been called a)
Ain't been called a red
