When I was just a little thing I used to love parades
with banners, bands, red balloons and maybe lemonade
When I came home one May Day my neighbor’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 red brick like most others in the town
So I went and asked my momma why our neighbor called me Red
My mommy took me on 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 it or love the word instead
Cause you ain’t been doing nothing if you ain’t been called a Red
When I was growing up
had my troubles I suppose,
When someone took exception to my face or to my clothes
Or tried to cheat me on the job or hit me on the head
When I organized to fight back, why, the stinkers called me Red.
And you ain’t done nothing if you ain’t been called a Red
If you’ve organized your workplace, then you’re bound to hear it said
So you might as well ignore it or love the word instead
Cause you ain’t been doing nothing if you ain’t been called a Red.
When I was living on my own one apartment that I had
Had a lousy, rotten landlord
Let me tell you, he was bad.
But when he tried to throw me out I rubbed 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 organized your neighbors, then you’re bound to hear it said
So you might as well ignore it or love the word instead
Cause you ain’t been doing nothing if you ain’t been called a Red.
Well I keep on agitating cause what else can you do?
You goin’ to let those sons-of-bitches walk all over you?
My friend said, You’ll get fired hanging with that Commie mob
I should be so lucky buddy
I ain’t got a job.
Oh, you ain’t done nothing if you ain’t been called a Red
If you’ve criticized anything, then you’re bound to hear it said
So you might as well ignore it or love the word instead
Cause you ain’t been doing nothing if you ain’t been called a Red
Well, I’ve been agitating now for many years and more
For jobs and for equality, and always against war
I’ll keep on agitating as far as I can see
And if that’s what being Red is
well, it’s good enough for me.
Cause 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 it or love the word instead
Cause you ain’t been doing nothing if you ain’t been called a Red.
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