RED - Josh Radnor

I’m writing a three-song cycle called Red, White, & Black which is based on a talk I heard from the poet Robert Bly. He said that three colors recur in myths and fairy tales throughout all cultures: Red, White, and Black. The three colors - which are also the first colors the human eye begins to detect as an infant - represent the three phases of a man’s life journey (The talk btw is called The Masculine Road and it's fascinating, you can listen to it on Audible.) This first phase for men, Red, is marked by fiery independence, fierce individualism, rebellion, lust, danger, anger, trouble, etc. That we don’t have elders in our society who can safely guide a young man through the initiations of this phase is, according to Bly, a real problem. Also, a lot of parents don’t want their young sons to go through this necessary phase and they push them prematurely into the next phase, White: community, family, politeness, sacrificing ones own needs for others or the greater good, etc. White is an essential phase but it can lead to some trouble if one hasn’t experienced enough Red. The third phase, Black, is when one has acquired the wisdom of the elder, when you’ve eaten your own shadow, are alert to paradox and suffering, and your greatest need and joy in life is service. One thing to note: I try to use profanity sparingly but to get at the heart of the Red experience it felt necessary to loosen up the language restrictions I sometimes impose on myself. Probably didn’t need to say all this but it’s an odd song and I wanted to give it some context. JR
[C] I won’t be like my father and I [Em] broke up with my mother
I got [F] tired of her kisses… [C] Tired of her [G] smothering(s)
[C] …. around my fingers let me [Em] punch and fuck shit up the sight of
[F] blood and bone and bruises makes me [C] feel like I have [G] woken up

To [C] all the madness all around me [Em] I told you that you can count me
[F] Out behind the house I’m getting [C] high with just a [G] soda can
A [C] lighter and some pessimism a [Em] dalliance with anarchism
[F] I think Sally loves me I am [C] plotting our es[G]cape from here

[F] Just because they named me that don’t [C] mean that they can tame me
I will [F] not renew my membership I’m [G] done being an ambassador
For [C] your lame brained PR campaign to [Em] vindicate the fam’ly name
[F] You fear dirty laundry aired [C] I fear livin and [G] dying scared

[C-C/B-Am] Ohhh
[F] Do not [G] tell me I don’t [C-C/B-Am] know
[F] I got [G] voices in my [C-C/B-Am] head
[F] They won’t [G] shut up til I’m [C-C/B-Am] dead
[F] But now [G] all I see is [C] red

I am drunk on whiskey I’ve heard good thing about absinthe
Absence makes the heart grow fonder so I’ll go off to the yonder
Smoke it sniff it snort it drink it screw it punch it kick it lick it
If theres a feeling to be had don’t wanna die don’t wanna miss it

The more you wanna agitate the more I wanna masturbate
Jerks they’re fucking everywhere with purple smiles and perfect hair
I will steal their girlfriends I will also steal their Subarus
Throw my ass in prison I don’t care I’ll run the joint by noon

Ohhh
Do not tell me I don’t know
I got voices in my head
They will shut when I’m dead
Until then I’m seeing red

You promised me wonders glories untold possibilities
If this is all that life is I’ve been sold a fucking lemon tree
The bitterness it stings and I’ve stopped trusting you or anyone
And I will burn your face off I’ve the power of a hundred suns

You would send me off to war you don’t care about me and my friends
We are all expendable cannon fodder for your freedoms
Why’d you bring me here am I just supposed to buy until I die
To work and work and work and be a tiny man who eats and votes

Don’t tell me there’s no place for anger here I’ve watched your TV show
Beneath upward mobility you’re seething with hostility
[C] Infinite passive aggression [Em] low grade clinical depression
If that’s what life’s s’posed to be I’ll say no thank you fuck you please

Ohhh
Do not tell me I don’t know
I got voices in my head
I will shut up when I’m dead
Until then I’m seeing red
But now all I see is red
But now all I see is

[C] Here’s a golden [Em] apple
Here are some [F] stories that may [C] help [G] you
Are [C] not, no you are not the [Em] first you wont be the [F] last [G]
So [C] eat this golden [Em] apple
[C] Eat this golden [Em] apple
The [F] fire is meant to [G] warm you not burn the whole thing [C] down

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