[Verse 1]
A B
When I was just a little thing I used to love parades
E A
with banners, bands and red balloons and maybe lemonade
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when I came home one mayday my neighbours father said
E A
them marchers is all commies tell me kid are you a red?
[Verse 2]
A B
well, I didnt know just what he meant my hair back then was brown
E A
our house was plain red brick like most others in the town
A B
so I went and asked my mamma why our neighbour called me red
E A
my mummy took me on her knee and this is what she said
[Chorus]
A B
Well you ain't done nothin' if you ain't been called a red
E A
if you've marched or agitated, you're bound to hear it said
A B
so you might as well ignore it, or love the word instead
E A
cause you ain't been doin' nothin' if you ain't been called a red
[Verse 3]
A B
When I was growin' up, had my troubles I suppose
E A
when someone took exception to my face or to my clothes
A B
or tried to cheat me on a job or hit me on the head
E A
when I organised to fight back why the stinkers called me red
[Chorus]
A B
But you ain't done nothin' if you ain't been called a red
E A
if you've marched or agitated, you're bound to hear it said
A B
so you might as well ignore it, or love the word instead
E A
cause you ain't been doin' nothin' if you ain't been called a red
[Verse 4]
A B
When I was livin' on my own one apartment that I had
E A
had a lousy rotten landlord let me tell ya he was bad
A B
but when he tried to throw me out I rubbed my hands and said
E A
you haven't seen a struggle if you haven't fought a red!
[Chorus]
A B
And you ain't done nothin' if you ain't been called a red
E A
if you've marched or agitated, you're bound to hear it said
A B
so you might as well ignore it, or love the word instead
E A
cause you ain't been doin' nothin' if you ain't been called a red
[Verse 5]
A B
Well I kept on agitatin', cause what else can you do?
E A
you're gonna let the sons of bitches walk all over you
A B
my friends said you'll get fired, hanging with that commie mob
E A
I should be so lucky buddy, I ain't got a job
[Chorus]
A B
And you ain't done nothin' if you ain't been called a red
E A
if you've marched or agitated, you're bound to hear it said
A B
so you might as well ignore it, or love the word instead
E A
cause you ain't been doin' nothin' if you ain't been called a red
[Verse 6]
A B
Well I've been agitatin' now for fifty years or more
E A
for jobs or for equality and always against war
A B
I'll keep on agitatin' as far as I can see
E A
and if that's what being red is then It's good enough for me
[Chorus]
A B
'Cause you ain't done nothin' if you ain't been called a red
E A
if you've marched or agitated, you're bound to hear it said
A B
so you might as well ignore it, or love the word instead
E A
cause you ain't been doin' nothin' if you ain't been called a red