"If you ain't been called a red" - American Communist Song (by @MonsieurJack95)

This recording was made by @MonsieurJack95, please go support and subscribe to him. Links to the original and his channel below (along with his Patreon, which you should go support; YouTube took away his monetization).

"You ain't done nothin' if you ain't been called a red" is an American song composed and written by one Elliot Keenan for the IWW, hailing the accusation of being called a "red" by anti-communists. This recording was performed by the lovely Monsieur Jack.

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Original video

-- Lyrics --

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 mamma why our neighbor called me red,

My mommy took me on her knee and this is what she said:

"Well, you ain't donе nothin' if you ain't been called a red!

If you've marchеd 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 doin' nothin' if you ain't been called a red!"

When I was growin' up, had my troubles I suppose,

When someone took exception to my face or to my clothes,

Or tried to cheat me on a job or hit me on the head,

When I organized to fight back, why, the stinkers called me red.

But you ain't done nothin' if you ain't been called a red!

If you've marched or agitated, you're bound to hear it said,

So you might as well ignore it, or love the word instead,

'Cause you ain't been doin' nothin' if you ain't been called a red.

When I was livin' on my own, one apartment that I had

Had a lousy rotten landlord, let me tell ya 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 nothin' if you ain't been called a red!

If you've marched or agitated, you're bound to hear it said,

So you might as well ignore it, or love the word instead,

'Cause you ain't been doin' nothin' if you ain't been called a red!

Well, I kept on agitatin' now, 'cause what else can you do?

You're gonna let the sons of bitches walk all over you.

My friends said you'll get fired, hanging with that commie mob,

I should be so lucky, buddy, I ain't got a job!

Well, you ain't done nothin' 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 doin' nothin' if you ain't been called a red!

Well, I've been agitatin' now for fifty years or more,

For jobs, for equality, and always against war,

And I'll keep on agitatin' as far as I can see,

And if that's what being red is, then that's good enough for me!

'Cause you ain't done nothin' 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 doin' nothin' if you ain't been called a red!

And you ain't done nothin' 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 doin' nothin' if you ain't been called a red!

-- Lyrics --