Red, White, Black & Blue

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Author Notes:
“Red, White, Black & Blue” is not a protest shouted into a void, but a slow-burning elegy for the dream America promised and the pain it leaves unspoken. Beneath the fireworks and flags, this song traces the bruises—historical, personal, and collective—that color our freedom in darker shades.

[sub-verse reality]
I lit the match just to smell the smoke.
Crowds in red stare through me like a ghost.
On Main Street where the bunting hangs.
I watched a flag become a rope.
—
They cheered so loud, I barely breathed.
Behind the grill, a girl weeping bleach,
Told her “freedom’s just a myth we keep”,
In a box beneath our free speech.
As her tears, remove blood red stains from white.

[chorus or color 1]
Red, for the blood that dries too soon.
White, like the hands that tied the wound.
Black, the sky they painted truth into.
Blue, for the bruise we all outgrew.
Red, white, black and blue.

[hook, line & sinker]
I see it.
I bleed it.
Still believe it.
Even when the dream comes due.
Red, white, black and blue.

[uni-verse of pain]
My grandfather’s boots still scratch the floor,
Of a country store that sells no more.
He told me “truth was never free,
They charge you for what you ignore”.
—
Fireworks bloom like burning saints.
And we clap as if to drown the blame,
While silence feeds the fruited plains.
With names too old for name.

[chorus or color 2]
Red, for the blood they wouldn’t show.
White, for the sheets on broken throats.
Black, like the oil beneath our shoes.
Blue, like a boy they couldn’t use.

[bridge across troubled waters]
And I.
Held my breath through the anthem’s rise.
Wondered if this place was mine
If liberty was just a sigh
Between the lie.
And the sky.

[hook, line & sinker]
I see it.
I bleed it.
Still believe it.
Even when the light bleeds through.
Red, white, black and blue.

[fade to end]

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℗ Copyright 2025 by Midknightoil Music ☢ -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 🧶 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3RHtX1sMkxhBIXBxdqftsK 📻 - YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCuW6er98D210fb6pIcp9jpA 🍎 - Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/midknightoil-music/1771715875 ✖ - X Artist: https://x.com/Midknightoil_M 📽 - TikTok Artist: https://www.tiktok.com/@midknightoil 📸 - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midknightoil_music/ 🎧 - Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/artists/B0DJCJXCL2/midknightoil-music 💜 - Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/us/artist/284428631 🌐 - Website: https://www.thrownexception.com Author Notes: “Red, White, Black & Blue” is not a protest shouted into a void, but a slow-burning elegy for the dream America promised and the pain it leaves unspoken. Beneath the fireworks and flags, this song traces the bruises—historical, personal, and collective—that color our freedom in darker shades. [sub-verse reality] I lit the match just to smell the smoke. Crowds in red stare through me like a ghost. On Main Street where the bunting hangs. I watched a flag become a rope. — They cheered so loud, I barely breathed. Behind the grill, a girl weeping bleach, Told her “freedom’s just a myth we keep”, In a box beneath our free speech. As her tears, remove blood red stains from white. [chorus or color 1] Red, for the blood that dries too soon. White, like the hands that tied the wound. Black, the sky they painted truth into. Blue, for the bruise we all outgrew. Red, white, black and blue. [hook, line & sinker] I see it. I bleed it. Still believe it. Even when the dream comes due. Red, white, black and blue. [uni-verse of pain] My grandfather’s boots still scratch the floor, Of a country store that sells no more. He told me “truth was never free, They charge you for what you ignore”. — Fireworks bloom like burning saints. And we clap as if to drown the blame, While silence feeds the fruited plains. With names too old for name. [chorus or color 2] Red, for the blood they wouldn’t show. White, for the sheets on broken throats. Black, like the oil beneath our shoes. Blue, like a boy they couldn’t use. [bridge across troubled waters] And I. Held my breath through the anthem’s rise. Wondered if this place was mine If liberty was just a sigh Between the lie. And the sky. [hook, line & sinker] I see it. I bleed it. Still believe it. Even when the light bleeds through. Red, white, black and blue. [fade to end]

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