The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
They're dropping bombs again
And they're doing it in your name
All the rational commentaries
In the papers that I read
Marmalade and buttered toast
And the smell of Sunday roast
Kiss the arse of uncle sam
Oh, to be an englishman
When you hear the sound of warning
When the only color is
Red, red, red, red
When you hear the sound of warning
When the only color is
Red sky in the morning
Everywhere I'm seeing
Red, red, red, red
Dawn brings a day of hell
That we pawn and sell
A single magpie in a tree
One for sorrow, one for me
Kick it off the cliff I said
Now the line fucks up my head
Too late to change this mode
Break all my moral codes
When you hear the sound of warning
When the only color is
Red, red, red, red
When you hear the sound of warning
When the only color is
Red sky in the morning
Everywhere I'm seeing
Red, red, red, red
Running from myself again
And all I feel is shame
It doesn't matter where I go
Everywhere still looks the same
Wheee-ooo
This sense of emptiness
As we create this mess
Self-destructive tendencies
Of what you mean to me
When you hear the sound of warning
When the only color is
Red, red, red, red
When you hear the sound of warning
When the only color is
Red sky in the morning
Everywhere I'm seeing
Red, red, red, red, red, red, red, red
And they're doing it in your name
All the rational commentaries
In the papers that I read
Marmalade and buttered toast
And the smell of Sunday roast
Kiss the arse of uncle sam
Oh, to be an englishman
When you hear the sound of warning
When the only color is
Red, red, red, red
When you hear the sound of warning
When the only color is
Red sky in the morning
Everywhere I'm seeing
Red, red, red, red
Dawn brings a day of hell
That we pawn and sell
A single magpie in a tree
One for sorrow, one for me
Kick it off the cliff I said
Now the line fucks up my head
Too late to change this mode
Break all my moral codes
When you hear the sound of warning
When the only color is
Red, red, red, red
When you hear the sound of warning
When the only color is
Red sky in the morning
Everywhere I'm seeing
Red, red, red, red
Running from myself again
And all I feel is shame
It doesn't matter where I go
Everywhere still looks the same
Wheee-ooo
This sense of emptiness
As we create this mess
Self-destructive tendencies
Of what you mean to me
When you hear the sound of warning
When the only color is
Red, red, red, red
When you hear the sound of warning
When the only color is
Red sky in the morning
Everywhere I'm seeing
Red, red, red, red, red, red, red, red
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It's about everything that's wrong with Britain these days. Our "special relationship" with the USA is slowly destroying our society, eating away at it like a cancer. Killing Joke have the right idea.