A lot of missing lyrics in this post. I always thought it was about people ignoring the signs and getting caught in a nuclear holocaust.
From a guy who lived when this came out I can assure you it was about nuclear war, as many of the 80's tunes were. In the 70's elementary schools we trained frequently for bombing, using the duck and cover under our desks. I remember a bunch of curches were marked as fallout shelters, with supplies in the basement. The 80's got better, but it was still cold war time. We were conditioned the USSR could/would bomb us at any time. We feared them and they probably feared us. I finally realize the people of the USSR just want the same things as us. They have families, lives and jobs too. Maybe things were on the verge back then, but the world is much more connected now. I always wanted to ask a Russian if they we brought up the same way, with fear of nuclear war, but I have never met one.
This song, much like men at work's "it's a mistake" is based on never knowing who will push the launch button or launch missles by mistake and prompt the two super powers at the time to annihilate eachother.
@80stuneguy I agree!
@80stuneguy I agree!
Red Skies at Night was referring to the burning of our cities reflected off the (smoke) clouds - as seen from the countryside. I was in my 20s then. Regan was deploying the Pershing II missile in Europe. The USSR WAS concerned about the Pershing II. And they were behind a (very successful) propaganda campaign to frighten the European populace in an attempt to generate discord and protests. Most of the artists of the time joined in, MANY similar songs were written during this period. -- In the end it didn't work though, the missiles remained and...
Red Skies at Night was referring to the burning of our cities reflected off the (smoke) clouds - as seen from the countryside. I was in my 20s then. Regan was deploying the Pershing II missile in Europe. The USSR WAS concerned about the Pershing II. And they were behind a (very successful) propaganda campaign to frighten the European populace in an attempt to generate discord and protests. Most of the artists of the time joined in, MANY similar songs were written during this period. -- In the end it didn't work though, the missiles remained and the USSR eventually went bankrupt - bring down the Berlin wall.
The rest is history...
The song comes from the old adage "Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in morning, sailor take warning” which was supposed to predict the weather. They either heard it backwards or intentionally reversed it because they thought "red skies at night" sounded better as a lyric.
I believe this song is about how WWIII happens because of all of our indifference to the world around us. By being so caught up in our own lives, we have forgotten to consider what is really important
WW III? 'Nuff Said.
@bocanot Definitely, and more specifically the Nazis invading, people not knowing what to do, not knowing who to look to for leadership or protection, and not knowing if they would even be alive in the morning. I wasn’t alive during the late 30s/early 40s, but this song always brings me to what that must have been like for those under the crosshairs of the Nazis.
@bocanot Definitely, and more specifically the Nazis invading, people not knowing what to do, not knowing who to look to for leadership or protection, and not knowing if they would even be alive in the morning. I wasn’t alive during the late 30s/early 40s, but this song always brings me to what that must have been like for those under the crosshairs of the Nazis.
RED SKIES AT NIGHT is caused by an ipper atmospheric detonation of a nuclear charge, which would certainly cause the ionosphere to glow red. Also, ex-President Reagan was causing fear by telling everyone we needed to detonate those weapons in space, alledging the USSR was planning to launch an attack against our country. The detonating of fusion devices in our atmosphere would cause red skies, and would be the first salvo in this type of war, in an attempt to destroy space-based weapons.
“Red Skies at night, sailor’s delight; Red skies at morning, sailor take warning.”
It’s about people who’ve lulled themselves into a “false” sense of security through superstition or lies; either lies from others lying to themselves. If there’s Red Skies at night, that’s a “good” thing in their minds, but they’re fooling themselves. :
“Should have taken WARNING”...
For me it reminds me of like Pearl Harbor. The "red skies" for me is a metaphor for the Japaneesse (was it?) being on their air plane, to go and aim at them... " it look like they're aiming Right at you" and they feel like they will "be dead by morning". I know that must not be the true meaning but is a different way this song can be intrepeted.
The skies after a nuclear war.. lit up and glowing at night ! very simple.. no need to over step the meaning.. Reagan / Russia / Thatcher One day this will happen again. Hiroshima all over and 20 times as bad ! I was in the USN on a ship during this period 1984 to 1987.. I is not about " red skies at night, is a sailor's delight" LOL
[Edit: correct sentence ]