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Red Bandana Lyrics
Left Los Angeles a short while ago
Flew 'cross the country back to Buffalo
Walked around through the sleet and the snow
With a red bandana on my head
Saw my momma on 12th and Grand
Standing in the alley with the junkyard man
They were both so loaded they could hardly stand
Talkin' 'bout going to Mexico
I said "Momma I was born
Out there I was born again
Been clear to California and back
Was out there so long many times I thought I was dead"
She said, "Sonny what's that you got wrapped around your head?"
It's a Red Bandana
It's a Red Bandana
It's a Red Bandana
It's from Hollywood USA
Looked for the woman I used to love
Seen her in a bar off the Harlem road
Talking in a booth with Charley Hobbs
And this ugly little dude whom I didn't know
She said "Honey you're back I'm so glad
When you was gone I was so sad
You come in here lookin' so bad
With that red bandana on your head
With that red bandana on your head"
Yes! It's a Red Bandana
It's a Red Bandana
It's a Red Bandana
And it's red just like your blood is
Flew 'cross the country back to Buffalo
Walked around through the sleet and the snow
With a red bandana on my head
Saw my momma on 12th and Grand
Standing in the alley with the junkyard man
They were both so loaded they could hardly stand
Talkin' 'bout going to Mexico
I said "Momma I was born
Out there I was born again
Been clear to California and back
Was out there so long many times I thought I was dead"
She said, "Sonny what's that you got wrapped around your head?"
It's a Red Bandana
It's a Red Bandana
It's from Hollywood USA
Seen her in a bar off the Harlem road
Talking in a booth with Charley Hobbs
And this ugly little dude whom I didn't know
When you was gone I was so sad
You come in here lookin' so bad
With that red bandana on your head
With that red bandana on your head"
It's a Red Bandana
It's a Red Bandana
And it's red just like your blood is
Song Info
Submitted by
yuri_sucupira On Nov 27, 2001
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This song is SO funny. Bloke thinks he's cool having been influenced by trip to 'hip' California. Wears a bandana- which looks pretentious at the best of times. And the bandana is all his friends can see when he proudly returns home. Excellent.
I have always taken this song in context of the gang violence that had been escalating in Los Angeles around the time of this recording. The protagonist of the song has joined the Bloods and sports a red bandana as a gang marker. In all likelihood he's back home to act in the gangs interest there. I'm not sure if he stops by to see his old girlfriend to impress her or commit some kind of violence against her.