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.
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.
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...