RED
Bette Midler Lyrics
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Oooh, the spectrum made a shade I like!
Ooh, those crinsom rays of ruby bright
Ah! the technicolor li-I-ight!
Red! red! I want red!
There's no substitute for red!
Red! paint it red!
You don't know what it does to me
Yeah, that crimson sin intensity!
I'm haunted by the mystery of red, red, red!
Red! red knocks 'em dead!
Some like it hot-tah!
I like it red!
Red's my lover, got me covered!
Red's my number and he's a commer!
Red's my drummer. I hear his thunder!
Move over, brother!
Red is a mother!
He's a mother!
Red! red knocks 'em dead!
Red, red, red, red!
Red! red! I want red!
Move over, brother!
Move over, brother!
Go bop-bop, go bop-bop
Go bop-bop, go bop! ahhh!
Go bop-bop, go bop-bop
Go bop-bop, go bop! uhh! ahhh!
Uhh! ahhh! uhh! ahhh!
Uhh! uhhh!
Whoa! red! red! I want red!
That's what I said! that's what I said!
Gimme red, red, 'cause I want red!
Some like it hot, I like it red!
Red! red! I want red!
Gimme red! gimme, gimme, gimme!
Gimme red, red! I want red!
Some like it hot, I like it red!
Red! red! I want red!
Move over brother, move over brother!
Red! red! red! I want red!
Red!
Gimme red!
Gimme red!
Gimme red!
Gimme red, red, red!
Bette Midler’s song “Red” is an ode to the color red and all the emotions and power it embodies. The opening lines of the song, “I read that it's all black and white / Oooh, the spectrum made a shade I like!”, suggest that the singer has been told that the world is clear-cut and straightforward, but she prefers the complexity and vibrancy of colors. She goes on to describe the particular shade of red she favors, “crimson rays of ruby bright” and declares, “There’s no substitute for red!”
The chorus of the song is simple, consisting only of the word “red” repeated three times. However, the repetition emphasizes the singer’s obsession with the color and the power it holds over her. She describes the intensity that red evokes in her, “You don't know what it does to me / Yeah, that crimson sin intensity!” The constant repetition of “red” also feels almost like a chant, as if the singer is trying to manifest the color into her life.
The bridge of the song highlights the many ways that red has become an integral part of the singer’s life. She personifies the color as a lover, a number, a drummer, and even a mother. The repetition of “move over, brother!” suggests that red has become so dominant in the singer’s life that it’s pushing all other elements aside.
Overall, the song “Red” is an energetic and passionate tribute to the color that has captured the singer’s heart and imagination.
Line by Line Meaning
I read that it's all black and white
I have read that everything is straightforward and simple
Oooh, the spectrum made a shade I like!
The spectrum of colors has created a shade I find appealing
Ooh, those crinsom rays of ruby bright
Those bright and glowing crimson beams are captivating
Ah! the technicolor li-I-ight!
Oh, what a glorious and immersive display of colors
Red! red! I want red!
I desire the color red above all other colors
There's no substitute for red!
No other color can replace the value of red to me
Red! paint it red!
Everything should be colored red
Green ain't mean compared to red!
Green is insignificant when compared to the importance of red
You don't know what it does to me
You are unaware of the effect that red has on me
Yeah, that crimson sin intensity!
The intense and passionate quality of crimson is sinful
I'm haunted by the mystery of red, red, red!
I am mesmerized and intrigued by the enigmatic nature of the color red
Red! red knocks 'em dead!
Red is striking and captivating to others
Some like it hot-tah!
Some like things that are spicy or intense
I like it red!
I prefer things that are colored red
Red's my lover, got me covered!
Red is my passion, and it envelops me
Red's my number and he's a commer!
Red is my top priority and something I value greatly
Red's my drummer. I hear his thunder!
Red is my driving force, and I can feel its energy
Move over, brother!
Make room for red, which takes precedence over everything else
Red is a mother!
Red is powerful and all-encompassing
Whoa! red! red! I want red!
I desperately desire the color red
That's what I said! that's what I said!
My desire for red is strong and unwavering
Gimme red, red, 'cause I want red!
I want red, so give it to me
Go bop-bop, go bop-bop
A nonsensical phrase meant to convey excitement
Uhh! ahhh! uhh! ahhh!
Sounds made to express a heightened emotional state
Red! red! red! I want red!
I am fixated on and obsessed with the color red
Gimme red! gimme, gimme, gimme!
I demand red and want it immediately
Red! red! I want red!
I am consumed by my desire for the color red
Some like it hot, I like it red!
I prefer things that are colored red to anything else
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN S. CARTER, JOHN S. JR. CARTER, SAMMY HAGAR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Coleen Wilson
on Wind Beneath My Wings
lovely song