The song is referring to the fact that with the chaotic political goings-on, huge mistakes are being made and the next generation will have to deal with it.
"This is about the idea of abandoning the same old band-aid solutions of today in exchange for real change. The ‘red flag waving’ was intended as a sort of warning or red alert that we as people and the planet have reached a boiling point. The kids of tomorrow symbolize our hope for the future and how we can move on from our outdated ways of the past and present."
- Billy Talent via Genius Lyrics
Red Flag
Billy Talent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The red flag waving never meant the same
The kids of tomorrow don't need today
When they live in the sins of yesterday
Cast off the crutch that kills the pain
The red flag waving never meant the same
The kids of tomorrow don't need todayWhen they live in the sins of yesterday
Well, I've never seen us act like this
Our only hope is the minds of kids
And they'll show us a thing or two
Our only weapons are the guns of youth
It's only time before they tighten the noose
And then the hunt will be on for you
The red flag waving never meant the same, no
The red flag waving never meant the same
Cast off the crutch that kills the pain
The red flag waving never meant the same
The kids of tomorrow don't need today
When they live in the sins of yesterday
Cast off the crutch that kills the pain
The red flag waving never meant the same
The kids of tomorrow don't need today
When they live in the sins of yesterday
Like the smallest bee packs a sting
Like a pawn checkmates a king
We'll attack at the crack of dawn
Build a ladder if there's a wall
Don't be afraid to slip and fall
Speak for yourself or they'll speak for you
The red flag waving never meant the same, no!
The red flag waving never meant the same, no!
Cast off the crutch that kills the pain
The red flag waving never meant the same
The kids of tomorrow don't need today
When they live in the sins of yesterday
Cast off the crutch that kills the pain
The red flag waving never meant the same
The kids of tomorrow don't need today
When they live in the sins of yesterday
Like a fire
Don't need water
Like a jury
Needs a liar
Like a riot
Don't need order
Like a madman
Needs a martyr
We don't need them
We don't need them
We don't need them
We don't need them
We don't need them
We don't need them
We don't need them
We don't need them
Cast off the crutch that kills the pain
The red flag waving never meant the same
The kids of tomorrow don't need today
When they live in the sins of yesterday
Cast off the crutch that kills the pain
The red flag waving never meant the same
The kids of tomorrow don't need today
When they live in the sins of yesterday (we don't need them, we don't need them)
Cast off the crutch that kills the pain (we don't need them, we don't need them)
The red flag waving never meant the same (we don't need them, we don't need them)
The kids of tomorrow don't need today (we don't need them, we don't need them)
When they live in the sins of yesterday
We don't need them!
The lyrics of Billy Talent's song Red Flag indicate a rebellion against the established order and an encouragement to younger generations to follow the same path. The first line, "Cast off the crutch that kills the pain," suggests that individuals need to let go of any dependency they have on outside forces, including the government or the entertainment industry, to solve their problems. The next line, "The red flag waving never meant the same," likely alludes to the original symbol of communism and how the meaning has shifted since the fall of the Soviet Union.
Billy Talent then emphasizes the importance of youth culture, stating that "the only hope is the minds of kids" and that "the guns of youth" are their "only weapons." The band asserts that it's only a matter of time before younger generations overthrow the current power structure, shown by the line "And then the hunt will be on for you." "The sins of yesterday" likely refers to past mistakes made by previous generations that the youth are inheriting, emphasizing that a new way of thinking and doing things is necessary.
Overall, the lyrics call for a collective effort to resist the status quo and create a better future, with the youngest members of society taking the lead.
Line by Line Meaning
Cast off the crutch that kills the pain
Let go of the thing that numbs the pain
The red flag waving never meant the same
The symbol of revolution is no longer the same
The kids of tomorrow don't need today
The future generation does not require the present generation's help
When they live in the sins of yesterday
When their present is plagued by the past's mistakes
Our only hope is the minds of kids
The future relies on the young generation's ingenuity
And they'll show us a thing or two
The young will surpass the old's understanding
Our only weapons are the guns of youth
Our sole strength is the energy of the new generation
It's only time before they tighten the noose
Soon, they will hold more power than the present generation
And then the hunt will be on for you
Then the roles will be reversed, and they will judge the past's mistakes
Like the smallest bee packs a sting
Even insignificant actions can be powerful
Like a pawn checkmates a king
Even the weak can defeat the mighty
We'll attack at the crack of dawn
We will initiate change when it is unexpected
Build a ladder if there's a wall
Find a way over obstacles
Don't be afraid to slip and fall
Mistakes are necessary for growth
Speak for yourself or they'll speak for you
Do not let others control your narrative
Like a fire, Don't need water
A symbol of passion cannot be tamed
Like a jury, Needs a liar
The truth can be obscured in a justice system
Like a riot, Don't need order
Change can come from disorder
Like a madman, Needs a martyr
Sometimes change requires sacrifice
We don't need them!
We don't require the present's help
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Aaron Solowoniuk, Ben Kowalewicz, Ian D'sa, Jon Gallant
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RebelSeb
Reliving my teenage years at the age of 32. Bands like these are unforgettable!
@shadykitty7493
sad
@punklover99
A myspace friend had this on her profile and i downloaded it right away
@nokiae51yangu
we lived the same exact moment you & i... legendary this time
@Rob_Pap
Same, I used to listen to them through MTv and god damn they didn't aged at all. Top 5 favorite album of all time
@gj4250
Played gears of war while listening to Billy talent with my bro. Epic
@SyrupIsWin
All these old songs couldn't be more relevant today
@SortenRavn
"The kids of tomorrow don't need today
When they live in the sins of yesterday"
A very fitting statement on the world of today..
@nocturnaldjinn243
Try now. It's 2020 lmao
@its_sun7906
@@nocturnaldjinn243 I dont think he's around anymore