You Ain't Done Nothing If You Ain't Been Called A Red chords by Carsie Blanton

• Difficulty: Intermediate 💪

Verse 1:
     A                          B7
When I was just a little kid, I used to love parades
     E                   E7                          A
The banners, bands, and red balloons, and even lemonade
    A                               B7
But I came home one Labour Day, my neighbour's father said:
     E                          E7                      A
"Them marchers is all commies! Tell me, kid, are you a Red "


Verse 2:
      A                                      B7
Well, I didn't know just what he meant — my hair back then was brown
      E                         E7                     A
Our house was plain and yellow like the others in the town
     A                                  H7
So I went and asked my mama why our neighbour called me Red
     E            E7                                   A
She sat me down upon her knees, and this is what she said:

Chorus:
           A                          B
"Well, you ain't done nothin' if you ain't been called a Red!
           E            E7/D                                   A
If you've marched or agitated, then you're bound to hear it said
        A                            B
So you might as well ignore it, or love the word instead
        E                   E7                                 A
'Cause you ain't been doin' nothin' if you ain't been called a Red!"


Verse 3:
        A                           B7
Well, I moved into the city with a good friend that I had
         E              E7/D              E7               A
We had a lousy, rotten landlord — let me tell you, he was bad
     A                                B7
But when he tried to throw us out, I clapped my hands and said:
     E               E7/D            E7                A
"You haven't seen a struggle if you haven't fought a Red!"


Chorus:
           A                          B
"Well, you ain't done nothin' if you ain't been called a Red!
           E            E7                                   A
If you've marched or agitated, then you're bound to hear it said
        A                            B
So you might as well ignore it, or love the word instead
        E                   E7                                 A
'Cause you ain't been doin' nothin' if you ain't been called a Red!


Verse 4:
      A                        B7
Well, I kept on organizing — because what else can you do?
         E              E7/D           E             A
Are you gonna let this sons of bitches walk all over you?
     A                           B7
Our fight for liberation, and as far as I can see
    E                E7/D              E7              A
If that's what bein' Red is, then it's good enough for me!


Chorus:
           A                          B
"Well, you ain't done nothin' if you ain't been called a Red!
           E            E7                                   A
If you've marched or agitated, then you're bound to hear it said
        A                            B
So you might as well ignore it, or love the word instead
        E                   E7                                 A
'Cause you ain't been doin' nothin' if you ain't been called a Red!