Story Behind The Song

Red Rover is based on the traditional children's game of the same name, but uses the game as a musical and lyrical metaphor at the same time. The lyrical metaphor is used to represent both prison abolition and political persuasion, while the musical metaphor highlights the back-and-forth call-and-response of the game.

Song Description

A mid-tempo song with a shuffle beat featuring drums, other percussion, bass, guitar, piano, and interweaving vocal harmony in standard song format, with an uplifting message of universal liberation.

Lyrics

VERSE 1
Don't look our way; don't you smile, or say a word
Guess they don't pay enough to admit what you have heard
You've seen what happens here; I know you take it home
I've seen you growing quiet as your thoughts begin to roam
Now take a stand, break away
Cast off the role they've made you play
When you run, we'll hold you fast, and we will say

CHORUS
Red Rover, come over - we'll storm the gates, and
We'll tear down the walls to find liberty
They want to keep us inside of the prison that holds us
We'll try to run outside; we'll try to break free

VERSE 2
So now they join, form a wall, make a chain
They keep us bound and make their profits from our pain
They only stand together to keep us all apart
They hope the walls they've built will scare the faint of heart
The more who join us make us strong
To gain humanity can't be wrong
And one by one, we'll show them all where they belong

CHORUS
Red Rover, come over - we'll storm the gates, and
We'll tear down the walls to find liberty
They want to keep us inside of the prison that holds us
We'll try to run outside; we'll try to break free

BRIDGE - call/response/canticle
Red Rover (Red Rover), come over, (Red Rover) Red Rover, send somebody over
Red Rover (Red Rover), come over, (Red Rover) Red Rover, come over
Red Rover (Red Rover), come over, (Red Rover) Red Rover, send somebody over
Red Rover (Red Rover, come over, (Red Rover) Red Rover, come over
Red Rover (Red Rover) come over, (Red Rover) Red Rover, I know you'll come over
Red Rover (Red Rover, come over, (Red Rover) Red Rover, come over
Red Rover (Red Rover) come over, (Red Rover) Red Rover, I know you'll come over
Red Rover (Red Rover, come over, (Red Rover) Red Rover, come over

CHORUS [modified call-response]
Red Rover, come over (Red Rover, come over) - we'll storm the gates, and (We'll tear down the walls and)
We'll tear down the walls to find liberty (We'll find our liberty - we'll find it)
They want to keep us inside (We'll break this prison that) of the prison that ([together:] HOLDS US)
[together]: We're gonna run outside; we're gonna break free

CHORUS
Red Rover, come over - we'll storm the gates, and
We'll tear down the walls to find liberty
They want to keep us inside of the prison that holds us
We'll try to run outside; we'll try to break free

Playlist Creator	Playlist Name	Date Added
Ionut Mirel Udrea	My Top Songs	8/25/2019