Tina Sixx Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 Stop When the Red Lights Flash is a reoccurring theme and is even in the That’s Alright cover. What does it mean? It’s all over the place haha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteTim Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 It’s the sign that’s on school buses and such you’re supposed to stop when the stop sign pops out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solongfromthestars Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 From its context in the Trilogy I think the general interpretation is that the "red lights" are a warning to stop before you do something you shouldn't. In Oh Love he says "don't stop when the red lights flash" so he's encouraging the subject of the song, someone he shouldn't be with, not to stop even though they know it's wrong. Then in Stop When the Red Lights Flash it's something they keep saying to themselves but clearly ignoring. It's like the last voice of reason before the chaos of Dos. Disclaimer: this is my personal interpretation, I don't think Billie has ever talked about it. I guess it's a reoccuring thing because Billie just really likes the phrase Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian's Inferno! Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 In Dirty Rotten Bastards we also have the lyric "Dust to dust when the red light flashes". So there's a song in each trilogy album that has the lyric in some form of the other. It really seems to be the only sort of conceptual lyric connecting the three albums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hermione Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 1 hour ago, solongfromthestars said: From its context in the Trilogy I think the general interpretation is that the "red lights" are a warning to stop before you do something you shouldn't. In Oh Love he says "don't stop when the red lights flash" so he's encouraging the subject of the song, someone he shouldn't be with, not to stop even though they know it's wrong. Then in Stop When the Red Lights Flash it's something they keep saying to themselves but clearly ignoring. It's like the last voice of reason before the chaos of Dos. Disclaimer: this is my personal interpretation, I don't think Billie has ever talked about it. I guess it's a reoccuring thing because Billie just really likes the phrase Agreed. Red lights are also associated with sex (eg red light district) and danger/passion etc in general, making it even more fitting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thatsername Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 17 hours ago, solongfromthestars said: From its context in the Trilogy I think the general interpretation is that the "red lights" are a warning to stop before you do something you shouldn't. In Oh Love he says "don't stop when the red lights flash" so he's encouraging the subject of the song, someone he shouldn't be with, not to stop even though they know it's wrong. Then in Stop When the Red Lights Flash it's something they keep saying to themselves but clearly ignoring. It's like the last voice of reason before the chaos of Dos. Disclaimer: this is my personal interpretation, I don't think Billie has ever talked about it. That's how I always looked at it too, yes. He sees the red lights flash and knows that he's going too far, that things are getting out of control, but he's not able to change it (yet). I think it's no coincidence that the phrase appears on each of the three albums, it's the central theme of the records. There are actually some very interesting and honest lyrics on the trilogy, and even though they are for sure not some of Billie's best, I think they tell us more than you'd think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deleteduser7593 Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 Yeah, ''Don't Stop Recording When The Red Light Flash'' was one of the working titles for ìCuatro! documentary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 I wonder if he was hanging out with Roxanne at the time of writing these songs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billie Joes Eyelids Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 4 hours ago, Spike said: I wonder if he was hanging out with Roxanne at the time of writing these songs. Who is Roxanne? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deleteduser7593 Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 37 minutes ago, neverdone2000 said: Who is Roxanne? ''Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light'' Just now, disappearingfs said: ''Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light'' So, basically, if Billie Joe wants to turn on the red light we're gonna call the p(P)olice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billie Joes Eyelids Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 1 minute ago, disappearingfs said: ''Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light'' So, basically, if Billie Joe wants to turn on the red light we're gonna call the p(P)olice. Oh you got me 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deleteduser7593 Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 3 minutes ago, neverdone2000 said: Oh you got me 👍 Really? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddie86 Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 2 hours ago, disappearingfs said: Really? Thanks, that made me laugh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deleteduser7593 Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 2 hours ago, Kyle Serlington said: Thanks, that made me laugh! Pleased Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
That Dude Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 Don't do what society tells you to do. You can go your own way. You can call it another lonely day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina Sixx Posted January 12, 2018 Author Share Posted January 12, 2018 On 2018-01-09 at 9:35 AM, disappearingfs said: Yeah, ''Don't Stop Recording When The Red Light Flash'' was one of the working titles for ìCuatro! documentary. I did not know this. Cool 😎 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaughingClock Posted January 12, 2018 Share Posted January 12, 2018 On 1/8/2018 at 10:44 AM, Tina Sixx said: Stop When the Red Lights Flash is a reoccurring theme and is even in the That’s Alright cover. What does it mean? It’s all over the place haha. It’s just on the back of American school busses but the song, I believe, is about people being blind to childhood violence (violence and probably especially shooting in schools), and even after Sandy Hook, nobody doing anything. The “stop when the red lights flash” is a not so hidden message that “our children are in danger”. Remember how old his children were then. Uncomfortable silence I'll kill it if you want me to I'm like ultra-violence I'll kill it if you want me to Out of sight, out of mind I'm not the hurting kind I'll make you surrender, I'll make you surrender I'll make you surrender, I'll make you surrender Stop when the red lights flash I'll trade you blood for dirty cash Life in the catacombs You make me feel like I'm at home Out of sight, out of mind I'm not the hurting kind I'll make you surrender, I'll make you surrender I'll make you surrender, I'll make you surrender Out of sight, out of mind Just give in one more time I'll make you surrender, I'll make you surrender I'll make you surrender, I'll make you surrender I'll make you surrender, I'll make you surrender I'll make you surrender, I'll make you surrender Hope you guys aren’t gonna close this one too now that I made it political. Hey Mods, you know I love all you guys but I disageee wholeheartedly with you guys shutting down the last thead. It’s not like it’s not a living part of the band now. We like a band that is highly motivated politically, whether you guys like it or not and shutting down a dialogue regardless of its outcome is fruitless. Anyway, this is a perfect song to show that Billie writes about 3 things since he’s been 34 1) 80 2) Political shit 3) himself and friends. edit: I just read this thread and in all honesty I’m sort of amazed than anyone isn’t sure that throughout and especially on this song, when he mentions “stop when the res lights flash” he’s not speaking of our children. I can almost see Billie at a light (and non Americans) when a “stop when the red lights flash” signal comes on it flashes and is very apocalyptic like “don’t hurt them, they are just kids” and he probably saw the irony in this and loved (and hated it). It’s definitely referring to children, not sex, or any other stuff you guys are saying IMSO. This song goes back and forth from the perspective of caring and then not and it’s confusion. Another misunderstood Trilogy song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian's Inferno! Posted January 12, 2018 Share Posted January 12, 2018 10 minutes ago, LaughingClock said: It’s just on the back of American school busses but the song, I believe, is about people being blind to childhood violence (violence and probably especially shooting in schools), and even after Sandy Hook, nobody doing anything. The “stop when the red lights flash” is a not so hidden message that “our children are in danger”. Remember how old his children were then. Uncomfortable silence I'll kill it if you want me to I'm like ultra-violence I'll kill it if you want me to Out of sight, out of mind I'm not the hurting kind I'll make you surrender, I'll make you surrender I'll make you surrender, I'll make you surrender Stop when the red lights flash I'll trade you blood for dirty cash Life in the catacombs You make me feel like I'm at home Out of sight, out of mind I'm not the hurting kind I'll make you surrender, I'll make you surrender I'll make you surrender, I'll make you surrender Out of sight, out of mind Just give in one more time I'll make you surrender, I'll make you surrender I'll make you surrender, I'll make you surrender I'll make you surrender, I'll make you surrender I'll make you surrender, I'll make you surrender Hope you guys aren’t gonna close this one too now that I made it political. Hey Mods, you know I love all you guys but I disageee wholeheartedly with you guys shutting down the last thead. It’s not like it’s not a living part of the band now. We like a band that is highly motivated politically, whether you guys like it or not and shutting down a dialogue regardless of its outcome is fruitless. Anyway, this is a perfect song to show that Billie writes about 3 things since he’s been 34 1) 80 2) Political shit 3) himself and friends. edit: I just read this thread and in all honesty I’m sort of amazed than anyone isn’t sure that throughout and especially on this song, when he mentions “stop when the res lights flash” he’s not speaking of our children. I can almost see Billie at a light (and non Americans) when a “stop when the red lights flash” signal comes on it flashes and is very apocalyptic like “don’t hurt them, they are just kids” and he probably saw the irony in this and loved (and hated it). It’s definitely referring to children, not sex, or any other stuff you guys are saying IMSO. This song goes back and forth from the perspective of caring and then not and it’s confusion. Another misunderstood Trilogy song. Sorry but I don't really see that in the lyrics at all. Why would a lyric like that which is used throughout the entire trilogy, which is about subjects like sex, have anything to do with children? The trilogy doesn't talk about issues like this at all. And regarding the other thread being closed, I think the mods are fine with that conversation continuing in the "Donald Trump wins election" forum, but that thread was specifically about Billie Joe's post and the last page has nothing to do with Billie's post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaughingClock Posted January 12, 2018 Share Posted January 12, 2018 24 minutes ago, Christian's Inferno! said: Sorry but I don't really see that in the lyrics at all. Why would a lyric like that which is used throughout the entire trilogy, which is about subjects like sex, have anything to do with children? The trilogy doesn't talk about issues like this at all. And regarding the other thread being closed, I think the mods are fine with that conversation continuing in the "Donald Trump wins election" forum, but that thread was specifically about Billie Joe's post and the last page has nothing to do with Billie's post. You are looking at the same lyrics I just posted and you don’t think that song is about children (never mind the very obvious reference to flashing red lights on school busses for children’s safety)??? Ok then, entitled I suppose. As for agreeing with the mods shutting down and active thead, you’re entitled to that opinion too. For the record, I’ve heard Billie somewhere speak about the line “dirty cash” in this song and specialty said that line was about lobbying groups like the National Rifle Association throwing money at Washington to shut up the gun contol issues in school. Its really not even interpretable. edit: also you are asking why he would use such a powerful image such as a school bus with warning signs all over it flashing throughout the album? I’ll give you one guess. lets pretend you write for a political rock band and you are a lyricist who loves double entendres and symbolism and you see this after JUST readig sbout 26 preschoolers shot to death. As young as 2! (Just picked the first random school bus on YT) What would “stop when the red lights flash” mean to you now? FTR. I am speaking about this song specifically. There are times where I think he uses it with other purpose. Not on this one. It’s a recurring theme but in general, bout children, teens, school violence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hermione Posted January 12, 2018 Share Posted January 12, 2018 1 hour ago, LaughingClock said: Hope you guys aren’t gonna close this one too now that I made it political. Hey Mods, you know I love all you guys but I disageee wholeheartedly with you guys shutting down the last thead. It’s not like it’s not a living part of the band now. We like a band that is highly motivated politically, whether you guys like it or not and shutting down a dialogue regardless of its outcome is fruitless. edit: I just read this thread and in all honesty I’m sort of amazed than anyone isn’t sure that throughout and especially on this song, when he mentions “stop when the res lights flash” he’s not speaking of our children. I can almost see Billie at a light (and non Americans) when a “stop when the red lights flash” signal comes on it flashes and is very apocalyptic like “don’t hurt them, they are just kids” and he probably saw the irony in this and loved (and hated it). It’s definitely referring to children, not sex, or any other stuff you guys are saying IMSO. This song goes back and forth from the perspective of caring and then not and it’s confusion. Another misunderstood Trilogy song. It wasn't closed because it was political. It was closed because everything that could be said about the topic (Billie's angry Instagram posts from the other day) had been said to the point that all anyone was posting was memes and jokes, and since that point the thread had gone completely off the topic of Billie's posts to a general discussion about Trump. Which we already have a thread for in General Chat. Billie literally described Stop When The Red Lights Flash as being dirtier than Fuck Time when introducing it once, and particularly in the context of Dos I do think it's about sex and the theme of temptation/giving into temptation. Not saying I'd rule out other meanings being in there as well as a lot of other less obvious stuff is there on the trilogy, but that song screams sex to me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian's Inferno! Posted January 12, 2018 Share Posted January 12, 2018 1 hour ago, LaughingClock said: You are looking at the same lyrics I just posted and you don’t think that song is about children (never mind the very obvious reference to flashing red lights on school busses for children’s safety)??? Ok then, entitled I suppose. As for agreeing with the mods shutting down and active thead, you’re entitled to that opinion too. For the record, I’ve heard Billie somewhere speak about the line “dirty cash” in this song and specialty said that line was about lobbying groups like the National Rifle Association throwing money at Washington to shut up the gun contol issues in school. Its really not even interpretable. edit: also you are asking why he would use such a powerful image such as a school bus with warning signs all over it flashing throughout the album? I’ll give you one guess. lets pretend you write for a political rock band and you are a lyricist who loves double entendres and symbolism and you see this after JUST readig sbout 26 preschoolers shot to death. As young as 2! (Just picked the first random school bus on YT) What would “stop when the red lights flash” mean to you now? FTR. I am speaking about this song specifically. There are times where I think he uses it with other purpose. Not on this one. It’s a recurring theme but in general, bout children, teens, school violence. OK, if you think SWTRLF refers to this, do you think Oh Love does too with the lyric "Don't stop when the red lights flash"? Cause that is a song about sex and love and I don't think any of the lyrics in that song have anything to do with children. Or do you think it was just added into that song for no reason? The trilogy is hardly political at all. The only political song on it is 99 Revolutions. Most of the rest of the trilogy is about sex, love, lust. I don't see how this lyric which seems to be the only sort of conceptual lyric connecting the albums together is about anything other than sex and love and lust. You're free to interpret the songs however you want but I really don't see the songs how you do. I'm not saying the lyric isn't a reference to the flashing red lights on buses, but not what the song is about. At least to me. On GDA, the song meaning of SWTRLF is "A maniacal character, maybe the narrator, is basically being given an opportunity to use his "evil" skills, so to speak. This may mean that he's only having thoughts of taking out his anger on someone, or that he's been asked to do so on behalf of another person (like a hitman would). Lines like "I'll kill it if you want me to" and "I'll trade you blood for dirty cash" support this thought. The character even enjoys this type of crazy behavior, and feels "at home." And once the dirty deed is done, he says, the targeted person will be "out of sight, out of mind."" http://www.greendayauthority.com/music/song/337/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaughingClock Posted January 12, 2018 Share Posted January 12, 2018 26 minutes ago, Hermione said: It wasn't closed because it was political. It was closed because everything that could be said about the topic (Billie's angry Instagram posts from the other day) had been said to the point that all anyone was posting was memes and jokes, and since that point the thread had gone completely off the topic of Billie's posts to a general discussion about Trump. Which we already have a thread for in General Chat. Billie literally described Stop When The Red Lights Flash as being dirtier than Fuck Time when introducing it once, and particularly in the context of Dos I do think it's about sex and the theme of temptation/giving into temptation. Not saying I'd rule out other meanings being in there as well as a lot of other less obvious stuff is there on the trilogy, but that song screams sex to me I won’t debate the meaning of a song. It’s all subjective but yeah, violence to the tune of over 20 kids being killed by guns is MUCH MUCH dirtier than Fuck Time. Hell, to some, violence is even dirtier then sex. (Tongue firmly planted in cheek). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solongfromthestars Posted January 12, 2018 Share Posted January 12, 2018 I mean, that's an interesting interpretation and I don't think it's impossible, or unreasonable, to find completely different meanings in it (something I love about Billie's writing). From all he's said about Dos, the song itself and how the albums are connected, though, it seems like it was definitely intended to be about sex. The Trilogy reads like a loose story of the narrator falling for someone he shouldn't, lusting after them, losing control and then facing the consequences. Fuck Time can be read as a joke, whereas Stop When the Red Lights Flash is completely serious (hence why it's dirtier, probably). It seems like the next stage after Oh Love. I can't find all the quotes about the Trilogy anymore, but here are a few sort of relevant ones: “The first record is getting the party started, the second record is the party happening and the depths of hell in the party, and the third one is trying to pick up the pieces, self-reflection and the hangover.” (source) "I want [the songs] to be threaded together and to speak to each other within an album, which in this case is basically inside three albums.” (source) “Uno is feeling like your heart is on fire. On the second record, you start losing control. By Tre, your heart will feel like a flamethrower. It gets really hot.” (source: Rolling Stone, 2012) "I have no expectations when it comes to a public opinion. There are no rules if I want to write songs about sexual tension or straight up fucking rather than politics." (source) “‘Oh Love’ is kind of like leading with your heart and not necessarily with your brain as much, and maybe losing your mind, and shooting a little bit more from the crotch area. It’s more of a fun atmosphere with these next records, going into more of a party thing, almost kind of a ‘hell party.’ We have one song called ‘Makeout Party,’ which the events actually occurred.” (source: MTV, 2012) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaughingClock Posted January 12, 2018 Share Posted January 12, 2018 1 hour ago, Christian's Inferno! said: OK, if you think SWTRLF refers to this, do you think Oh Love does too with the lyric "Don't stop when the red lights flash"? Cause that is a song about sex and love and I don't think any of the lyrics in that song have anything to do with children. Or do you think it was just added into that song for no reason? The trilogy is hardly political at all. The only political song on it is 99 Revolutions. Most of the rest of the trilogy is about sex, love, lust. I don't see how this lyric which seems to be the only sort of conceptual lyric connecting the albums together is about anything other than sex and love and lust. You're free to interpret the songs however you want but I really don't see the songs how you do. I'm not saying the lyric isn't a reference to the flashing red lights on buses, but not what the song is about. At least to me. On GDA, the song meaning of SWTRLF is "A maniacal character, maybe the narrator, is basically being given an opportunity to use his "evil" skills, so to speak. This may mean that he's only having thoughts of taking out his anger on someone, or that he's been asked to do so on behalf of another person (like a hitman would). Lines like "I'll kill it if you want me to" and "I'll trade you blood for dirty cash" support this thought. The character even enjoys this type of crazy behavior, and feels "at home." And once the dirty deed is done, he says, the targeted person will be "out of sight, out of mind."" http://www.greendayauthority.com/music/song/337/ So weird how we agree and so disagree. No, I don’t think throughout the albums on tril that every time he says that phrase he is referring to childhood violence but he certainly is in the titled song. As we know Billie loves double and even triple entendres and this is an example of it. SWTRF is sort of a pre-cursor to Bang Bang. Its written IN A LOOSE WAY (I don’t think Billie was doing his best writing on the Tril) from the first person of the shooter “Uncomfortable silence, I’ll kill it if you want me to” and back to the media and public “out of sight, out of mind”, people ignoring the violence to finally the frustration of lobbying money from the NRA to stop any change to the 2nd amendment “Stop when the red lights flash, I’ll trade your blood for dirty cash”. Yes I get that this can be taken for prrotistuion but this song was released after several childhood shootings and especially sandy hook and one would be hard pressed to convince me Billie is writing about the red light district in Amsterdam or something over the obvious visuals that the lyrics conjure. Billie doesn’t need to or did ever mess with prostitution so why would he write about it? But everyone is entitled to think what they want and maybe he likes that it has multiple meanings but this is one of them. I can asssure you. Oh Love is just a different song. It even says “DONT stop when the red lights flash”. Don’t misinterpret his desire to tie together the albums with a phrase as it having one meaning. The lyric in Oh Love is saying “when the temptation seems wrong, keep going” has no baring on what they lyrics of SWTRLF mean. Edit: ....So I was curious what the WWW thought and the first song meaning I ran upon was written up by none other than our own GDA. http://www.greendayauthority.com/music/song/337/ Dont know who wrote this (it’s not a forum post) but this is pretty close to dead on, they just missed the “children”, rather important aspect. Also, the "out of sight, out of mind" lyric IMO is not from the point of the killer, it's about the public. Any Beatles fans? I know most of you are young and don't know or love the Beatles yet, but BJA is a huge fan of the Beatles. A Paul song written 50 years ago or something, I listened to my whole life and then one day, simply because my daughter was in the car, I was hyper focused on the lyrics (which frankly, the lyrics aren't the biggest selling point for the Beatles for me), I noticed that The Beatles wrote a song (from the first person) about a serial killer. It struck me as amazing how many 100s of times I heard this song before I realized it was written about a serial killer. You would never know it from the music, but have a listen to the lyrics and listen close. Well fuck it, the only one I could find has an animation and the lyrics but you could see without that aid how you could easily miss these lyrics for a whole lifetime. This is fan animation BTW. FTR, I am not completely opposed to the idea that it has both meanings, although if it truly means something sexual as well, it is a bonus and crafted to mean that from the original meaning. "out of sight, out of mind" followed by "I'll make you surrender" certainly lends itself to a sexual temptation and the album is apolitical for the most part (unlike almost all their albums and i include before AI) but they do have a few songs with messages. I think this one more than any but I went to have a listen since I haven't listened to this awesome song in a while and I can see the point but I know that he is intending that as an aside at best but I can understand the idea but nobody can breakdown the song real well when just saying it's "sexual in nature" or some other arbitrary labeling of the song. This song was written in part in the first person much like Bang Bang and like I said, I think it was it's pre-cursor (the idea of it) and with him having kids in High School when writing this, completely lends itself to what I already know which is he is magnifying the duplicity, irony and even treachery of protecting out children from the road to such an extreme amount where even the lane if separated by a median, MUST STOP if the red lights are on but we can't stop a guy from walking in a pre-school and shooting 26 children! We can't even get a change on the laws. NOTING. Nothing because of dirty cash from the NRA giving 100s of millions, if not billions to the Republican parties and various other 2nd amendment "protectors". Whenever I'm in London (or the UK at all) and quite often, am, I honestly every now and then have a feeling of "its nice to know anyone in here that has a gun is breaking the law". Anyone in America will tell you don't yell at a guy in the car that cut you off, because you never know if he will pull out his .9 and shoot you in the face. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaughingClock Posted January 14, 2018 Share Posted January 14, 2018 Ok, let’s assume for a second that it’s about sex, it’s not, someone breakdown the song for me and explain how with the exception of the one lyric I said. Abd again, it was a GDA writer when the song came out that said it was about the same thing that I said because it’s so obvious. But fot fun, for the dumb initiated people like myself, please break down how it’s about sex. Just because the Trill is generally not political l doesn’t mean there arent and not just this one but other songs too. Anyway, go ahead and explain how it’s not about the obvious. Go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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