Red flag (politics)

Red has long been a colour associated with revolution, radicalism, and socialism. A red flag has long been used as a socialist emblem. To some, the term red flag refers specifically to the flag of the Soviet Union. Others take the term to refer to any red flag. Until the 1980s, a red flag was used as the logo of the UK Labour Party, but it is more commonly associated with the revolutionary left than with social democratic parties. "Waving a red flag" is a euphemism for incitement (see Bullfighting).

The Labour Party also traditionally sings the song The Red Flag at party conferences; it was sung at the October 2003 Labour Party Conference for the first time in several years, with Jerusalem. The song was written by the Irish socialist James Connolly in 1889. often only the first verse and chorus are sung.

The people's flag is deepest red,

It shrouded oft our martyr'd dead

And ere their limbs grew stiff and cold,

Their hearts' blood dyed its ev'ry fold.

So raise the scarlet standard high,

Within its shade we'll live and die,

Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer,

We'll keep the red flag flying here.

It waved above our infant might

When all around seemed dark as night;

It witnessed many a deed and vow,

We must not change its colour now.

It suits today the meek and base,

Whose minds are fixed on self and place,

To cringe before the rich man's frown

And haul that sacred emblem down.

It well recalls the triumphs past;

It gives the hope of peace at last:

The banner bright, the symbol plain,

Of human right and human gain.

With heads uncovered swear we all

To bear it onward till we fall.

Come dungeon dark or gallows grim,

This song shall be our parting hymn.

It is normally sung to the tune of the German carol Tannenbaum (also used for the state song of Maryland) though Connolly had wanted it sung to a tune he called The White Cockade.

There are some alternate versions (for example, "The workers' flag" is sometimes sung in place of "the people's flag", or "beneath its folds" instead of "within its shade"). There are a number of satirical alternatives, such as "The people's flag is palest pink". The longest-standing satirical tradition is within the Liberal Democrats who can often be heard singing variants in the bars at their annual conference. The humour derives from mockery of either the absence of socialism from the modern Labour Party or of the Lib Dems' own Social Democrat roots.