Red Flags – English Lyrics

• By: Chris Brown

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Chris Brown's poignant R&B track, "Red Flags," a relatable anthem about recognizing and moving on from toxic relationships. By exploring its lyrics, you can gain insight into common English idioms related to relationships and emotional experiences, while appreciating the song's smooth R&B style and powerful message of self-preservation.

[English]

Red flags, red flags (red flags)

All bad, I mean, real bad (bad)

F- with you and you still mad (still mad)

She get it done, and she work fast (work fast)

Holdin' you down, that - gotta count for somethin'

Go a few rounds, girl, you know I keep it comin'

Say I don't care, girl, but I can't feel my stomach

You were mine, but you act like you wasn't

You held me down, not down enough

And I ran for miles just tryna catch up

We even now, came back from dust

Quit tellin' me you're toxic, girl, I still won't listen

Red flags, red flags

All bad, I mean, real bad

F- with you and you still mad (oh)

She get it done, and she work fast (work)

Red flags, red flags

All bad, I mean, real bad

F- with you and you still mad

Outside and I ain't goin' back

Yeah, if you ride for me, why would you lie to me?

Said you'll slide for me, what are you waitin' on?

We what they hatin' on, what they tryna be

But you don't play for keeps, yeah

I should let you win, but I be petty as a b-

I should let sh- go, but it be hard because I'm him (him)

Put that on my kids, you don't come home, I'm gon' be sick

You gon' turn me back from bein' rich to hittin' licks

You held me down, not down enough

And I ran for miles just tryna catch up

We even now, came back from dust

Quit tellin' me you're toxic, girl, I still won't listen (red flags)

Red flags, red flags (oh-woah)

All bad, I mean, real bad (real bad)

F-' with you and you still mad (you still mad)

She get it done, and she work fast (work, oh no)

Red flags, red flags (red flags)

All bad, I mean, real bad (really bad)

F- with you and you still mad (you still mad at me)

Outside and I ain't goin' back

Red flags, red flags

...

Outside and I ain't goin' back

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
flags /flæɡz/ A2	noun - a piece of cloth with a distinctive design, used as a symbol of a nation, organization, or set of beliefs. noun - signs or indications of something.
bad /bæd/ A1	adjective - not good
mad /mæd/ A2	adjective - angry
work /wɜːrk/ A2	verb - to perform tasks or duties to achieve a goal. noun - activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result.
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - to move at a speed faster than a walk
catch /kætʃ/ A2	verb - to take hold of something in motion
toxic /ˈtɒksɪk/ B2	adjective - poisonous or harmful adjective - extremely unpleasant or damaging
listen /ˈlɪsn/ A2	verb - to give one's attention to a sound
ride /raɪd/ A2	verb - to sit on and control the movement of (an animal or vehicle) verb - to support or defend someone
lie /laɪ/ A2	verb - to intentionally tell an untruth
hate /heɪt/ A2	verb - to feel intense dislike for
play /pleɪ/ A1	verb - engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation
win /wɪn/ A2	verb - achieve victory
hard /hɑːrd/ A2	adjective - requiring considerable effort
sick /sɪk/ A2	adjective - ill
rich /rɪtʃ/ A2	adjective - having a great deal of money

Key Grammar Structures

• You were mine, but you act like you wasn't

  ➔ Past Simple (wasn't)

  ➔ The use of 'wasn't' (was not) is the negative past simple form of the verb 'to be'. It refers to a state or condition in the past.

• You held me down, not down enough

  ➔ Phrasal Verb (held down)

  ➔ 'Held down' is a phrasal verb meaning to support or sustain someone, but in this context, it implies insufficient support.

• And I ran for miles just tryna catch up

  ➔ Present Participle (tryna)

  ➔ 'Tryna' is a colloquial contraction of 'trying to'. The present participle 'trying' indicates an ongoing action.

• Quit tellin' me you're toxic, girl, I still won't listen

  ➔ Imperative (Quit) and Present Continuous (you're)

  ➔ 'Quit' is an imperative verb giving a command. 'You're' is a contraction of 'you are', used in the present continuous to describe an ongoing state.

• If you ride for me, why would you lie to me?

  ➔ Conditional (If... would)

  ➔ This is a second conditional structure, used for hypothetical situations in the present or future and their probable results. 'Ride for me' is an idiom meaning to be loyal or supportive.

• Said you'll slide for me, what are you waitin' on?

  ➔ Future Simple (you'll slide) and Present Continuous (waitin' on)

  ➔ 'You'll slide' uses the future simple with 'will' to indicate a future action or promise. 'Waitin' on' is a colloquial contraction of 'waiting on', implying an ongoing state of anticipation.

• I should let sh- go, but it be hard because I'm him

  ➔ Modal Verb (should) and Colloquialism (it be)

  ➔ 'Should' expresses obligation or advisability. 'It be' is a non-standard, colloquial usage that omits the auxiliary verb 'is', common in some informal speech.

• You don't come home, I'm gon' be sick

  ➔ Contraction (gon') and Future Intent (I'm gon' be)

  ➔ 'Gon'' is a colloquial contraction of 'going to', used to express a future intention or prediction. 'I'm gon' be sick' means 'I am going to be upset or angry'.

• You gon' turn me back from bein' rich to hittin' licks

  ➔ Gerunds (bein', hittin') and Future Intent (gon' turn)

  ➔ 'Bein'' and 'hittin'' are colloquial contractions of 'being' and 'hitting', both gerunds. 'Gon' turn' indicates a future transformation.