"Red Terror" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter The Weeknd. It was released on January 31, 2025 by XO and Republic Records as a part of the artist's sixth studio album, Hurry Up Tomorrow.
Background[]
The title itself refers to the Ethiopian "Red Terror", a violent campaign of repression in Ethiopia between 1976-1978. The track meanwhile is speculated to have been written from perspective of Tesfaye's mother, and how the effects of trauma from fleeing and separation may have affected their family.
Music video[]
The music video for "Red Terror" continues the "Open Hearts (Live on Jimmy Kimmel Live!)" short film, with the young Abel in a dark forest. He walks towards the piece of ground which previously absorbed The Weeknd, and explodes right in Tesfaye's face, sending him into the air. He wakes up without a mouth on his face, and in a different, orange shaded setting. Abel is then chased by the forest's tree branches, until he finds a cave he walks into, where he once again finds the mysterious blob. He touches it, and follows by ripping the skin off his face, revealing a second, mouthed face.
Lyrics[]
[Intro]
Oh, woah
Oh, woah
Oh, woah, woah
Oh, woah
Oh, woah
Oh, woah, woah
[Verse 1]
You're not heavy, I rocked you to sleep, I hold you for hours long
Never heavy, I won't let you weep
[Chorus]
Hush, my child, you're mine
All my life, I try
[Verse 2]
Oh, you were never heavy, light just like a feather
I ran from the terror, the ground was red from the led
You were never scary, I knew you were special
My only intention, alone, I left to the west
Then moved to the city, eight months, we wеre pregnant
You came out so prеcious, in the snow, you would grow
Your mama loves you, you'll never be alone
[Chorus]
Hush, my child, you're mine (I know, I know, I know, hey)
All my life, I try (Sorry, mama, sorry, mama, woah, woah)
To keep you warm, when I go (I go, I feel so cold without you, mama, I feel so cold without you, woah)
You're still my child, don't cry
[Outro]
Death is nothing at all, it does not count
I have only slipped away into the next room
Nothing has happened
Everything remains exactly how it was
I am I and you are you
And the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still
Call me by the old, familiar name
[]
v • e  | |
|---|---|
| Standard Tracks | |
| Bonus tracks | |
| Artist | |
| Tours | |
| Gallery | |