[Innominate]

This one was a fun write and it's a bit lighter than my last two posts. If you don't know what a Red Shirt is, I suggest looking it up before hand. Thanks for reading!

EDIT: I realize it was stupid of me to not simply explain what "Red Shirt" means so i'll do that now. "Red Shirt' is a reference to the TV series Star Trek. In it, the "Red Shirt" was the member of the expeditionary group who always ended up dying(and was always dressed in a red shirt). We were never given any information on these low value characters and their sole purpose for being was to die in place of the main cast. They usually died to indicate dangers or hazards in the environment and create "suspense" for the scene. In a modern context, a "red shirt" is any unknown character in fiction who suffers a grim fate, used only to create suspense or indicate danger to the main cast. Cannon fodder, nameless minions, random thugs and anyone else the audience has no emotional connection with are "Red Shirts". That's how I'm using it anyways. I hope this helps.
 

When the Red Shirt Dies

Verse
I've got a name
It's crewman #2
My claim to fame?
That I'm an unknown on this crew

I take the blow
I show the dangers they might face
And when I go
I'll die with no amount of grace

Verse
The girl who died?
Her real name is Grace
She had a smile
That warmed the coldest parts of space

When she left home
Her son was two months old
Although she tried
Now she won't ever see him

Chorus      
Nobody cares when the red shirt dies
We're only here to serve the plot
Nobody cares when the red shirt dies
Our only role, as far as you've been told
Is that we're easily forgot

Verse
Look to the floor
You see that scruffy lad
He has before
Been beaten bloody by his dad

If he got home
He'd find a man who likes to drink
And all alone
He'd soon be greeted with a fist

Verse
On his first date
It seemed too soon to say
He had to wait
But he still loved her right away

Though now he's gone
And he can't tell her how he felt
Waited too long
And now she'll never find out

Chorus      
Nobody cares when the red shirt dies
We're only here to serve the plot
Nobody cares when the red shirt dies
Our only role, as far as you've been told
Is that we're easily forgot

Bridge
They always love the leads
But never those beneath
And if you look, you'll see
We're not just on TV

Chorus      
Nobody cares when the red shirt dies
We're only here to serve the plot
Nobody cares when the red shirt dies
Our only role, as far as you've been told
Is that we're easily forgot

[hardtwistmusic]

This one was a fun write and it's a bit lighter than my last two posts. If you don't know what a Red Shirt is, I suggest looking it up before hand. Thanks for reading!

When the Red Shirt Dies

Verse
I've got a name
It's crewman #2
My claim to fame?
That I'm an unknown on this crew

I take the blow
I show the dangers they might face
And when I go
I'll die with no amount of grace

Verse
The girl who died?
Her real name is Grace
She had a smile
That warmed the coldest parts of space

When she left home
Her son was two months old
Although she tried
Now she won't ever see him

Chorus      
Nobody cares when the red shirt dies
We're only here to serve the plot
Nobody cares when the red shirt dies
Our only role, as far as you've been told
Is that we're easily forgot

Verse
Look to the floor
You see that scruffy lad
He has before
Been beaten bloody by his dad

If he got home
He'd find a man who likes to drink
And all alone
He'd soon be greeted with a fist

Verse
On his first date
It seem too soon to say
He had to wait
But he still loved her right away

Though now he's gone
And he can't tell her how he felt
Waited too long
And now she'll never find out

Chorus      
Nobody cares when the red shirt dies
We're only here to serve the plot
Nobody cares when the red shirt dies
Our only role, as far as you've been told
Is that we're easily forgot
Bridge
They always love the leads
But never those beneath
And if you look, you'll see
We're not just on TV

Chorus      
Nobody cares when the red shirt dies
We're only here to serve the plot
Nobody cares when the red shirt dies
Our only role, as far as you've been told
Is that we're easily forgot

Makes me think of the television series "Star Trek."   Whenever a crewman whose face was not familiar was on a landing party, you just KNEW he was dead meat.  He was there only to further the plot, and in order to further the plot, somebody had to die.

I really like the concept and the lyrics.  I think they are very meaningful.

[Innominate]

That exactly where the name comes from, Star Trek. But it happens in every TV show and movie, there are always characters whose purpose is to die for the story to be told. The trick they use is that we don't know who they are so we have no attachment to them, their death is impersonal so there is no emotional impact on the audience. We sort of do that in real life too.

Glad you liked the lyrics and thanks for the comment.

[BooBoo]

Can I just say how sad I am that this isn't about an actual red shirt! But thank you for teaching me something new haha.

Very original topic, never come across anything like this before. I like the chorus the most just because it seems quite catchy. The verses are also good though. Great song.

[benjo]

hey,

I think this is really clever and you have thought deep into this
what an original topic, it kept me reading and made my mind work
if i'm honest it took about three reads to really get the right message
but once I realised where it was going yeah I get it
and yes it does happen in real life to, I like it well done 10 points for originality

                             tony.

[digger72]

Hi,

Well, you learn something new every day.
Interesting and clever write. Made me think of the theme song to the Fall Guy tv series - i used to love that.
I suppose you could say that it has another meaning - we mere mortal "plebs" are here to serve the plot of the "ruling classes." Or, maybe not.

Nice one.

Digger

[Innominate]

BooBoo - Upon reflection I probably should have thought of that. I was so focused on the Star Trek reference it didn't occur to me! I wrote the chorus to be quite catchy so i'm glad it worked. Thanks!

benjo - Thank you, I did spend a bit of time thinking about it. Finding original topics is difficult, i'm sure this one has even been covered before. Mind if I ask which parts made the message sink in? Were any parts making it difficult to understand? Cheers

digger72 - Hey thanks for reading! And you are actually right, it is a bit of a stab at the idea of disposable humans of every type, even us plebian scum.

[PeeJay]

Hi,

I think this was a novel way to portray the anonimity of certain sectors of society. Using the Star Trek connection was a clever twist.

Nice one,

Phil.

[Innominate]

Thanks Phil, I'm glad you liked it.