The song "Red Cross Store" by Eric Burdon is a blues song that reflects on the difficulties and frustrations faced by African Americans during the time of segregation in the United States. The lyrics convey the narrator's disdain for the Red Cross store, which was a common place for African Americans to receive assistance and supplies. The song starts by stating that the narrator refuses to go back to the Red Cross store. It suggests that the store does not fulfill their basic needs or provide adequate help. The reference to "boll weevils in your brain" implies that the merchant at the store is unreasonable or unhelpful. The following lines mention the lack of sugar and flour, essential ingredients in everyday life. The Red Cross store is depicted as unable to provide for the narrator's basic needs. The phrase "Red Cross store went help me fix my ailing head" suggests that the narrator is experiencing emotional or mental distress, but the store fails to offer any support or relief. The line "No Red Cross store gonna save my life when I'm down to my last breath" implies that the narrator has lost faith in the store's ability to assist in times of desperate need. The Red Cross store is portrayed as unreliable and incapable of helping those in dire circumstances. The song then takes a broader perspective, criticizing war and questioning the motives behind it. The narrator refuses to support any cause or organization that they don't fully understand or believe in. The phrase "before I give my Soul to that Red Cross store" suggests that the narrator does not want to be associated with or rely on an institution that they perceive as ineffective or uncaring. Overall, "Red Cross Store" conveys a sense of disillusionment and frustration with the limitations and shortcomings of the Red Cross store, symbolizing the larger issues and struggles faced by African Americans during a time of segregation and inequality.
