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In Billy Joel's "Cold War" Anthem - "Leningrad", he begins the 3rd stanza (in first person) as follows:

"I was born in '49 A cold war kid in McCarthy time

Stop 'em at the 38th Parallel

Blast those yellow reds to hell"

The term "Reds" was globally identified with, and used as a slang for, "Communism and/or Communists". Originating from the dominant use of Red background/field colors in the Communist National Flag by the U.S.S.R.; followed by Mao Zedong's Communist China, North Korea, North Vietnam, Angola, Communist Poland, etc.

Billy's reference to "Yellow" is a racial slur (Note: Billy Joel is NOT a racist.. he uses the term to define the "times" he was raised in and the social vernacular used then) to those of Asian ethnicity; in this case, North Koreans & the Chinese who supported North Korea in the "Korean War".

So, the phrase "yellow reds" means North Korean/Chinese Communists.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

netknight

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15y ago

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