It's not that I don't see the red flags when I'm just about to start dating the wrong person. There's just some weird part of my brain that goes, "Nah, I'm sure it's fine" and slides off the bad stuff while overly magnifying the good stuff. 

Once, I even convinced myself that a woman wasn't actually as shallow and self-centered as she seemed to be when I met her and that she was instead just doing an extended, Sarah Silverman-ish comedy bit. I thought, "Wow, she's really funny." Well, as it eventually became apparent, she wasn't doing a bit. That "character" was her right down to her core, but it was like my brain hypnotized me into looking everywhere except right at the truth.

Idk why that part of my judgement shuts off when it does. One day I hope to sort that out so I can stop ending up tied to the wrong people for way too long. Until then, here's a fun, fast-paced, and catchy hard rock song to jump around the house to. And, hey, if you're also a little colorblind when it comes to seeing red flags, feel free to scream along. Maybe if we repeat it enough to ourselves, the truth will sink in and eventually set us free.  

LYRICS:

I'm in love
Found the one
I know that it's true
True
Then it turned
No surprise
I already knew
Knew

Saw it right away
The dark inside
Still I chose to stay
Let me roll the dice
My heart lies

Throw darts, try to hurt me
Gas light and pervert me
I know you'll desert me
When I see red flags I look away
Come on, test and try me
Your nails crucify me
You smile while I'm crying
But I see red flags and look away

Reaching out
Once again
You push me away
Way
Barricade
You shut me out 
Every day
Day

I should let you go
And just move on
Don't want to be alone
But then it dawns
You're already gone

Throw darts, try to hurt me
Gas light and pervert me
I know you'll desert me
When I see red flags I look away
Come on, test and try me
Your nails crucify me
You smile while I'm crying
But I see red flags and look away

Saw it right away
The dark inside
Still I chose to stay
Had to roll the dice
Cuz my heart lies

Throw darts, try to hurt me
Gas light and pervert me
I know you'll desert me
When I see red flags I look away
Come on, test and try me
Your nails crucify me
You smile while I'm crying
But I see red flags and look away

You smile while I'm crying
But I see red flags and look away

Throw darts (I still love you)
Dead hearts (I still love you)
Gas light (I still love you)
Every flag is red, just look away
Break me (I still love you)
Break me (I still love you)
Kill me (I still love you)

Cuz when the flags are red I look away

© 2025 Funk McPuke

Red Flags

RED FLAGS

Hey there, y'all! I'm Funk McPuke, an artist and musician originally from Los Angeles, CA but now living in my own little world.

After being in a bunch of punk and metal bands, I started writing and posting my own music here as a way of journaling feels, processing emotions, having fun with sounds, and annoying my neighbors. I decided early on to always just write whatever I was feeling in the moment and never chase an audience or clicks or clout, the result being that my music is a mix of various styles I like in various balances without any attempt to cater to a particular audience or genre. Depending on the song, you might hear a little punk, metal, grunge, electro, rap, post-hardcore, industrial, or any combination of those and other genres. I like to squish different sounds together and see what happens. If it sounds good, has a catchy hook, and makes me want to either cry or jump on my furniture and break stuff, it gets posted. Soundcloud is my place to play around and have a good time making music I enjoy without overthinking it too much. 

Ymmv. If you like one thing and one thing only -- like, if you're one of those people who believes punk has a uniform or something is "not metal" if it doesn't sound like all the other bands you listen to -- this might not be for you. Or maybe it is. Idk. I'm not the boss of you. Give it a listen and decide for yourself. And, hey, if you don't like one song, try another. You might like that one better.

Either way, I'mma keep writing and posting music for myself. But, y'know, if you find some lyrics you connect with, some hook that makes you bounce around your house, or just something to put on while you FINALLY do those dishes that have been stinking up your kitchen for the past week, then welcome. Even though I'm not chasing an audience, I do love getting messages from people who've connected with something I've made. It makes me feel less alone in the world and, for all those people who've messaged me in the past or will message me in the future, I appreciate you. I truly do. Thanks for stopping by and giving me a listen. I may write this music for myself because I think that's the best way to keep it honest, but I still believe music, like all art, is best when it's shared.