RED FLAG. Lyrics – Kesha

RED FLAG. Lyrics Meaning

[Chorus]
She’s saying she’s into the strange, wild, and messed-up types of people. Nice guys don’t excite her—they actually make her feel numb. She craves drama and chaos in a person, head to toe, because that makes her feel alive.

[Verse 1]
She knows the warning signs are there but can’t ignore them. What she wants is complicated—she’s bored and looking for someone just as wild and crazy as she is. She’s drawn to intense, risky energy that sticks in her memory. She’s not looking for calm or safe; she wants messy emotions, total chaos, and something that feels dangerously thrilling and all-consuming.

[Pre-Chorus]
She feels a strong connection with people who are just as messed up as she is. When she sees someone broken or unstable, it mirrors how she feels inside. It’s like she’s drawn to that mess because it feels familiar, and that gives her a rush.

[Chorus]
She keeps going back to this idea of loving chaos and wild people. Even though she knows it’s not healthy, she’s hooked on the thrill. Nice guys bore her to death, so she chases people who are walking red flags. She kind of knows it’s messed up, but at the same time, it feels so good that she can’t stop herself.

[Verse 2]
She’s curious about the real, raw side of people—the version they hide when they’re alone. She likes her men wild and untamed, not the polite, calm type. She compares it to liking wild horses, meaning she wants that unpredictability and intensity.

[Pre-Chorus]
She openly admits she’s attracted to people who are lost causes. She feels most alive when things are messy and going wrong. That emotional intensity excites her, and she’s always chasing that feeling, even when it’s bad for her.

[Chorus]
Again, she repeats that she’s drawn to chaos and brokenness. The more messed up someone is, the more they appeal to her. Even if she can’t admit it out loud, deep down she loves people who are clearly a bad idea. That mix of danger and emotional intensity is exactly what pulls her in every time.

[Post-Chorus]
She’s basically saying, “Yeah, I already know this.”

[Bridge]
She spots someone who’s clearly a red flag, but she’s still into him instantly. Even though they barely know each other, he says he loves her, and she jumps straight to wild fantasies like marriage and moving to Bali. Deep down, she knows this is all wrong, but part of her wants to believe in the fantasy. Even when reality tells her this won’t work, something inside her wants to keep chasing it. It’s like she can’t help but fall for the drama, even when she knows it’s doomed.

[Chorus]
She circles back to the same idea—she’s drawn to the wrong kind of people. Nice guys leave her feeling empty, so she looks for intensity, even if it’s messy. She can’t deny that red flags actually attract her. That sense of danger and dysfunction just feels right to her, even though she knows it shouldn’t.

[Outro]
She still knows exactly what she’s doing.