Abel Tesfaye, known to the world as The Weeknd, has built a career around deeply emotional and introspective music. While his songs often explore themes of love, fame, and personal struggles, a more profound historical narrative seems to emerge in one of his latest tracks. The lyrics of this song, particularly its references to “terror,” “the crowd was red from the led,” and fleeing to the West, strongly resonate with the historical trauma of the Ethiopian Red Terror, a dark chapter in Ethiopian history that shaped many families, including The Weeknd’s own.
Understanding the Ethiopian Red Terror
The Ethiopian Red Terror (የኢትዮጵያ ቀዩ ሽብር) was a brutal period of political violence and repression in the late 1970s under the military dictatorship of the Derg regime, led by Mengistu Haile Mariam. Thousands of Ethiopians, particularly young intellectuals, students, and political dissidents, were executed or disappeared. The streets of Addis Ababa and other cities were stained with blood as the regime cracked down on anyone suspected of opposing its rule.
Families were torn apart, children were orphaned, and countless individuals were forced to flee the country to escape persecution. Many Ethiopian refugees sought asylum in Western nations, including Canada, where The Weeknd’s parents eventually settled.
Decoding the Lyrics: A Personal and Historical Connection
The song opens with soothing yet haunting vocals, immediately setting an intimate tone. The first verse contains the lines:
“You’re not heavy, I rocked you to sleep, I hold you for hours long Never heavy, I won’t let you weep”
These lines could symbolize the deep familial bonds that persisted despite the trauma of war and migration. The reference to rocking someone to sleep and preventing them from weeping could reflect the struggle of Ethiopian parents trying to shield their children from the horrors they witnessed.
The second verse is particularly striking in its historical allusions:
“Oh, you were never heavy, light just like a feather, I ran from the terror, the crowd was red from the led”
The phrase “ran from the terror” could be a direct reference to the Red Terror, a time when thousands fled Ethiopia to escape state violence. The haunting image of “the crowd was red from the led” vividly depicts the mass executions and bloodshed that characterized the period.
“Alone, I left to the West”
This line encapsulates the experience of many Ethiopian refugees who left behind everything to seek safety in Western countries. The Weeknd’s parents were among those who migrated to Canada, and this lyric could reflect the personal history of his family’s displacement.
“Then moved to the city, eight months, we were pregnant, you came out so precious, in the snow, you would grow”
This lyric suggests the transition from Ethiopia to a new life in a Western country, most likely Canada, where The Weeknd was born. The reference to “snow” further reinforces the contrast between his parents’ past in Ethiopia and their new reality in North America.
The Outro: A Tribute to Those Lost
The outro of the song takes on a more poetic and philosophical tone:
“Death is nothing at all, it does not count I only slipped away into the next room”
This passage may serve as a reflection on the countless lives lost during the Red Terror. The idea that death is merely a transition and that nothing has truly changed speaks to the unresolved grief and the lasting impact of such historical tragedies. Many families never received closure, as their loved ones disappeared without a trace, leaving them with only memories and unanswered questions.
A Silent Tribute to Ethiopian History
While The Weeknd has never explicitly stated that this song is about the Ethiopian Red Terror, the lyrical themes strongly suggest an underlying historical connection. The song serves as a testament to the generational trauma carried by the Ethiopian diaspora. His ability to blend personal history with universal themes of love and loss makes this song not just a reflection of his own family’s journey but also a tribute to all who suffered and survived.
By weaving these historical references into his music, The Weeknd brings awareness to a part of history that remains lesser-known to many. His song stands as a quiet yet powerful remembrance of the resilience of Ethiopian families and the enduring legacy of the Red Terror.
