In my opinion, the "red light green light" in the song recorded by Peter Paul and Mary refer to the color of street traffic lights.

I think this song may have been the source of the children's game "Red Light Green Light". I played this game in my childhood {Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1950s}. African American girls and boys {ages 5-12 years} who I've worked with in after-school groups, and summer camps in Pittsburgh area {1997-2005} also knew and played "Red Light Green Light". To clarify, I was prepared to teach this game to them, but they already knew it :o)

"Red Light Green Light" is not a singing or chanting game. This game is directed by a "leader" and is played by a group of children {girls and boys usually 5-12 years of age} who hope to be the first person to reach a pre-designated home base that is in front of them. The children move as fast as they can toward that home base when the leader says "green light". They slow down when the leader says "yellow light" and they stop when the leader says "red light".
Sometimes those who stop dramatically "freeze", but the object is to move as fast as you can in order to get to that designated home base.

Besides being fun to play, this game teaches children to listen carefully and follow directions. Hopefully, it also teaches children to be good winners and good losers.

I'm curious if anyone else here knows this game. If so, please indicate when {decade} and where {city, state, country if outside of the USA} you played it.

Thanks!