Is there a real Louis Collins back of this song? And if so does anyone know the story? It's a very specific kind of name, not the sort you'd just stick in to fill out the line, like Bill or Johnny for example.

And I'd think perhaps red might have more significance than just a rhyme. Dead is a pretty easy word to find a rhyme for - they could have taken to their bed, or shook their head, for example. It might mean celebrating his death, or his life, or maybe just going back to work.