This is a fictional account of four high school buddies who are also neighbors. One is a young white male - Spike Mulligan who plays guitar sings and writes songs for revivals. The others Howie, Rufus and Ed are choir members of a black Baptist Church and ask him to sit in and play guitar in their church band and also to join their high school football team. The four become inseparable and dream of attending college together. Because of existing Alabama politics and racial prejudice they quickly realize it is not going to be that easy. The boys are drafted into the army and they all end up fighting in the jungles of Vietnam, they soon learn the only color that matters is red, representing their lives and the sacrifices they will make for one another. Only their status as returning war heroes can turn the Red Tide and swing open doors of opportunity that were unjustly locked for ages.