[9][10] Throughout the touring cycle lead singer Austin John Winkler and drummer Cody Hanson revealed the two of them had written 66-75 songs for their upcoming third album, and cut the list down to the eleven or twelve songs for the record, with Red Tail Lights being one of those that made the final cut.

[11][12][13] Red Tail Lights like much of All American Nightmare was produced and engineered at two separate studios, in a 2011 interview the band revealed that Winkler recorded his vocals for the song at his personal in Las Vegas while the rest of the work was produced at Hanson's studio "Back-Longue Productions" in Oklahoma that he co-owns with future lead singer Marshal Dutton, who also assisted in the production of Red Tail Lights by recording the song's first demo that featured him singing the lead vocals for Winkler.

[17][18] "Red Tail Lights" is a breakup song that delves into the emotional aftermath of a romantic relationship ending.

The lyrics paint a vivid and poignant picture of the moment two people part ways, with the "red tail lights" of a lover's departing vehicle serving as a metaphor for the finality of the separation.

The song narrates the lingering doubts and questions that often arise in such moments, including whether the relationship was worth fighting for or if it was truly meant to end.