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People Are Sharing Songs That "Hit Different" Once You Actually Read The Lyrics, And...Yup

"They played that song all the time for stuff when I was in elementary school, but it's about a girl cheating on her boyfriend with multiple people while he's away."

Allie Hayes
by Allie Hayes

BuzzFeed Staff

Recently in a viral thread, redditor u/Klusten asked, "What song hits different after you read the lyrics?" and music lovers came through with all kinds of A+ answers.

NBC

So, with that in mind, here are just a few of the most popular responses shared:

1. "Born in the U.S.A." by Bruce Springsteen

Columbia

"It's famously misinterpreted as patriotic."

—u/Some-Income614

You can listen to the full song here:

View this video on YouTube
Columbia / Via youtube.com

2. "Greased Lightning" from Grease

A man singing "You know that I ain't braggin', she's a real pussy wagon, Greased Lightning!"
Paramount Pictures

"That song is FILTHY."

—u/bowlbettertalk

You can listen to the full song here:

View this video on YouTube
Paramount Pictures / Via youtube.com

3. "Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad" by Meatloaf

A man singing "I want you, I need you, but there ain't no way I'm ever gonna love you. Now don't be sad 'cause two out of three ain't bad..."
Epic

"Meat Loaf said it always depressed him how many people came up to him and told him they danced to this at their wedding. It was like, 'Have you ever listened to the damn lyrics?!'"

—u/Opr9r

You can listen to the full song here:

View this video on YouTube
Epic / Via youtube.com

4. "Macarena" by Los Del Rio

Three women singing "But don't you worry about my boyfriend. He's a boy whose name is 'Vitorino.' I don't want him couldn't stand him..."
RCA

"They played that song all the time for stuff when I was in elementary school, but it's about a girl cheating on her boyfriend with multiple people while he's away."

—u/thesystem21

You can listen to the full song here:

View this video on YouTube
RCA / Via youtube.com

5. "We Are Young" by Fun

A man singing "My seat's been taken by some sunglasses asking 'bout a scar, and I know I gave it to you months ago. I know you're trying to forget..."
Fueled by Ramen / Nettwerk / Atlantic

"It's actually about glossing over a toxic relationship, domestic violence, and drug use."

—u/SamHugz

You can listen to the full song here:

View this video on YouTube
Fueled by Ramen / Nettwerk / Atlantic / Via youtube.com

6. "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears For Fears

A man singing "Acting on your best behavior, turn your back on Mother Nature. Everybody wants to rule the world"
Phonogram / Mercury / Vertigo

"It's a sing-a-long dystopian song about the Cold War. It took me a long time to realize this, and I was around when it was first released."

—u/Zoomorph23

You can listen to the full song here:

View this video on YouTube
Phonogram / Mercury / Vertigo / Via youtube.com

7. "Hey Ya" by Outkast

A man singing "We get together, oh, we get together, but separate's always better when there's feelings involved"
Arista / BMG

"It's the one that pops in my head right away. It’s a dance song with a depressing message."

—u/Buttahdog

You can listen to the full song here:

View this video on YouTube
Arista / BMG / Via youtube.com

8. "Pour Some Sugar on Me" by Def Leppard

A man singing "Lookin' like a tramp, like a video vamp. Demolition woman, can I be your man?"
Mercury

"Those lyrics went right over me when I was a kid."

—u/SanctusArchangel

You can listen to the full song here:

View this video on YouTube
Mercury / Via youtube.com

9. "Physical" by Olivia Newton John

A woman singing "There's nothin' left to talk about, unless it's horizontally..."
MCA

"It went over most kids' heads, but I was sitting there thinking, 'I'm pretty sure it's completely inappropriate to have a bunch of 10-year-olds exercising to this song.'"

—u/Notinyourbushes

You can listen to the full song here:

View this video on YouTube
MCA / Via youtube.com

10. "My Sharona" by the Knack

A man singing "I always get it up for the touch of the younger kind..."
Capitol

"They’re basically singing about having sex with an underage girl."

—u/phred_666

You can listen to the full song here:

View this video on YouTube
Capitol / Via youtube.com

11. "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)" by Rupert Holmes

The cover of Rupert Holmes album, with lyrics overlaid reading "I was tired of my lady, we'd been together too long. Like a worn out recording of a favorite song..."
Infinity Records

"I had no idea that song was about a married couple trying to cheat on each other and accidentally winding up on a date together."

—u/Doodle_Brush

You can listen to the full song here:

View this video on YouTube
Infinity Records / Via youtube.com

12. "Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds

A man singing "Will you recognize me? Call my name or walk on by..."
Virgin / AM

"It has a catchy beat, but, if you're not paying attention, you can totally miss the meaning of the song. I teared up a bit thinking about my old friends when I first read the lyrics."

—u/aykman2004

You can listen to the full song here:

View this video on YouTube
Virgin / A&M / Via youtube.com

13. "Cat's in the Cradle" by Harry Chapin

The cover art for Harry Chapin's album with text reading "My child arrived just the other day. He came to the world in the usual way, but there were planes to catch and bills to pay. He learned to walk while I was away..."
Elektra

"I used to love it as a kid, but it absolutely crushes me as an adult with children."

—u/vladimirTheInhaler

You can listen to the full song here:

View this video on YouTube
Elektra / Via youtube.com

14. "Walking on the Sun" by Smash Mouth

A man singing "So don't delay, act now, supplies are running out. Allow, if you're still alive, six to eight years to arrive, and, if you follow, there may be a tomorrow"
Interscope

"It was doomsaying about global warming, spoiled boomers, and the Rodney King riots, but all anyone seems to remember is that it was a fun '90s summer jam."

—u/MisterSpocksSocks

You can listen to the full song here:

View this video on YouTube
Interscope / Via youtube.com

15. "Every Breath You Take" by the Police

A man singing "Every single day, and every word you say. Every game you play, every night you stay,I'll be watching you..."
AM

"And to think it was a 'bride's choice' favorite at weddings."

—u/Billbobugger

You can listen to the full song here:

View this video on YouTube
A&M / Via youtube.com

16. "Build Me Up Buttercup" by the Foundations

The cover for The Foundations album, with text reading "And then, worst of all, you never call, baby, when you say you will, but I love you still..."
Pye / Uni

"It’s a pretty sad song about a guy who keeps getting ghosted, and he won’t take the hint."

—u/Stickfigurewisdom

You can listen to the full song here:

View this video on YouTube
Pye / Uni / Via youtube.com

17. "The Kids Aren't Alright" by the Offspring

A man singing "Chances thrown, nothing's free. Longing for what used to be. Still it's hard, hard to see, fragile lives, shattered dreams..."
Columbia

"The beat hit me so hard that it wasn’t until much later, when a close friend made a comment, that I realized how sad the song was. After that, the song really wasn’t as upbeat as I made it out to be."

—u/Consistantly-Boring

You can listen to the full song here:

View this video on YouTube
Columbia / Via youtube.com

18. "Take Me to Church" by Hozier

Rubyworks / Island / Columbia

"Although, to be fair, it was the video that made me do an 'Ohhh.'"

—u/Willing-Goat2102

You can listen to the full song here:

View this video on YouTube
Rubyworks / Island / Columbia / Via youtube.com

And finally:

19. "Barbie Girl" by Aqua

A woman singing "I'm a blonde bimbo girl in a fantasy world. Dress me up, make me tight..."
Universal / MCA

"'You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere!' Who let me sing this when I was 5?!"

—u/Ok_Abrocoma_3660

You can listen to the full song here:

View this video on YouTube
Universal / MCA / Via youtube.com

You've read their picks, but now it's your turn. Which ones did they miss? What songs "hit different" after reading the lyrics? Share your pick(s) in the comments below!

Some responses were edited for length and/or clarity. H/T: Reddit.