19 Secretly Dark Songs That'll Have You Singing A Different Tune

    Spoiler alert: Annie was NOT OK!

    Ehis Osifo
    by Ehis Osifo

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Ever listen to a boppin' song, only to listen to the lyrics a lil' closer and find out that it's anything but a bop?

    NBC

    Well, recently, Reddit user u/mc4starterzzz/ posed this question in the AskReddit subgroup: "What song has an upbeat tune but dark lyrics?"

    NBC

    Here are some of the most shocking replies:

    1. "Macarena" by Los Del Río is about a girl named Macarena who cheats on her boyfriend.

    Three women from the "Macarena" music video.
    RCA Records

    —Jessica_T

    2. "Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster the People is about the dark mental state of a troubled student.

    Frontman Mark Foster performing onstage at a concert.
    Columbia / Startime

    —thebyron

    3. "9 to 5" by Dolly Parton is about sexist standards for women in the workplace.

    Dolly singing to the camera with a guitar on her lap.
    RCA Nashville

    —Tresonman

    4. "Copacabana" by Barry Manilow is about a showgirl named Lola who becomes an alcoholic after losing her lover in a bar brawl.

    Barry Manilow singing in a bright, white suit.
    Arista

    —danplayschess

    5. "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears is about humans' desire for control and tendency toward corruption.

    Curt Smith singing into a microphone.
    Phonogram

    —RyeBreadTrips

    6. "Time to Pretend" by MGMT is about musicians who are pretending to love the "high life" — sex, drugs, and fame — since they chose it over the normal life.

    Psychedelic photo of MGMT in a room raining money while Andrew holds a baby.
    Columbia

    —ratearther

    7. "Born in the U.S.A." by Bruce Springsteen is about a traumatized veteran who comes home from war and is unable to find a job or emotional support.

    War footage from the Vietnam war.
    Columbia

    —The_Ranger76

    8. "Smile" by Lily Allen is about a girl getting dumped by her boyfriend.

    Lily eating a bar of chocolate in her bedroom.
    Regal

    —wtfINFP

    9. "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" by the Beatles is about a serial killer named Maxwell who kills his victims with a hammer.

    Promotional still of The Beatles.
    John Pratt / Getty Images

    —julia1107

    10. "No Rain" by Blind Melon is about depression.

    Bumblebee girl performing a tap routine at a recital.
    Capitol

    —LordofWithywoods

    11. "Semi-Charmed Life" by Third Eye Blind is about a man's crippling addiction to crystal meth.

    Stephen singing outside a house.
    Elektra

    —boblobong

    12. "Smooth Criminal" by Michael Jackson is about a girl named Annie who's attacked in her apartment.

    Michael Jackson in a white suit dancing in the middle of a saloon.
    Epic

    —new_on_this

    13. "Hey Ya!" by Outkast is about people staying in relationships with one another even though no one in the relationship is happy.

    Andre 3000 x3 acting as background singers and dancers.
    LaFace / Arista

    —I_Hate_Ugly_Bastards

    14. "Mr. Brightside" by the Killers is about Brandon Flowers walking in on his girlfriend cheating on him and still not being able to get over her.

    The Killers performing in a speak-easy.
    Island

    —clownforhirepurchase

    15. "Little Talks" by Of Monsters & Men is about a woman who loses her husband and hallucinates hearing his voice.

    A woman with intricate and avant-garde makeup.
    Universal Republic

    —CertainFurball

    16. "Blinding Lights" by the Weeknd is about drunk driving.

    The Weeknd putting on a glove in the night.
    XO / Republic

    —xndrr87

    17. "Paper Planes" by M.I.A. is a satire about the struggles she had becoming an American citizen due to her "dark skin and ethnic name."

    M.I.A. rapping in a hat shop.
    XL / Interscope

    —KrazyOldMan5150

    18. "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" by the Smiths is about front man Morissey being willing to die for his love.

    Tom and Summer in their work elevator.
    Fox Searchlight / Courtesy Everett Collection

    —Bum-Sniffer

    19. Finally, "Eleanor Rigby" by the Beatles is about the death of young bride Eleanor Rigby, who gets buried by Father McKenzie.

    Animation of lonely people in London standing in their umbrellas.
    Capitol

    —atglobe