14 Popular Songs That Hit Different After You Read the Lyrics

Sometimes a song is so catchy or beautiful that you don't pay much attention to the meaning behind the lyrics.

Someone on a popular online forum asked, “What song hits different after you read the lyrics?” Here are the top 14 responses.

Cat's in the Cradle by Harry Chapin (1974)

“Cat's in the Cradle” focuses on a father-son relationship. “I used to love it as a kid, but it absolutely crushes me as an adult with children,” one music lover shared.

Every Breath You Take by The Police (1983)

One music fan called it “the poster child for ‘sounds beautiful until you read the creepy lyrics.'” Another noted, “Even Sting was disturbed by how people misinterpreted his song.”

Macarena by Los del Rio (1993)

“Macarena” was always played during its heyday and had a popular dance associated with it. But no one realized it was about a girl cheating on her boyfriend while he was deployed.

Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen (1984)

Despite being portrayed as a patriotic song, “Born in the U.S.A.” is anything but.

Fortunate Son by Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969)

Everyone knows the lyric, “Some folks are born to wave the flag.” Too many people ignore that the song mentions that “it ain't me”… they're no senator's son.

Rising Sun (1993)

On paper, the idea of a political thriller based on a Michael Crichton book, directed by Philip Kaufman, and starring Sean Connery and Wesley Snipes sounds fantastic. In practice, Rising Sun is a hateful piece of nastiness.

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