The 12 Songs That Have Hidden Messages When Played in Reverse

When I was growing up, I relished the chance to show my friends that Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust” had a hidden message. When played backward, you can hear Freddie Mercury say, “It’s fun to smoke marijuana.” (That bought us 12-year-olds a good hour or so of chuckles.)

Later, I’d learn about something called pareidolia: the psychological tendency to perceive a message or pattern when none actually exists. We heard what we wanted to hear, and apparently, what we wanted to hear was a famous band’s hidden commentary on weed (we didn’t understand that rock stars generally don’t hide those things). That said, there are plenty of songs about which the debate continues: Did they really mean to say that, or is it just a coincidence? Does it even matter? Just because pareidolia exists doesn’t mean that all hidden meanings are imagined.

Maybe I’m still holding on to those 12-year-old hopes. But either way, it’s interesting to speculate about the true nature of so-called “hidden messages” — especially in the digital age.

Here are some classic examples of hidden messages. Some confirmed, some creepy, and others debated or debunked.

Eminem – “My Name Is”

Some fans claim that when this famous chorus is reversed, you can hear “It is Slim.” It’s never been confirmed by Eminem, but it’s one of those “hidden” messages we want to be true. Plus, it’s one of the most modern instances of so-called secret messages.

Led Zeppelin – “Stairway to Heaven”

A decades-old rumor claims that reversing the line “If there’s a bustle in your hedgerow…” reveals the phrase “Here’s to my sweet Satan.” Though widely circulated, the band has never confirmed any hidden message. Most experts chalk it up to pareidolia, but the theory (just like the song) will probably live forever.

The Beatles – “Revolution 9” and “I’m So Tired”

Contrary to some of the bands mentioned here, The Beatles have a slightly more wholesome reputation. Perhaps that’s part of the reason that the creepy rumors about these two songs still persist. At the end of “I’m So Tired,” the reversed audio allegedly says, “Paul is a dead man. Miss him. Miss him. Miss him.” And when played backward, the recurring “Number nine” on “Revolution 9” is said to morph into “Turn me on, dead man.” These lines fueled the “Paul is dead” conspiracy, whose adherents argue that McCartney died and was replaced by the band. Whether intentional or not, the “Miss him” audio became a cornerstone of Beatles lore.

Judas Priest – “Better by You, Better Than Me”

This is easily the most haunting and tragic example of supposed “secret” meanings. In 1990, Judas Priest was taken to court after two young men from Nevada died by suicide. Their families alleged the band’s cover of “Better by You, Better than Me” (originally sung by the British band Spooky Tooth) contained subliminal messages that influenced the teens. Judas Priest and their label denied the claim, and the judge ultimately ruled in their favor, stating there was no conclusive evidence of subliminal influence or intent. In a documentary about the case, singer Rob Halford noted it would be absurd for Judas Priest to encourage suicide. He added that they’d be more likely to insert “buy more of our records.” But even that would be difficult: Neuroscientist and record producer Daniel Levitin was also interviewed for the doc, and he said subliminal messages in a professional mix would be nearly impossible and highly impractical.

Eagles – “Hotel California”

Urban legends claim the chorus, when reversed, reveals satanic messages. Some listeners even claim the entire song is about spiritual damnation (which feels like even more of a stretch). The band has denied any intentional hidden meanings, which means it’s probably safe to chalk this one up to pareidolia. But it’s easy to see why the rumor mill got churning. Even without hidden meanings, the song is creepy as hell.

Pink Floyd – “Empty Spaces”

Here’s one that’s actually intentional. When reversed, a voice in “Empty Spaces” clearly says, “Congratulations. You have just discovered the secret message.” It’s a playful Easter egg from the band, poking fun at conspiracy seekers and fans obsessed with decoding hidden meanings behind their iconic album The Wall.

Electric Light Orchestra – “Fire on High”

This, too, was intentional — and an explicit rebuttal of some religious groups who said ELO (of all bands) turned kids into Satanists. The track opens with reversed audio that sounds ominous. But when you reverse it (so it’s now linear), you hear, “The music is reversible, but time is not. Turn back! Turn back!”

Radiohead’s Kid A album

Okay, so this is a whole album. But hear us out: Fans discovered that when certain Kid A tracks are rearranged and overlapped, they create new harmonies and transitions. In other words, some Radiohead fans believe Kid A contains a secret second album, nicknamed Kid 17, created by layering and crossfading specific track pairs (e.g., tracks 1 and 10, 2 and 9). The results sound surprisingly cohesive, leading to theories that it was intentional. Though the band hasn’t confirmed it, Kid 17 fits Radiohead’s experimental style and cryptic tendencies to a tee. Maybe it’s pareidolia, or maybe, like always, Radiohead is ten steps ahead. 

Slayer’s Hell Awaits

Let’s stick with the albums for a moment. As if a band with this name and this vibe needed to be even darker, Hell Awaits begins with a title track that, when reversed, reveals voices whispering “Join us!” and “Welcome back!” Slayer embraced controversy and theatrics, making this a textbook example of reverse audio used to build a band’s mythos.

Tool – “Intension”

The intro features faint whispers saying things like “Listen to your mother” and “Your father is right.” Known for hiding complex messages and sonic puzzles in their music, Tool likely placed these phrases intentionally, lending them more credibility in the creepy department. Although, if you think about it, they’re offering youngsters some sound advice. Like ELO’s antics, maybe this was a way to address the haters and show parents Tool isn’t some malevolent force.

Turmion Kätilöt – “Destination Hades”

The Finnish industrial metal band Turmion Kätilöt is known for theatrical flair, heavy electronic-metal fusion and twisted humor. With their 2008 album U.S.C.H!, they took things a step further by embedding a hidden game into their music. On “Destination Hades,” a reversed message invites fans to hunt for alternate endings across the album. Some were found at the end of songs, some buried in transitions or manipulated vocals — forming a kind of sonic puzzle that blurred the line between album and game. It was a wholesome, communal exercise for a group whose face paint makes Kiss look like a church band. 

Billie Eilish – “When the Party’s Over”

While researching this list, I kept coming across Reddit and YouTube claims that this Billie Eilish track contained hidden calls for help and messages like “send him to Hell.” Upon further listen, it seems like a classic case of pareidolia, likely exacerbated by the creepy vibe Eilish was cultivating at the time.

 Olivia Rodrigo – “deja vu”

Let’s end with a lovely one. Rodrigo confirmed that a whispered “I love you” is buried in the mix — a sweet, subtle Easter egg most listeners miss at first. It’s a modern example of how today’s artists can still play with hidden messages through carefully placed audio details. Plus, it’s cute as hell. My grandmother would approve.