What does Dirty Little Secret mean?

The All-American Rejects: Dirty Little Secret Meaning

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Album cover for Dirty Little Secret album cover

Song Released: 2005


Dirty Little Secret Lyrics

Let me know that I've done wrong
When I've known this all along
I go around a time or two
Just to waste my time with you

Tell me all that you've thrown away
Find out games you don't wanna play
You are the only one that needs to...

  1. 1TOP RATED

    #1 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
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    Feb 4th 2007 !⃝

    Hey does anyone else but me think that this whole album is about a breakup, and what he goes through with the breakup. Just look at the songs, Dirty Little Secret, Stab My Back, Move Along, It Ends Tonight, Change Your Mind, Night Drive, 11:11 pm, Dance Inside, Top of the World, Straitjacket Feeling, I'm Waiting, Can't Take It. It sounds like a breakup to me. Message me if you have any info on this please!!!!

  2. 2TOP RATED

    #2 top rated interpretation:
    DaGitt
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    Feb 4th 2006 !⃝

    I guess this song could be perceived in different ways, because when I heard the song by itself, I thought I knew what it meant. But when I watched the video (with all the people holding up cards with their "secrets"), I realized it was more literal than it was figurative, if that was the way writers Tyson and Nick wanted the song to be interpreted.

    In general, this song is all about the title: his dirty little secret. Which is, if you look at the lyrics, his not really liking his girlfriend at all, but he's probably too afraid/lazy to tell her.


    Lyric pullouts:

    1. "When I've known this all along. I'll go around a time or two, just to waste my time with you"
    1. He's known he's felt that way for a long time. He's just not taking any action, and instead keeping it secret. Going around a time or two explains when he's riding in his car with his girlfriend--he's saying, 'oh, I'll just drive by the same places we already did, just so you think we're still hanging out just like the old days--even though, for real, I'm just wasting my time. I don't like you anymore.'

    2. "I'll keep you, my dirty little secret. Don't tell anyone, or you'll be just another regret. Who has to know?"
    2. Proof that his only intention is to keep it to himself, or all will come to disaster. Besides, 'who has to know'?

    3. "These thoughts I can't deny...and now I have to lie...it's eating me apart...trace this life out"
    3. The secret's apparently so dirty even he's having a hard time to handle it, and he's having to tell all these lies to cover up the truth. Because he's too afraid of the consequences.

    ------------------------------

    The above is just a theory. Again, the song could probably be perceived in a few more ways. It depends on how you interpret the lyrics. ;)

  3. 3TOP RATED

    #3 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
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    Aug 15th 2006 !⃝

    This song obviously is about a hookup. One of them is in a relationship and is cheating on their boyfriend/girlfriend but there is something missing that they look outside for. The guy finds this girl and they decide to be friends with benefits..He tells her it will be there dirty little secret but she can't tell anyone because he doesn't want his girlfriend to find out or else they both will regret it.

  4. M0th
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    Mar 12th 2021 !⃝

    I personally have always thought it was about someone being in a homosexual relationship, but trying to hide it because either their family or people around them don't accept it. Therefore it being their "dirty little secret". But I think this is just a dumb interpretation and not what it's actually about.

  5. MyCrushOnMewtwo
    click a star to vote
    Jul 12th 2020 !⃝

    I honestly think that "Dirty Little Secret" is about the lead singer. He cheats on his girlfriend with a different girl he likes and his girlfriend doesn't know. He wants it to stay that way. So, he tells her "I'll keep you my dirty little secret. Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret. (Just another regret, hope that you can keep it.)" As you should know, cheating IS a bad thing to do, and he thinks that if his girlfriend and/or her friends found out, him on the girl he likes will both live to regret hanging out all all, ever. This was MY interpretation, but if you disagree, let me know!

  6. anonymous
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    Sep 13th 2017 !⃝

    I think its about some guy and his gf doing something not appropriate for school and don't want any one to know
    ~student from Athens high school~

  7. anonymous
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    May 6th 2016 !⃝

    The protagonist is attracted to this person, and is engaged in a relationship with him/her, but this person doesn't fit his/her clique's definition of an acceptable partner. Shackled by the mores of his peers, the protagonist the protagonist feels that he/she cannot express his/her true feelings.

  8. anonymous
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    Nov 16th 2012 !⃝

    I believe that this song could be about the fact that everyone, who we take at face value, has a secret, and that it is theirs to keep. They may worry about what others may think of them if they knew, and so they hide it. The song may be coming from the point of view that the singer likes this person who others may judge them for liking (not necessarily popular, but maybe "lower class"). The song may be speaking out against such judgements, that we ARE all different, in many different ways. (I don't know, just my interpretation.) :)

  9. anonymous
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    Sep 26th 2012 !⃝

    i understand from the lyrics he is either having 'fun' sexually orientated fun on his side although she may not believe the same... he just wants somebody to mess about with and have 'his dirty little secret' whereas she wants something more 'i hope that you can keep it MY dirty little secret' he is trying to plead with her to keep it quiet 'dont tell anyone or you'll be just another regret' he knows its a guilty pleasure 'just to waste my time with you' but he cant let it go 'i'll keep you my dirty little secret' obviously scared of commitment and and he's been hurt and having occasional flings is what he has resorted too 'when we live such fragile lives its the best way we survive'.... so basically i could be wrong as it can be interpreted differently but i believe its meaning is; he is fucking a girl in quiet as his guilty pleasure and wants it to stay as a fling but maybe this girl has a boyfriend or he a girlfriend and he cant keep it up much longer because it isnt what he really wants its his dirty little secret, very literally and matter of fact to the lyrics but i see no deeper meaning.

  10. anonymous
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    Aug 6th 2012 !⃝

    This song is about the lead singers addiction to drugs. The drugs being his "secret" that he's wasting his time with. Probably weed because it is usually refered to as a "female".

  11. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jul 24th 2012 !⃝

    Let me know that I've done wrong
    When I've known this all along

    Translation: He knows his cheating is wrong, there's no need to point it out further. Although cheaters usually understand it's incorrect behavior, they prefer not to dwell on the thought. It prevents the purpose of the cheating in the first place, enjoyment without the annoyance of thoughts and burdens.

    I go around a time or two
    Just to waste my time with you

    Translation: I enjoy our hang out too much to let it end so soon. E.g. Extending a trip to the store or coming home late from work, just generally dragging out the time.


    Tell me all that you've thrown away
    Find out games you don't wanna play
    You are the only one that needs to know

    Translation: Open up to me, just as I've opened up to you by partaking in this secret love affair. Were already sharing a huge secret why not share the smaller ones as well? But we'll keep this between you and I.

    I'll keep you my dirty little secret
    (Dirty little secret)
    Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret
    (Just another regret, hope that you can keep it)
    My dirty little secret

    Translation: It's pretty obvious here, cheating IS a dirty secret after all. But secrets get around when told, and if anyone finds out he'll just have another, most likely larger, heap of problems, and regret ever doing it.

    Who has to know
    When we live such fragile lives
    It's the best way we survive

    Translation: Every can be a bit touchy and over-emotional. Make things seem bigger than they are, so by keeping this a secret it makes things easier for the both of us. No one really NEEDS to know what goes on between us, but US. Its OUR business. That's what I think he's emphasizing by "who has to know".

    I go around a time or two
    Just to waste my time with you

    Translation: Previously explained.

    Tell me all that you've thrown away
    Find out games you don't wanna play
    You are the only one that needs to know

    I'll keep you my dirty little secret
    (Dirty little secret)
    Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret
    (Just another regret, hope that you can keep it)
    My dirty little secret

    Translation: Explained previously.

    Who has to know
    The way she feels inside (inside)

    Translation: This could be quite literal, since he shouldn't in fact know how she feels 'inside'. This could also be emotional. She may have feelings for him etc. but they still need to be kept between the two of them, they have nothing to prove.

    Those thoughts I can't deny (deny)
    These sleeping dogs won't lie (won't lie)
    And now I've tried to lie
    It’s eating me apart
    Trace this life out

    Translation: Basically all of the emotional torture it's putting him through as well.

    I'll keep you my dirty little secret
    (Dirty little secret)
    Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret
    (Just another regret)

    I'll keep you my dirty little secret
    (Dirty little secret)
    Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret
    (Just another regret, hope that you can keep it)
    My dirty little secret
    Dirty little secret
    Dirty little secret

    Who has to know
    Who has to know

    Translation: All previously explained.

  12. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Mar 14th 2012 !⃝

    What i think of this great song is he/or she has someone already.. but found another person he couldnt help liking, which ends up to an affair. Over n over.. ends up being a definitely dirty lil secret! And he/she doesnt want anyone to knoe that aabout them too or theyll both regret it.

  13. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Mar 5th 2012 !⃝

    I sang this to my secret girl friend thinking it just meant, "Oh, your my secret and don't tell anyone." She felt great that I cared so much that she never told anyone and we kept the anonymity to a high level. We are still together today. But now I see this observation of the song thinking "CRAP I SUNG THIS TO MY G-F PLEASE GOD LET HER NOT READ THIS ARTICLE"

  14. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Mar 2nd 2012 !⃝

    i think this song is about a friends with benefits thing. a guy and a girl are in a "no strings attached" relationship and want to keep it that way and not have any regrets or influences/opinions from the people not involved.

  15. jamesmcavoy
    click a star to vote
    Dec 18th 2011 !⃝

    The song is about how we all have a dirty secret you can make everybody think that you are perfect in every way but deep down you have a secret that you want nobody to know.

  16. anonymous
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    Oct 17th 2011 !⃝

    He is cheating on his girlfriend. example: don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret. Also he says: "I'll keep YOU my dirty little secret. He is starting to get mad with all of these lies that he keeps telling the first girlfriend, and is mad that his life is getting so complicated so he says:It’s eating me apart Trace this life out.

  17. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Aug 10th 2011 !⃝

    I think this song is about this guy liking this girl that dosent like him back. So he has all of these ideas about her. (my dirty little secrect) And he hangs out with her alot. (just to waste my time with you) because he has fealing for her but just cant say anything, its eating him up, but he cant tell anbody.

  18. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Aug 10th 2011 !⃝

    I think this song is about this guy liking this girl that dosent like him back. So he has all of these ideas about her. (my dirty little secrect) And he hangs out with her alot. (just to waste my time with you) because he has fealing for her but just cant say anything, its eating him up, but he cant tell anbody.

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