9 Popular Songs You Didn't Know Were Based On Real News Stories

4. Pat Benatar - "Hell Is For Children"

Even a cursory glance at the lyrics sheet for Pat Benatar's frequently covered "Hell Is For Children" will verify that the song is somber look at child abuse. But the story behind the track's inception and subsequent legacy is one that helps prove why Pat Benatar is one of the coolest musicians in hard rock history.

Talking about the inspiration for "Hell Is For Children," she explained that The New York Times had presented a series of articles detailing child abuse in America. Benatar, who grew up in a small town and had no such experiences, was shocked to find out how prevalent the matter was.

"I was stunned. It affected me so much. I was moved by the articles. Whenever that would happen I would write. I said to Neil , 'I want you to do something to the music that sounds like pain. I want the intense pain that's happening to these children in the notes,' and so he did and it turned out just great."

Not only did Benatar address the serious social issue in her song, but she also helped start a foundation to raise awareness about child abuse. She still plays the song at every concert - "in solidarity for all the children at risk and for all the survivors of abuse so that you know you have a voice."

They cry in the dark, so you can't see their tearsThey hide in the light, so you can't see their fearsForgive and forget, all the while