"Got a secret, can you keep it?" If you grew up in the 2010s, those seven words aren't just lyrics. They're a Pavlovian trigger. You hear that haunting, nursery-rhyme-gone-wrong melody and you immediately think of black hoodies, cryptic text messages, and a casket that may or may not be empty.
But honestly, the story of the pretty little liars theme music is way weirder than just a catchy tune. Most fans assume the show’s producers spent months in a high-tech studio auditioning composers to find the perfect "vibey" track for their teen noir. That’s not what happened. Not even close.
The Ashley Benson Connection
Believe it or not, the song wasn't handed down by some big-shot music supervisor. It was actually Ashley Benson—Hanna Marin herself—who basically forced the show to use it.
Back when they were filming the pilot in Vancouver, the cast was riding in a car. Ashley played "Secret" by The Pierces for the rest of the girls. She’d actually heard the song while watching an episode of Gossip Girl (Season 1, Episode 10, if you're keeping score) and became obsessed. She told I. Marlene King, the showrunner, that it had to be the theme.
King listened. And just like that, a 2007 indie track by a sister duo from Alabama became the anthem for a generation of mystery-obsessed teens. It’s funny how one of the biggest "A" secrets was actually born in a car ride with the cast.
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Why The Lyrics are Actually Terrifying
We all know the chorus. We’ve all sung it. But have you actually listened to what Catherine and Allison Pierce are singing about?
"Two can keep a secret if one of them is dead."
That line isn't just a edgy hook. It’s a literal description of how the show operates. In the world of Rosewood, the only way to ensure total silence is, well, permanent. The song is actually told from the perspective of someone who has shared a secret and is now realizing they have to eliminate the other person to stay safe.
Breaking down the lore
- The Names: The Pierces happen to be named Catherine and Allison. In the song, they literally say, "Allison? Yes, Catherine? I have something I want to tell you." Fans went feral over this because the "dead" girl in the show is named Alison.
- The Nursery Rhyme Vibe: The song uses a 4/4 time signature that feels like a child's game. It creates this "uncanny valley" effect—something that should be innocent but feels deeply wrong.
- The Finger: That iconic "shhh" at the end of the intro? It wasn't in the song. That was a visual choice that perfectly synced with the track's staccato rhythm.
The Evolution of a Theme
When the original series ended in 2017, the pretty little liars theme music didn't just go into a vault. It evolved. Like a virus. Or "A."
When the spin-off The Perfectionists launched, they knew they couldn't just play the same track. It would feel dated. Instead, they brought in Denmark + Winter to record a slowed-down, "creepy" version. It felt like a ghost was singing it.
Then came Original Sin (now Summer School). They went back to a remix of the original Pierces track for the first season to hit that nostalgia button. By the second season, they handed the reigns to Transviolet. It’s a testament to how strong that original melody is—you can strip it down, speed it up, or add heavy synths, and it still feels like Rosewood.
It Wasn’t Just a Song, It Was a Brand
The music supervisors for the show, specifically Chris Mollere, were geniuses. They didn't just treat the theme as a 30-second skipable intro. They built an entire soundscape around it.
The show became a massive platform for indie artists. If your song played while Aria and Ezra were crying in the rain, you were basically guaranteed a spot on the iTunes charts the next morning. But "Secret" remained the anchor. It’s one of the few TV themes that didn't change for seven straight years. In the world of TV, that’s almost unheard of. Usually, networks want to "freshen things up" by season four. But the fans would have rioted.
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What You Can Learn from the PLL Sound
If you’re a creator or just a fan of TV history, there’s a real lesson here about "vibe." The pretty little liars theme music works because it’s specific. It doesn't try to be a generic "mystery" track. It’s Southern Gothic meets high-school drama.
Actionable Takeaways for Superfans
- Check out the full album: The song "Secret" is on the 2007 album Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge. It’s full of that same dark, cabaret-style energy.
- Watch the Gossip Girl original: Go back and watch Gossip Girl S1E10. It’s wild to hear the song playing in the background of a Debutante Ball and realize it was about to become the face of a completely different show.
- Listen to the 2020 Re-recording: The Pierces actually released a "Secret 2020" version during the pandemic. It’s a bit more polished and shows how their own relationship with the song has changed over the decades.
The song is over fifteen years old now. Yet, if you post a video with that opening "shhh" today, people will immediately know exactly what you’re talking about. It’s more than just theme music; it’s a cultural shorthand for "don't trust anyone."
To truly appreciate the impact, go back and listen to the original 2007 studio version without the show's visuals. You'll notice tiny details, like the "look into my eyes, now you're getting sleepy" line, that make it feel even more manipulative and dark than the TV edit ever let on. Once you hear the full version, you'll never look at the Rosewood girls the same way again.