Figured You Out

"Figured You Out"
Song

"Figured You Out" is a 2004 single by the band Nickelback, the second from their 2003 album The Long Road.

Impact

One of Nickelback's more controversial songs, "Figured You Out" reached 65 on the Billboard Hot 100, but topped the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for 13 consecutive weeks and was also voted one of the "40 Most Awesomely Bad Dirty Songs...Ever" on VH1. In 2004, the song was number one on both Billboard's Year-End Mainstream Rock Chart and Radio & Records Rock and Active Rock charts.

The song is the story of a wild, often abusive sexual relationship between a man and a woman. Although it seems that both are using drugs, the woman seems to have more problems with them than the man and (apparently) is willing to subject herself to degrading sexual activities while intoxicated.

During Nickelback's 2005 "The Long Road" Tour, at a performance at The Hammersmith Apollo in London, frontman Chad Kroeger told the audience that the song was not played on UK radio because it was considered "too dirty." The song's opening verse, "I like your pants around your feet," suggests the couple involved are having sex. As already mentioned, the lyrics also suggest that one, if not both, of the song's characters use drugs, specifically cocaine. ("I love the way you can't say no. Too many long lines in a row. I love the powder on your nose") The lyrics further suggest the couple frequently engages is rough sex, or that the man abuses the woman sexually when she is intoxicated and unable to say no or more likely to submit to the abuse. At first, the man in the song appears to enjoy the woman's reckless behavior and the abuse. In the second verse he tells the woman, I love your lack of self respect, while you're passed out on the deck, I love my hands around your neck). However, at the end of the song, the relationship appears to have exhausted the man, and he has changed his mind about the woman and her behavior. He now says he hates all the things he loved about her earlier.

Some people believe the woman in the song is a cheerleader, because the album cover features a picture of several cheerleaders sitting next to each other. However, there is nothing in the song that confirms or even hints that this is the case.

"Figured You Out" enjoyed success in many English-speaking countries. It was Number one in Canada and was in the top 10 hot singles in Australia and New Zealand. It was also reached the hot 30 in Australia, often placed in the top 10 hottest songs during its release.

Although "Figured You Out" is not Nickelback's most popular song, it's a favorite of many Nickelback fans, who like the darkly humorous lyrics. Besides from "Figured You Out", The Long Road also spawned the hit singles "Someday" and "Feelin' Way Too Damn Good". It is often played as the final encore at Nickelback gigs.

Track listings

1. "Figured You Out"
2. "Too Bad [Live at MTV Unplugged]
3. "Where Do I Hide" (Live @ MTV Unplugged)

Charts

Chart	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	65
U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks	1
U.S. Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks	4
Australian ARIA Singles Chart	10
Canadian Singles Chart	1