James Blunt shares true dark meaning behind hit song You’re Beautiful that you won’t be able to unhear

To celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the release of his most successful song, James Blunt has decided to remind us all of the alarming meaning behind it.

You might have gone all of this time thinking that 'You're Beautiful' is merely a sweet song about a bloke trying to win the heart of a lovely looking lady who gave him a smile as they rode the subway.

But you'd be dead wrong - as the singer revealed that 'stalking' and 'drugs' were actually the main inspirations behind his heartfelt lyrics.

Two decades on from its release, the ballad remains a popular choice among karaoke fans, people curating romantic playlists and even newlyweds in search of something slow for their first dance.

It has stood the test of time and continues to satisfy the ears of tons of listeners 20 years on - and even Blunt didn't see the song's success coming.

In a video marking the anniversary of the release of 'You're Beautiful', the Hampshire-born musician admitted he had no idea that the track would 'resonate [with people] quite so much'.

It was released in 2005 as the third single of Blunt's Back to Bedlam album and went on to sell more than four million copies worldwide.

The hit song that was released in 2005 bought James Blunt his Ibiza home (YouTube/James Blunt)

'You're Beautiful' topped the charts in the UK for weeks on end - as well as doing big numbers in countries such as Australia, Canada and the US - while also earning numerous award nominations.

It also allowed him to stack some serious cash, and he used some of the money to purchase a £1.7million pad in Ibiza, which is where he resides when it starts to get a bit nippy in the UK.

Even two decades later, the fact that the song became a smash hit continues to baffle Blunt - as he just can't comprehend how a song with such a dark meaning behind it made him a Brit music icon.

In a tongue-in-cheek clip shared on social media yesterday (30 May), the 51-year-old filmed himself strolling through his swanky home in the Balearic Islands while sporting a pair of shades.

Cooly removing the glasses from his eyes as he approached the camera, Blunt then said: "20 years ago today, I put out the song that bought me this house.

"I mean, who would have thought a song about being high as a kite on drugs, stalking someone else's girlfriend, would resonate quite so much? You guys...are beautiful." Take a look at this:

That's right - 'You're Beautiful' actually isn't the soppy love song you once thought it was, but rather a chilling tale of a barmy bloke obsessing over a random woman he's seen on public transport.

Blunt previously joked that the persona he takes on in the track ought to 'be locked up', as he's actually just putting a romantic spin on stalking someone.

Discussing the inspiration for the lyrics, he told The Guardian in 2020: "One day I was on the underground in London and saw an ex-girlfriend with her new boyfriend.

"Our eyes met, but we just walked past each other, and I went home and wrote the words to 'You’re Beautiful' in two minutes.

"I went to see my songwriter friend Sacha Skarbek in Los Angeles, and, with Amanda Ghost as a co-writer, we finished the song. It’s always been portrayed as romantic, but it’s actually a bit creepy.

"It’s about a guy who’s high and stalking someone else’s girlfriend on the subway. But everyone has those moments where you wonder... what if I'd said something?"

The singer, 51, still can't believe the track inspired by stalking and drug use 'resonated quite so much' (Debbie Hickey/Getty Images)

So, given the meaning of the song, you can understand why Blunt discourages people from blasting it through the speakers on their wedding day.

He told the Huffington Post in 2017: "Everyone goes, 'Ah, he’s so romantic. I want 'You’re Beautiful' as my wedding song'. These people are f**ed up.

"You get labeled with these things like, 'Oh, James Blunt. Isn’t he just a soft romantic?' Well, f**k that. No, I’m not. 'You’re Beautiful' is not this soft romantic f**king song.

"It’s about a guy who’s high as a fucking kite on drugs in the subway stalking someone else’s girlfriend when that guy is there in front of him, and he should be locked up or put in prison for being some kind of perv."

So there you have it folks - you might want to listen a bit more intently next time you stick a bit of James Blunt on.