Pat Benatar Explained Why She No Longer Plays "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" And It's Heartbreaking

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You probably know Pat Benatar — she's a rock and roll icon, famous for her songs like "Love Is a Battlefield," "We Belong," and "Hit Me With Your Best Shot."

young Pat singing on stage
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Well, Pat revealed to USA Today that she will no longer perform her massive hit, "Hit Me With Your Best Shot."

Pat singing on stage recently
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When talking about the set list of her tour, Pat said, "We have what we call the 'holy 14,' songs that if we don’t play them, you’ll give us a hard time."

young pat behind stage
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But "Hit Me" — which features the lyrics "Hit me with your best shot, fire away" — isn't in those 14.

young pat singing on stage
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"We’re not doing 'Hit Me With Your Best Shot,' and fans are having a heart attack," Pat said.

"I’m like, 'I’m sorry, in deference to the victims of the families of these mass shootings, I’m not singing it,'" she continued.

pat performing on stage

"I tell them, if you want to hear the song, go home and listen to it. [The title] is tongue-in-cheek, but you have to draw the line. I can’t say those words out loud with a smile on my face, I just can’t."

pat on stage
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"I’m not going to go on stage and soapbox. I go to my legislators. But that’s my small contribution to protesting. I’m not going to sing it," she added. "Tough."

pat in front of the mic
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And it doesn't look like Pat's budgin' anytime soon. You can read the rest of Pat's Q&A with USA Today here.