Taylor Swift Releases 'Hunger Games' Song 'Safe and Sound' (Audio)

Taylor Swift late Thursday night tweeted out a link to her new song “Safe and Sound” from the soundtrack of the upcoming movie adaptation of The Hunger Games.

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“Something I've been VERY excited about for a VERY long time is going to be happening VERY soon (and I'm not referring to Christmas),” she wrote, later adding: “And this is it, the big surprise... Go get it!”

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She included a link to the song, which is being sold exclusively on iTunes, a melancholy, acoustic ballad featuring the Civil Wars that includes the lyrics: “Just close your eyes / The sun is going down / You’ll be all right / No one can hurt you / In the morning light / You and I’ll be safe and sound.”

Not long after tweeting the link to the song, #safeandsound became the top trending topic on Twitter in the U.S. and No. 2 worldwide, with many listeners caught by surprise that Swift was part of the soundtrack. Most praised the singer and the tune itself. Among the reactions:

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Ram Danielle
Taylor Swift is on the Soundtrack of the Hunger Games.The song is"Safe and Sound" My heart. My heart.2 of my favorites in one #ThisIsTooMuch

Ram Danielle
WAIT?!! Taylor Swift is going to be on the soundtrack of the Hunger Games??? Is this for real? because i might die :O

Courtneyy
Taylor Swift has a song in #thehungergames movie coming out in march. #amazing

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Kandice LeeAnn DuBay
Taylor Swift's song is gonna be in The Hunger Games movie. #ICan'tEvenBreath #TooExcited

Sarah Saxton
Omg Taylor Swift ft The Civil Wars - Safe & Sound is totes worth the $1.29. It's such a gorgeous song.

Hunger Games, starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth, hits theaters March 23. The Lionsgate movie, directed by Gary Ross, is adapted from Suzanne Collins’ popular novel about a post-apocalyptic world in which teens must fight to the death in an annual event aired on live television.