Forbidden Love: A Collection of Classic Western Songs About Infidelity [2026]

Western songs about infidelity that distill uncontrollable emotions and aching melancholy.

The masterpieces that deftly portray the desire and guilt hidden in forbidden love—and the deep regret that follows—shake our hearts like a life drama in itself.

A secret romance you can tell no one about, the bittersweet ache of drowning in an illicit relationship, and the deep scars that remain in the end.

This time, we’ve selected classic Western tracks on the theme of adultery from a wide range of genres.

Along with the meanings of the lyrics and the feelings embedded in the music, we’ll introduce a collection of songs that resonate with the heart.

Playlist

Forbidden Love: A Collection of Classic Western Songs About Infidelity [2026]
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Secret Love SongLittle Mix ft. Jason Derulo		Singing about a forbidden love between two married people
2	I’m a RuinMARINA		Marina’s Literary Love Song
3	Fortnight (feat. Post Malone)Taylor Swift		A work that sings of the pain caused by a forbidden love
4	Cry Me A RiverJustin Timberlake		Depicting Timberlake’s resolve for revenge
5	Magnets (ft. Lorde)Disclosure		A forbidden romantic depiction of Disclosure and Lord
6	LoyalChris Brown ft. Lil Wayne, Tyga		Promotional single of Chris Brown's song
7	Me and Mrs. JonesMichael Bublé		An adulterous love song, a classic R&B track from the 1970s
8	Mr. BrightsideThe Killers		The appeal of The Killers’ signature song “Mr. Brightside”
9	You Know I’m No GoodAmy Winehouse		A masterpiece that depicts Amy’s self-destructive love
10	The Boy Is MineBrandy&Monica		Brandy and Monica’s love duet
11	Careless WhisperGeorge Michael		George Michael's famous ballad
12	StaySugarland		A ballad of Sugar Land. A resolve to reclaim dignity.
13	Part-Time LoverStevie Wonder		A song by Stevie Wonder themed around infidelity
14	SorryBeyoncé		Beyoncé’s cheating song Lemonade
15	If Loving You Is Wrong, I Don’t Want to Be RightLuther Ingram		Luther Ingram’s forbidden-love ballad
16	CreepTLC		TLC’s 1994 love song reached No. 1 on the US charts
17	She Cheated AgainDax		The soul’s path seeking salvation from a lover’s betrayal
18	I Should Have CheatedKeyshia Cole		A ballad portraying the despair and anger of a woman who is continually suspected of cheating
19	Call Your GirlfriendRobyn		A song in which the new girlfriend encourages breaking up with the ex-girlfriend
20	Your Cheatin’ HeartHank Williams		The Cost of Betrayal, a classic song by Hank Williams
21	She Doesn’t Have To KnowJohn Legend		A forbidden love story sung by John Legend
22	Confessions PartⅡUsher		Usher’s two-part confession song series
23	Saving All My Love For YouWhitney Houston		Whitney Houston love song Grammy win
24	My Little SecretXscape		A sensual femme fatale song by a ’90s female R&B group
25	She WolfShakira		Introduction to Shakira's powerful songs
26	FighterChristina Aguilera		A powerful vocal track by Aguilera
27	Your LoveThe Outfield		Introduction to signature songs of Outfield
28	Love The One You’re WithStephen Stills		Stephen Stills 1970 Single
29	UnfaithfulRihanna		Confession of a woman who deceives her beloved
30	The Other WomanLana Del Rey		A song about the life of a married man's mistress
31	Can’t Do A Thing (To Stop Me)Chris Isaak		An actor and singer who started out as a boxer
32	FastloveGeorge Michael		A danceable track that invites a mature romance
33	TemptedSqueeze		Squeeze 1981 single
34	New RulesDua Lipa		Rules for cutting off a forbidden relationship with an ex-boyfriend
35	Take Her Place (feat. A R I Z O N A)Don Diablo		A collaboration song by Don Diablo and Arizona
36	It’s Not Right But It’s OkayWhitney Houston		A song in which a wife gives up on her husband's infidelity
37	Norwegian WoodThe Beatles		The Beatles used the sitar.
38	Secret LoversAtlantic Starr		Introducing classic 80s songs about infidelity
39	Apologize ft. OneRepublicTimbaland		A song that portrays the despair of not even receiving an apology
40	RunawayKanye West		A song that sings about Kanye’s complex feelings as a man
41	You’re The OneSWV		A female R&B trio from New York.
42	Me And Mrs. JonesBilly Paul		A song depicting the everyday secret rendezvous of an adulterous couple
43	How Do You Sleep?Jesse McCartney, Ludacris		Express lingering feelings and jealousy toward an ex-lover with a danceable beat
44	Natalie Don’tRAYE		A heartrending cry of a woman, sung by Rei, who fears her beloved will be taken from her
45	Break You OffThe Roots ft. Musiq		An album track by Roots. Featuring Muzik.
46	SuperstarCarpenters		Explain the meaning of the lyrics of the Carpenters’ famous songs
47	Escape (The Pina Colada Song)Rupert Holmes		Rupert Holmes's song about the desire to cheat
48	Not Gon CryMary J Blige		Mary's Sad Love Song
49	Sideline HoMonica		The wife fiercely stands up to her husband’s mistress.
50	FoolishAshanti		I can’t leave my unfaithful partner
51	Ring The AlarmBeyoncé		Beyoncé’s song about jealousy and possessiveness
52	Go On GirlNe-Yo		The ultimate love that puts the other person's happiness first
53	Follow MeUncle Kracker		A song by UNKLE about infidelity
54	If She Would Have Been FaithfulCHICAGO		A love song by a legendary American band
55	It Wasn’t MeShaggy		Shaggy’s songs are upbeat, but the lyrics are intense.
56	Dark End Of The StreetAretha Franklin		Aretha’s secret-love classic
57	Into TemptationCrowded House		1988 single by Crowded House
58	30 Minute Love AffairPaloma Faith		Introduction to Paloma Faith’s Love Songs
59	EscapeRupert Holmes		An unfaithful man falls in love with his wife again
60	The Other WomanRay Parker Jr.		Ray Parker Jr. failed marriage
61	IrreplaceableBeyoncé		Beyoncé’s cheating revenge song
62	I HopeGabby Barrett		Gabby Barrett’s cheating song becomes a big hit
63	Dilemma ft. Kelly RowlandNelly		A love song portraying the anguish of a forbidden romance
64	traitorOlivia Rodrigo		Is an ex-lover’s new romance a betrayal?
65	Bye Bye BabyBay City Rollers		Tartan check became fashionable.
66	Bed Of RosesBon Jovi		A man's love for his wife, even while on tour
67	One Step UpBruce Springsteen		A song about a troubled relationship composed by Bruce Springsteen
68	These Boots Are Made For Walkin’Jessica Simpson		Jessica does a sexy cover
69	She Don’t Have To KnowJohn Legend		A love song by a man hiding his affair
70	Wake Up CallMaroon 5		The story of a husband who killed his affair partner
71	Kiss And Say GoodbyeThe Manhattans		A hit song about the collapse of love
72	Liar, LiarThe Castaways		A 1960s song covered by Blondie
73	House Of CardsRadiohead		Introduction to Radiohead’s classic song, House Of Cards
74	I Wanna Learn a Love SongHarry Chapin		A song included on Harry Chapin’s 1974 album
75	Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to TownKenny Rogers		Composed by Mel, a song dedicated to a couple in Florida
76	Sex And CandyMarcy Playground		Introduction to Marcy Playground’s signature songs
77	Jessie’s GirlRIck Springfield		Powerfully sings about Jesse’s feelings for his girlfriend
78	Sad EyesRobert John		A beautiful love ballad about a sleazy man breaking up with his mistress
79	A Quick One, While He’s AwayThe Who		The Who’s 1966 release
80	How Long (Has This Been Going On)ACE		Ace's 1975 single became a big hit
81	Your Cheatin’ HeartHank Williams		Songs Hank wrote after his divorce
82	BorrowedLeAnn Rimes		A hit song depicting Rian’s romance
83	Hey Hey What Can I DoLed Zeppelin		Led Zeppelin 1970 single
84	Famous Blue RaincoatLeonard Cohen		Leonard Cohen’s 1971 song
85	Your Secret LoveLuther Vandross		An adultery song depicting a man tormented by a secret love. Winner of a Grammy Award.
86	Me and Mrs.JonesMichael Bublé		A classic song about a secret love affair with a married woman
87	Take It On the RunREO Speed Wagon		Leo Speedwagon Love Song
88	I Am Your WomanSyleena Johnson		Sirina endures her husband's infidelity
89	Who Is He (And What Is He to You)Bill Withers		Used in Bill Withers’s classic “Jackie Brown”
90	Run To YouBryan Adams		Released by Bryan Adams in 1984
91	All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To YouHeart		The Wilson sisters' rock band
92	Dirty DianaMichael Jackson		Michael's heartrending breakup song
93	Sweet ThingRufus & Chaka Khan		A 1975 song by Chaka Khan and Tony Maiden
94	Don’t LieThe Black Eyed Peas		A song about the love story of a lying man and woman
95	HumanThe Human League		A 1986 smash hit that sings of human frailty
96	ContagiousThe Isley Brothers		The Isley Brothers hit song composed by R. Kelly
97	Down Low(Nobody Has To Know)R. Kelly		The tragedy of a man yearning for a forbidden love