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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]
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1Secret Love SongLittle Mix ft. Jason Derulo
Secret Love SongLittle Mix ft. Jason Deruloplay_arrow
Singing about a forbidden love between two married people
2I’m a RuinMARINA
I'm a RuinMARINAplay_arrow
Marina’s Literary Love Song
3Fortnight (feat. Post Malone)Taylor Swift
Fortnight (feat. Post Malone)Taylor Swiftplay_arrow
A work that sings of the pain caused by a forbidden love
4LoyalChris Brown ft. Lil Wayne, Tyga
LoyalChris Brown ft. Lil Wayne, Tygaplay_arrow
Promotional single of Chris Brown's song
5Cry Me A RiverJustin Timberlake
Cry Me A RiverJustin Timberlakeplay_arrow
Depicting Timberlake’s resolve for revenge
6Magnets (ft. Lorde)Disclosure
Magnets (ft. Lorde)Disclosureplay_arrow
A forbidden romantic depiction of Disclosure and Lord
7Careless WhisperGeorge Michael
Careless WhisperGeorge Michaelplay_arrow
George Michael's famous ballad
8Me and Mrs. JonesMichael Bublé
Me and Mrs. JonesMichael Bubléplay_arrow
An adulterous love song, a classic R&B track from the 1970s
9SorryBeyoncé
SorryBeyoncéplay_arrow
Beyoncé’s cheating song Lemonade
10You Know I’m No GoodAmy Winehouse
You Know I'm No GoodAmy Winehouseplay_arrow
A masterpiece that depicts Amy’s self-destructive love
11Mr. BrightsideThe Killers
Mr. BrightsideThe Killersplay_arrow
The appeal of The Killers’ signature song “Mr. Brightside”
12If Loving You Is Wrong, I Don’t Want to Be RightLuther Ingram
If Loving You Is Wrong, I Don't Want to Be RightLuther Ingramplay_arrow
Luther Ingram’s forbidden-love ballad
13The Boy Is MineBrandy&Monica
The Boy Is MineBrandy&Monicaplay_arrow
Brandy and Monica’s love duet
14Part-Time LoverStevie Wonder
Part-Time LoverStevie Wonderplay_arrow
A song by Stevie Wonder themed around infidelity
15CreepTLC
CreepTLCplay_arrow
TLC’s 1994 love song reached No. 1 on the US charts
16StaySugarland
StaySugarlandplay_arrow
A ballad of Sugar Land. A resolve to reclaim dignity.
17Your Cheatin’ HeartHank Williams
Your Cheatin' HeartHank Williamsplay_arrow
The Cost of Betrayal, a classic song by Hank Williams
18She Doesn’t Have To KnowJohn Legend
She Doesn’t Have To KnowJohn Legendplay_arrow
A forbidden love story sung by John Legend
19She Cheated AgainDax
She Cheated AgainDaxplay_arrow
The soul’s path seeking salvation from a lover’s betrayal
20I Should Have CheatedKeyshia Cole
I Should Have CheatedKeyshia Coleplay_arrow
A ballad portraying the despair and anger of a woman who is continually suspected of cheating
21Call Your GirlfriendRobyn
Call Your GirlfriendRobynplay_arrow
A song in which the new girlfriend encourages breaking up with the ex-girlfriend
22Confessions PartⅡUsher
Confessions PartⅡUsherplay_arrow
Usher’s two-part confession song series
23Saving All My Love For YouWhitney Houston
Saving All My Love For YouWhitney Houstonplay_arrow
Whitney Houston love song Grammy win
24Your LoveThe Outfield
Your LoveThe Outfieldplay_arrow
Introduction to signature songs of Outfield
25My Little SecretXscape
My Little SecretXscapeplay_arrow
A sensual femme fatale song by a ’90s female R&B group
26Love The One You’re WithStephen Stills
Love The One You're WithStephen Stillsplay_arrow
Stephen Stills 1970 Single
27She WolfShakira
She WolfShakiraplay_arrow
Introduction to Shakira's powerful songs
28Can’t Do A Thing (To Stop Me)Chris Isaak
Can’t Do A Thing (To Stop Me)Chris Isaakplay_arrow
An actor and singer who started out as a boxer
29UnfaithfulRihanna
UnfaithfulRihannaplay_arrow
Confession of a woman who deceives her beloved
30The Other WomanLana Del Rey
The Other WomanLana Del Reyplay_arrow
A song about the life of a married man's mistress
31FighterChristina Aguilera
FighterChristina Aguileraplay_arrow
A powerful vocal track by Aguilera
32RunawayKanye West
RunawayKanye Westplay_arrow
A song that sings about Kanye’s complex feelings as a man
33It’s Not Right But It’s OkayWhitney Houston
It’s Not Right But It’s OkayWhitney Houstonplay_arrow
A song in which a wife gives up on her husband's infidelity
34FastloveGeorge Michael
FastloveGeorge Michaelplay_arrow
A danceable track that invites a mature romance
35Norwegian WoodThe Beatles
Norwegian WoodThe Beatlesplay_arrow
The Beatles used the sitar.
36Secret LoversAtlantic Starr
Secret LoversAtlantic Starrplay_arrow
Introducing classic 80s songs about infidelity
37TemptedSqueeze
TemptedSqueezeplay_arrow
Squeeze 1981 single
38You’re The OneSWV
You’re The OneSWVplay_arrow
A female R&B trio from New York.
39Take Her Place (feat. A R I Z O N A)Don Diablo
Take Her Place (feat. A R I Z O N A)Don Diabloplay_arrow
A collaboration song by Don Diablo and Arizona
40New RulesDua Lipa
New RulesDua Lipaplay_arrow
Rules for cutting off a forbidden relationship with an ex-boyfriend
41Apologize ft. OneRepublicTimbaland
Apologize ft. OneRepublicTimbalandplay_arrow
A song that portrays the despair of not even receiving an apology
42Me And Mrs. JonesBilly Paul
Me And Mrs. JonesBilly Paulplay_arrow
A song depicting the everyday secret rendezvous of an adulterous couple
43SuperstarCarpenters
SuperstarCarpentersplay_arrow
Explain the meaning of the lyrics of the Carpenters’ famous songs
44Escape (The Pina Colada Song)Rupert Holmes
Escape (The Pina Colada Song)Rupert Holmesplay_arrow
Rupert Holmes's song about the desire to cheat
45Not Gon CryMary J Blige
Not Gon CryMary J Bligeplay_arrow
Mary's Sad Love Song
46Follow MeUncle Kracker
Follow MeUncle Krackerplay_arrow
A song by UNKLE about infidelity
47If She Would Have Been FaithfulCHICAGO
If She Would Have Been FaithfulCHICAGOplay_arrow
A love song by a legendary American band
48It Wasn’t MeShaggy
It Wasn't MeShaggyplay_arrow
Shaggy’s songs are upbeat, but the lyrics are intense.
49Break You OffThe Roots ft. Musiq
Break You OffThe Roots ft. Musiqplay_arrow
An album track by Roots. Featuring Muzik.
50Dark End Of The StreetAretha Franklin
Dark End Of The StreetAretha Franklinplay_arrow
Aretha’s secret-love classic
51Into TemptationCrowded House
Into TemptationCrowded Houseplay_arrow
1988 single by Crowded House
52Sideline HoMonica
Sideline HoMonicaplay_arrow
The wife fiercely stands up to her husband’s mistress.
5330 Minute Love AffairPaloma Faith
30 Minute Love AffairPaloma Faithplay_arrow
Introduction to Paloma Faith’s Love Songs
54EscapeRupert Holmes
EscapeRupert Holmesplay_arrow
An unfaithful man falls in love with his wife again
55The Other WomanRay Parker Jr.
The Other WomanRay Parker Jr.play_arrow
Ray Parker Jr. failed marriage
56Bye Bye BabyBay City Rollers
Bye Bye BabyBay City Rollersplay_arrow
Tartan check became fashionable.
57Bed Of RosesBon Jovi
Bed Of RosesBon Joviplay_arrow
A man's love for his wife, even while on tour
58One Step UpBruce Springsteen
One Step UpBruce Springsteenplay_arrow
A song about a troubled relationship composed by Bruce Springsteen
59Run To YouBryan Adams
Run To YouBryan Adamsplay_arrow
Released by Bryan Adams in 1984
60These Boots Are Made For Walkin’Jessica Simpson
These Boots Are Made For Walkin’Jessica Simpsonplay_arrow
Jessica does a sexy cover
61She Don’t Have To KnowJohn Legend
She Don’t Have To KnowJohn Legendplay_arrow
A love song by a man hiding his affair
62Wake Up CallMaroon 5
Wake Up CallMaroon 5play_arrow
The story of a husband who killed his affair partner
63Kiss And Say GoodbyeThe Manhattans
Kiss And Say GoodbyeThe Manhattansplay_arrow
A hit song about the collapse of love
64Liar, LiarThe Castaways
Liar, LiarThe Castawaysplay_arrow
A 1960s song covered by Blondie
65FoolishAshanti
FoolishAshantiplay_arrow
I can’t leave my unfaithful partner
66IrreplaceableBeyoncé
IrreplaceableBeyoncéplay_arrow
Beyoncé’s cheating revenge song
67Ring The AlarmBeyoncé
Ring The AlarmBeyoncéplay_arrow
Beyoncé’s song about jealousy and possessiveness
68I HopeGabby Barrett
I HopeGabby Barrettplay_arrow
Gabby Barrett’s cheating song becomes a big hit
69How Do You Sleep?Jesse McCartney, Ludacris
How Do You Sleep?Jesse McCartney, Ludacrisplay_arrow
Express lingering feelings and jealousy toward an ex-lover with a danceable beat
70Go On GirlNe-Yo
Go On GirlNe-Yoplay_arrow
The ultimate love that puts the other person's happiness first
71Dilemma ft. Kelly RowlandNelly
Dilemma ft. Kelly RowlandNellyplay_arrow
A love song portraying the anguish of a forbidden romance
72traitorOlivia Rodrigo
traitorOlivia Rodrigoplay_arrow
Is an ex-lover’s new romance a betrayal?
73Natalie Don’tRAYE
Natalie Don’tRAYEplay_arrow
A heartrending cry of a woman, sung by Rei, who fears her beloved will be taken from her
74House Of CardsRadiohead
House Of CardsRadioheadplay_arrow
Introduction to Radiohead’s classic song, House Of Cards
75Your Cheatin’ HeartHank Williams
Your Cheatin’ HeartHank Williamsplay_arrow
Songs Hank wrote after his divorce
76Hey Hey What Can I DoLed Zeppelin
Hey Hey What Can I DoLed Zeppelinplay_arrow
Led Zeppelin 1970 single
77Famous Blue RaincoatLeonard Cohen
Famous Blue RaincoatLeonard Cohenplay_arrow
Leonard Cohen’s 1971 song
78Your Secret LoveLuther Vandross
Your Secret LoveLuther Vandrossplay_arrow
An adultery song depicting a man tormented by a secret love. Winner of a Grammy Award.
79Me and Mrs.JonesMichael Bublé
Me and Mrs.JonesMichael Bubléplay_arrow
A classic song about a secret love affair with a married woman
80Take It On the RunREO Speed Wagon
Take It On the RunREO Speed Wagonplay_arrow
Leo Speedwagon Love Song
81I Am Your WomanSyleena Johnson
I Am Your WomanSyleena Johnsonplay_arrow
Sirina endures her husband's infidelity
82I Wanna Learn a Love SongHarry Chapin
I Wanna Learn a Love SongHarry Chapinplay_arrow
A song included on Harry Chapin’s 1974 album
83Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to TownKenny Rogers
Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to TownKenny Rogersplay_arrow
Composed by Mel, a song dedicated to a couple in Florida
84Sex And CandyMarcy Playground
Sex And CandyMarcy Playgroundplay_arrow
Introduction to Marcy Playground’s signature songs
85Jessie’s GirlRIck Springfield
Jessie's GirlRIck Springfieldplay_arrow
Powerfully sings about Jesse’s feelings for his girlfriend
86Sad EyesRobert John
Sad EyesRobert Johnplay_arrow
A beautiful love ballad about a sleazy man breaking up with his mistress
87A Quick One, While He’s AwayThe Who
A Quick One, While He's AwayThe Whoplay_arrow
The Who’s 1966 release
88How Long (Has This Been Going On)ACE
How Long (Has This Been Going On)ACEplay_arrow
Ace's 1975 single became a big hit
89BorrowedLeAnn Rimes
BorrowedLeAnn Rimesplay_arrow
A hit song depicting Rian’s romance
90Who Is He (And What Is He to You)Bill Withers
Who Is He (And What Is He to You)Bill Withersplay_arrow
Used in Bill Withers’s classic “Jackie Brown”
91All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To YouHeart
All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To YouHeartplay_arrow
The Wilson sisters' rock band
92Dirty DianaMichael Jackson
Dirty DianaMichael Jacksonplay_arrow
Michael's heartrending breakup song
93Sweet ThingRufus & Chaka Khan
Sweet ThingRufus & Chaka Khanplay_arrow
A 1975 song by Chaka Khan and Tony Maiden
94Don’t LieThe Black Eyed Peas
Don’t LieThe Black Eyed Peasplay_arrow
A song about the love story of a lying man and woman
95HumanThe Human League
HumanThe Human Leagueplay_arrow
A 1986 smash hit that sings of human frailty
96ContagiousThe Isley Brothers
ContagiousThe Isley Brothersplay_arrow
The Isley Brothers hit song composed by R. Kelly
97Down Low(Nobody Has To Know)R. Kelly
Down Low(Nobody Has To Know)R. Kellyplay_arrow
The tragedy of a man yearning for a forbidden love