Not all romances are accepted by family and friends, or the public for that matter. Some relationships are looked down on. In some cases, it is because somebody is stepping outside of an established relationship to be with someone new. In other cases, it’s because two people have been forbidden to be together, either by parents or other authority figures.
Does this make their relationship any less relevant than traditional relationships that are accepted by mainstream society? I can’t answer that question because I’m not here to pass judgment. What I can do is present you with these songs about forbidden love, and you can decide for yourself.
Table of Contents
1. Don’t Stand So Close To Me by The Police
| Genre | Classic Rock |
| Year Released | 1980 |
| Album | Zenyatta Mondatta |
The word taboo doesn’t begin to describe the forbidden relationship that Sting is singing about in “Don’t Stand So Close To Me,” which is about a teacher and student caught in an explicit affair. It starts with the student and teacher longing for each other but hesitant to act on their feelings. However, they can only resist the temptation for so long. People start to speculate about the two of them and draw more unwanted attention to it.
2. Treat You Better by Shawn Mendes
| Genre | Alternative |
| Year Released | 2016 |
| Album | Illuminate |
Shawn Mendes might be in love with somebody who is already spoken for, but he is not afraid to lay his cards on the table. In this 2016 track from his album “Illuminate,” Mendes gets right to the point when singing these lyrics to his love interest “I know I can treat you better than he can, and any girl like you deserves a gentleman.” I’d be willing to bet that he is that gentleman. At least, he thinks he is.
3. Lips of an Angel by Hinder
| Genre | Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 2005 |
| Album | Extreme Behavior |
Most of the songs on this list make me feel cringe a little, but this one makes me cringe the most. This track is from Hinder’s 2005 album “Extreme Behavior” and is about two individuals who were previously together but were never able to move on. As you probably guessed, they are now cheating on their new partners with each other. This sounds more like an episode of Jerry Springer than a song to me. To each his own, I guess.
4. Separate Lives by Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 1985 |
| Album | White Knights Original Soundtrack |
This track first appeared on the soundtrack for the 1985 movie “White Knights.” It is about a woman who has an affair with her husband, resulting in the two of them getting divorced. This song differs from many others about the same topic in that the woman who was having the affair is now apologizing and misses her husband. Sadly, he realizes that he no longer wants to be in a relationship with her.
5. Me And Mrs. Jones by Billy Paul
| Genre | R&B/Soul |
| Year Released | 1972 |
| Album | 360 Degrees of Billy Paul |
It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from. “Me and Mrs. Jones” is probably the first song that comes to mind when you think of songs about this topic. This classic from the album “360 Degrees of Billy Paul” is about a man who is in love with an older married woman. The two of them sneak around town and carry on an affair but know that they can never be together for fear of Mr. Jones finding out.
6. Strange Love by Halsey
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2015 |
| Album | Badlands |
Halsey is no stranger (see what I did there?) to writing controversial songs, and “Strange Love” is no exception. Although this song from her 2015 album “Badlands” never specifies the exact nature of the relationship, the tone of the song and the lyrics indicate that it is a forbidden romance. She makes her intentions to keep it hidden known when she sings, “That’s the beauty of a secret. You know you’re supposed to keep it.”
7. No Tell Lover by Chicago
| Genre | Soft Rock |
| Year Released | 1978 |
| Album | Hot Streets |
In 1978, the band Chicago released a catchy tune about a not-so-secret forbidden affair called “No Tell Lover,” as made evident by the lyrics such as “Everyone keeps tellin’ me that this affair’s not meant to be, even though I need you night and day.” The two people having the affair meet at hotels or other various locations every night but must act like they don’t know each other when they are out in public.
8. Dirty Diana by Michael Jackson
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 1987 |
| Album | Bad |
“Dirty Diana” was the first single from Michael Jackson’s 1987 album “Bad,” and it was the first of five songs from that album to reach the number one spot on Billboard. While there are rumors that this song was written about Diana Ross or Princess Diana, this couldn’t be further from the truth. According to Michael, this is a story about a groupie who sleeps with famous musicians to feel close to somebody. However, when Michael Jackson played Wembley stadium, Princess Diana specifically requested this song.
9. I’m On Fire by Bruce Springsteen
| Genre | Rock |
| Year Released | 1984 |
| Album | Born In The USA |
Would any list be complete without including The Boss, especially if the track came from his 1984 smash album “Born In the USA?” Well, Bruce Springsteen makes an appearance on this list with a song about a man who is in love with a married woman. The song reads like a love letter, telling her how much he needs her and wants her. However, the song doesn’t indicate whether or not the love is reciprocated. All we know is that The Boss wants what he wants.
10. I’m In Love (With The Other Woman) by Ray Parker Jr.
| Genre | Pop, R&B |
| Year Released | 1982 |
| Album | The Other Woman |
Two years before he would become a household name for singing the theme to the blockbuster movie” Ghostbusters,” Ray Parker Jr. would be nominated for a Grammy award for this song from his 1982 album “The Other Woman.” This song tells the tale of a guy who has cheated on his wife before, but there is something different about his latest affair. Much like the title indicates, he ends up falling in love with her. This is one of my favorite songs about secret love.
11. Thinking Of You by Katy Perry
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2008 |
| Album | One of the Boys |
Katy Perry is no stranger to writing her share of love songs. Although, this is a love song with a twist. In this track from her 2008 album “One of the Boys,” it’s apparent that she loves her boyfriend so much that she is repulsed by the thought of her husband when she sings, “He kissed my lips, I taste your mouth (I taste your mouth). He pulled me in, I was disgusted with myself.”
12. As Long As You Love Me by Justin Bieber (Featuring Big Sean)
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2012 |
| Album | Believe |
In “As Long As You Love Me,” Justin Bieber wants someone who is already in a relationship, although it is never specifically mentioned in the track. It seems like the two of them have considered calling the affair quits, but he pleads, “So I know, we got issues baby, true, true, true, but I’d rather work on this with you than to go ahead and start with someone new as long as you love me.”
13. Talking In Your Sleep by The Romantics
| Genre | Pop Rock |
| Year Released | 1983 |
| Album | In Heat |
The song” Talking In Your Sleep” is just one of many songs that tackles the unpleasant topic of marital infidelity. However, what sets this song apart from most others is that it is told from the perspective of the person who is being cheated on. Sadly, our hero finds out that his wife is cheating on him by hearing her confess to her egregious mistake while she is talking in her sleep. What a way to get busted!
14. Every Time Your Go Away by Paul Young
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 1985 |
| Album | Every Time Your Go Away |
I know that I can’t be the only person who was too young and naive to realize what this song was about upon first listening to it. When I was younger, I thought this was a song about a couple that kept breaking up and then getting back together. I never realized that it was about a married woman who is having an affair with Paul Young, who ends up falling in love with her.
15. Don’t Mess With My Man by Irma Thomas
| Genre | R&B/Soul |
| Year Released | 1988 |
| Album | New Orleans Ladies: Rhythm & Blues From the Vaults Of Ric and Ron |
“Don’t Mess With My Man” it’s not what you think it’s about. This is not a heartbreaking tale about a woman trying to save her marriage while her husband is having an illicit affair. Instead, she is warning all of her fellow women to stay away from her boyfriend with the lyrics, “You can have my husband, but please don’t mess with my man. I’m telling all you women. I want you all to understand.”
16. The Heart Wants What It Wants by Selena Gomez
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2014 |
| Album | For You |
Selena Gomez finds herself in a relationship with someone who is already in a relationship. Although she wants to be with her guy, she never knows when the two of them will get to meet. When they do, he has to leave to get back to his wife as she’s left singing, “The bed’s getting cold and you’re not here. The future that we hold is so unclear, but I’m not alive until you call.”
17. Living In Sin by Bon Jovi
| Genre | Glam Rock |
| Year Released | 1988 |
| Album | New Jersey |
Although this song is not about a love that would be forbidden today, it touches on a topic that was taboo not that long ago. Coming from Bon Jovi’s 1988 album “New Jersey,” this is a song about a couple who live together before being married. Needless to say, their parents and practically everybody else in their family are against this arrangement. Luckily, the couple can get through it together and thrive.
18. Dirty Little Secret by All American Rejects
| Genre | Pop Punk, Alternative |
| Year Released | 2005 |
| Album | Move Along |
Who says that songs about forbidden relationships can’t be fun? The All-American Rejects take on the topic of a guy who takes advantage of girls with their usual style. Although the topic is despicable, as seen in the lyrics “When we live such fragile lives, it’s the best way we survive. I go around a time or two just to waste my time with you,” the music it’s set to make you want to dance.
19. Lie About Us by Avant
| Genre | R&B, Soul |
| Year Released | 2006 |
| Album | Director |
Avant is an R&B legend, and this track from his 2006 album “Director” cements him in the genre. “Lie About Us,” tells us the story of two people who are having an affair, although they are tired of having to sneak around to spend time with each other. When he sings, “Don’t wanna break her heart, although I gotta let her go so baby,” you know he has to make a tough choice. Hopefully, it will be the right choice.
20. On The Other Hand by Randy Travis
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 1986 |
| Album | Storms of Life |
Randy Travis’s 1986 track “On the Other Hand” from his album “Storms of Life” was my introduction to country songs that touched on the topic of forbidden affairs and infidelity. This song is about a man who is spending some alone time with his mistress. He wants to stay with her, but then he looks at his hand and sees his wedding ring. He is then reminded that he needs to go home to his wife. I guess better late than never.
21. She Doesn’t Have To Know by John Legend
| Genre | R&B, Soul |
| Year Released | 2004 |
| Album | Get Lifted |
On his 2004 debut album “Get Lifted,” John Legend tells us the story of a man who is cheating on his wife. He sneaks around on the opposite side of town for a chance to be with his mistress. However, she has a secret as well. She is cheating on her significant other with him. The two dream of spending the weekend where they can hold hands in public without the risk of getting caught.
22. Slip Away by Clarence Carter
| Genre | R&B, Soul |
| Year Released | 1965 |
| Album | This Is Clarence Carter |
I’m sure it wouldn’t surprise anybody that the man who brought us “Strokin” would give us a song about an extramarital affair like “Slip Away.” In this track from the 1968 album “This Is Clarence Carter,” we hear about a man who persuades his married girlfriend to sneak away when he asks, “But could you just slip away without him knowing you’re gone? Then we could meet somewhere, somewhere where we’re both are not known.” Maybe he’ll get his wish.
23. Holding Her And Loving You by Clay Walker
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 1999 |
| Album | Live, Laugh, Love |
Clay Walker’s “Holding Her And Loving You” isn’t your run-of-the-mill tune about cheating. Sure, it’s about a guy who’s having an affair. However, he is conflicted about who he wants to be with, as portrayed in the lyrics, “If she’d give me one good reason, I’d be gone. But she ain’t done one thing wrong. So don’t expect me just to walk out of the door. I still love her, but I love you more.” At that point, I’m sure that they wish you would just make up his mind.
24. Run For Your Life by The Beatles
| Genre | Classic Rock |
| Year Released | 1965 |
| Album | Rubber Soul |
“Run For Your Life” appears on the 1965 classic album “Rubber Soul.” Leave it to The Beatles to surprise us. This is a song about a controlling and abusive guy who would do anything to keep his girl, especially when he says things like “Well, you know that I’m a wicked guy, and I was born with a jealous mind. And I can’t spend my whole life trying just to make you toe the line.” That’s the last thing I would expect to hear from The Beatles.
25. I Call It Love by Lionel Richie
| Genre | R&B, Pop |
| Year Released | 2006 |
| Album | Coming Home |
It’s not that often that we get a song in which two people are having an affair, but the married person wants to end things and try to work things out with their spouse, but that’s exactly what we get with Lionel Richie’s “I Call It Love” from the 2006 album “Coming Home.” This is one song that makes me applaud the actions of one person while my heart simultaneously breaks for the other individual.
26. All I Ask by Adele
| Genre | R&B, Pop |
| Year Released | 2015 |
| Album | 25 |
Although this song from the stellar 2015 album “25” doesn’t specifically mention the nature of the relationship, if you read between the lines of “All I Ask,” you can see that it’s about two people sneaking around together. Adele has a brilliant voice that conveys pain and disappointment when she sings, “If this is my last night with you, hold me like I’m more than just a friend. Give me a memory I can use.”
27. 4 AM by Melanie Fiona
| Genre | R&B/Soul |
| Year Released | 2004 |
| Album | Confessions |
I wasn’t sure which song I should include, so I decided to include both of these tracks as one. In the first part, we see a person who has been cheating on his wife and has finally decided to come clean about the affair. In the second part, his mistress tells him that she is three months pregnant, and she plans to keep the baby. Now, he has to tell his wife about the baby.
29. Uncover by Zara Larsson
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2013 |
| Album | Introducing |
In this bittersweet ballad to her secret love, Zara Larsson sings about how they must keep their romance a secret from everybody. However, unlike most other artists who sing about this topic, Zara is content to keep our relationship a secret from the rest of the world. She tells us this as she sings the lyrics, “Nobody sees, nobody knows. We are a secret, can’t be exposed. That’s how it is, that’s how it goes.”
30. That’s What I Want by Lil Nas X
| Genre | Rap, Hip Hop |
| Year Released | 2021 |
| Album | Montero |
Leave it to Lil Nas X to deliver a track that is bold and thought-provoking. It wasn’t that long ago that he came out, and this 2021 song from his album “Montero” expresses his desire to find someone who is not afraid to be out in the open with him when he says, “I want someone who loves me. I need someone who needs me. “Cause it doesn’t feel right when it’s late at night.”
31. Girlfriend by Avril Lavigne
| Genre | Alternative Pop |
| Year Released | 2007 |
| Album | The Best Damn Thing |
Avril Lavigne is no stranger to playing the role of The Other Woman. In the song Girlfriend from her 2007 album “The Best Damn Thing,” she gives us the latest installment of her wanting to be with someone who is already taken. She makes it known with lines like, “I know that you like me. No way you know it’s not a secret. Hey hey you you I want to be your girlfriend.”
32. Last Time by Trey Songz
| Genre | R&B/Soul |
| Year Released | 2007 |
| Album | Trey Day |
When Trey Songz sings “I’m livin’ two different lives. One girl in the day, you in the night. And even though this ain’t right. I just can’t get enough,” he is not content with having one partner. Instead, he chooses to creep around while he is in a serious relationship. The song is different because he tells his mistress that this has to be the last time they’re together before they get caught.
33. Rewrite The Stars by Zac Efron and Zendaya
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2017 |
| Album | The Greatest Showman |
This is not a song about a forbidden relationship in the traditional sense. Instead, it’s about a time when you were supposed to only date and marry someone who was in the same financial class as you. These two people long to be together but can’t. This can be seen in the lyrics, “What if we rewrite the stars? Say you were made to be mine. Nothing could keep us apart. You’d be the one I was meant to find.”
34. Queen by Perfume Genius
| Genre | Indie Pop |
| Year Released | 2014 |
| Album | Too Bright |
If you take the song Queen at face value, it’s about someone who belittles another person, almost as if they are telling them they are capable of taking their partner. However, if you dig deeper into the song, you will see that it is a metaphor for same-sex relationships, which were forbidden for a long time. Thankfully, we no longer live in a time where people are unjustly persecuted for who they love.
35. Magnets by Disclosure (Featuring Lorde)
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2015 |
| Album | Caracal |
Of course, a song called “Magnets” would be about two people who are attracted to each other, but the guy is already with someone. With lyrics like “You and that girl, she your girlfriend? Face from heaven, bet the world she doesn’t know. Pretty girls don’t know the things that I know. Walk my way, I’ll share the things that she won’t,” this is one lady who won’t stop until she gets the guy.
36. Breaking Up Somebody’s Home Tonight by Ann Peebles
| Genre | R&B |
| Year Released | 1972 |
| Album | Straight From the Heart |
When Ann Peebles recorded “Breaking Up Somebody’s Home Tonight” on the 1972 album “Straight From the Heart,” extramarital affairs were even more uncommon than they are now. This was a time when it was daring for a woman to record a song about having an affair with another man. As she sings, “Got nowhere to turn. Tired of being alone. Feel like breaking up somebody’s home,” it’s obvious that she’s tired of being by herself.
37. This Kiss by Carly Rae Jepsen
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2012 |
| Album | Kiss |
Who knew that a song about two people cheating on their partners could be so infectious? Carly Rae Jepsen accomplishes this on the album “Kiss” with her hit track “This Kiss.” She is having an inner conflict about whether or not she should go through with the affair, expressed through the lyrics, “Something so sentimental, you make so detrimental. And I wish it didn’t feel like this, ’cause I don’t wanna miss this kiss.”
38. Saving All My Love For You by Whitney Houston
| Genre | R&B, Pop |
| Year Released | 1985 |
| Album | Whitney Houston |
“Saving All My Love For You” is a song that had me fooled for years. When I was younger, I thought this was about a woman who was saving her affection for the man she loves. Boy, was I ever wrong? This is a song about a woman in love with a married man and counting the seconds until she can be with him again, as told through Whitney Houston’s powerful voice.
39. Be My Downfall by Del Amitri
| Genre | Indie Rock |
| Year Released | 1992 |
| Album | Change Everything |
In 1992, the band Del Amitri recorded the song “Be My Downfall,” and it was obvious that Justin Currie was going through some inner turmoil about an affair that he was thinking about ending, although the song indicates that the affair was indeed kept alive. He knows he’s supposed to do the right thing and asks, “And faced with temptation, you know a man should stand and fight, but you will be my downfall tonight?”
40. Call Your Girlfriend by Robyn
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2010 |
| Album | Body Talk |
In “Call Your Girlfriend,” pop singer Robyn plays the role of a girlfriend to a guy who is already taken. What makes this different is how she wants him to let her down easy as she says, “You tell her that the only way her heart will mend Is when she learns to love again. And it won’t make sense right now, but you’re still her friend. And then you let her down easy.”
41. Your Secret Love by Luther Vandross
| Genre | R&B/Soul |
| Year Released | 1996 |
| Album | Your Secret Love |
In the 1990s, no R&B singer was bigger than Luther Vandross.” Your Secret Love” is about a single man who is having an affair with a married woman, but he is not content to be her second choice. You can hear the pain in his voice when he sings, “Cause secret loves never last as long. Your secret love will never be your true love. I can’t be no secret baby.”
42. Can I Be Him by James Arthur
| Genre | Indie Rock |
| Year Released | 2016 |
| Album | Back From the Edge |
Taken from the 2016 album “Back From the Edge,” James Arthur tells us the story of a guy who falls in love with a woman in a relationship in “Can I Be Him.” When she sings, he imagines that she’s performing for him. You can hear this when he sings, “I swear that every word you sing, you wrote them for me. Like it was a private show, but I know you never saw me.”
43. Your Power by Billie Eilish
| Genre | Pop, Soul |
| Year Released | 2021 |
| Album | Happier Than Ever |
Leave it to Billie Eilish to write one of the most disturbing songs on this list in “Your Power.” This song is from the 2021 album “Happier Than Ever” and tackles the topic of older men taking advantage of younger girls. Billie isn’t afraid to confront him as she asks, “How dare you? And how could you? Will you only feel bad when they find out? If you could take it all back, would you?”
44. Secret by Ann Marie (Featuring YK Osiris)
| Genre | R&B, Hip Hop |
| Year Released | 2019 |
| Album | Tripolar 2 |
Some women don’t mind being “the other woman.” Ann Marie is one of those ladies as she says, “We can keep it on the low. Swear nobody has to know. Baby, don’t answer your phone ’cause this is our chance to be alone” in her silky smooth, sweet voice. The fact that her boyfriend is in a committed relationship with somebody else doesn’t bother her as long as she can have him too.
45. Dancing With you Our Hands Tied by Taylor Swift
| Genre | Pop, Country |
| Year Released | 2017 |
| Album | Reputation |
Surprise, surprise. It appears as though Taylor Swift has made her appearance on a list of songs about forbidden relationships. Although Taylor never specifies why this love is forbidden, she hits that this is a relationship that nobody would approve of or understand. We can speculate about the relationship she is involved in, but she did leave us with the lyrics “I loved you despite deep fears that the world would divide us.”
46. I Was Checkin’ Out, She Was Checkin’ In by Don Covay
| Genre | R&B, Soul |
| Year Released | 1973 |
| Album | Super Dude 1 |
The 1970s was the Golden Age for writing R&B and Soul songs about having extramarital affairs. “I Was Checkin’ Out, She Was Checkin’ In” from the 1973 album “Super Dude 1” was just one of several. However, what makes this song so unique is that the guy who was having an affair catches his wife passionately kissing another guy outside of a hotel as he was leaving after spending a night with his girlfriend.
47. Trapped In The Closet by R. Kelly
| Genre | R&B |
| Year Released | 2005 – 2012 |
| Album | Trappe In the Closet |
Anybody who paid attention to R&B music from 2005 to 2012 should be familiar with the 33-part installment written by R. Kelly titled “Trapped In the Closet.” Although there are several songs in this saga, I decided to include all of them as one big soap opera of a song that has every type of relationship that is considered taboo, including a man who is cheating on his unfaithful wife with another man.
48. Secret Love Song by Little Mix (Featuring Jason Derulo)
| Genre | R&B, Pop |
| Year Released | 2015 |
| Album | Get Weird |
“Secret Love Song” is yet another R&B track about forbidden love. Strangely, the reason why the romance in this song is forbidden is never mentioned. Through the lyrics “As you drive me to my house I can’t stop these silent tears from rolling down. You and I will have to hide on the outside where I can’t be yours, and you can’t be mine,” we know that she wants more out of the relationship.
49. My Little Secret by Xscape
| Genre | R&B, Pop |
| Year Released | 1998 |
| Album | Traces Of My Lipstick |
In some forbidden relationships, one person enjoys being the individual with whom the other is cheating. That’s clearly the case in “My Little Secret” from Xscape. This girl group from Atlanta offers no apologies as they sing “I like being in the same room as you and your girlfriend. The fact that she doesn’t know. That turns me on. She’ll never guess in a million years that we’ve got this thing going on.”
50. Papa Was a Rolling Stone by The Temptations
| Genre | R&B, Soul |
| Year Released | 1972 |
| Album | All Directions |
When people decide to cheat on their partners, they don’t realize that they are hurting more than the marriage. This is an example of how running around on your spouse can hurt your children and how you are remembered when you inevitably pass away. In this track, a boy asks his mother about his father after he passes away, and all she can do is tell him about his father’s extramarital exploits.
51. Long Black Veil by Johnny Cash
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 1965 |
| Album | Orange Blossom Special |
If you are familiar with country music, I’m sure that you know the story of how Johnny Cash got together with June Carter while he was still married, so I guess he’s no stranger to forbidden romance. The song “Long Black Veil” is about a man who is accused of murder. Although he has an alibi, he cannot say a word because, at the time of the murder, he was with his best friend’s wife.
52. 1950 by King Princess
| Genre | Indie Pop |
| Year Released | 2018 |
| Album | Make My Bed |
While the two girls who are involved with each other in this song or not necessarily in a forbidden relationship, their relationship would have been looked down on by practically everybody in 1950. That’s the point of this song. One of the girls likes when her partner adopts what would have traditionally been a masculine role, protecting and taking care of her. She likes feeling happy, secure, and loved; nothing is forbidden about that.
53. The Drug In Me Is You by Falling In Reverse
| Genre | Alternative Metal |
| Year Released | 2011 |
| Album | The Drug In Me Is You |
This track from the 2011 album “The Drug In Me Is You” is quite insightful. The song is very poetic and uses death and bad karma to illustrate what being in a forbidden relationship can do to you. Ronnie Radke sings about being with someone he has no business with and being addicted to that feeling as he sings, “The drug in me is you, and I’m so high on misery.” If you’re looking for songs about forbidden love to add to your playlist, this is one of my top recommendations.
54. Forbidden Fruit by J. Cole (Featuring Kendrick Lamar)
| Genre | Rap, Hip Hop |
| Year Released | 2013 |
| Album | Born Sinner |
Nobody is immune to falling in love with the wrong person, not even great J. Cole. In this 2013 track from “Born Sinner,” Cole and Kendrick Lamar talk about the many dangers involved in being with the wrong person, including feeling like they have to take extreme measures to protect themselves. It seems like Cole lives a little dangerous life, and it makes you wonder if the forbidden fruit he’s talking about is worth it.
55. Just Friends by Amy Winehouse
| Genre | R&B, Pop |
| Year Released | 2006 |
| Album | Back To Black |
There are quite a few Amy Winehouse songs I could have chosen for this list, but I decided to go with “Just Friends” from her 2006 classic album “Back To Black” because of the air of mystery that surrounds this song. Winehouse never explicitly mentions the nature of the affair, but it is insinuated that the relationship is unknown to her friends and family. Whatever it is, they have to act like they’re just friends.
56. Secrets by The Weeknd
| Genre | Alternative Pop, Soul |
| Year Released | 2016 |
| Album | Starboy |
Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, also known by his stage name, The Weeknd, gives us a heartbreaking tale about a guy who knows that his girlfriend is cheating on him in his signature falsetto, although she vehemently denies wanting anybody else. She repeatedly tells him that he is the only one of her, although she confesses to her wrongdoings while she is sleeping, even if the chorus borrows heavily from The Romantics’ song “Talking In Your Sleep.” As far as songs about secret love go, this is one of the most popular ones ever.
57. Shameless by Garth Brooks (Featuring Trisha Yearwood)
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 1991 |
| Album | Ropin’ The Wind |
Although there is nothing in this song that would indicate that a Forbidden Love is taking place, I’m including it on this list because Garth Brooks wrote this song for Trisha Yearwood, as well as performed it with her while he was cheating with her. Initially, the song comes off as a beautiful ballad written by a loving husband for his wife. That is until you realize that the song is written about his mistress.
58. Just One Last Time by David Guetta (Featuring Taped Rai)
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2011 |
| Album | Nothing But the Beat |
In the song” Just One Last Time,” David Guetta finds himself in a relationship that he knows he has to end. While it is never specifically mentioned, one of the people involved is already in a relationship with somebody. He sounds so tortured when he is singing, “There comes a time for us to part, then we’re back to the start. And I know what I’m supposed to do, taking myself away from you.”
59. Come Away With Me by Norah Jones
| Genre | Pop, Soul |
| Year Released | 2002 |
| Album | Come Away With Me |
Norah Jones has a talent for telling a story with herself songs that you will get completely wrapped up in, and “Come Away With Me” showcases Noah’s singing and songwriting talents. This song was used in the 2002 movie “Maid In Manhattan,” which was about a wealthy man who falls in love with a girl of lesser means. Although this type of relationship isn’t forbidden, he did receive a lot of grief from his family.
60. Secret Love by Hunter Hayes
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2014 |
| Album | Storyline |
Country music superstar Hunter Hayes caused quite a bit of controversy with his song “Secret Love” from his 2014 album “Storyline.” Nobody knows what this song is truly about, although there are several theories some people have. Hayes certainly doesn’t help matters when he sings mysterious lyrics like, “When you’re living a life that you gotta deny when you feel how we feel, but you gotta keep lying, it’s only gonna mess you up inside.”
61. Wanted You More by Lady A
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2011 |
| Album | Own the Night |
The band Lady A, along with their phenomenal singer Hillary Scott, tells us the agonizing story of a woman who knows her husband is cheating on her but does everything in her power to make things work in “Wanted You More.” We can all sympathize as we hear, “My heart was open, exposed, and hoping for you to lay it on the line. But in the end, it seemed there was no room for me.”
62. Forbidden Love by Madonna
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 1994 |
| Album | Bedtime Stories |
If anybody on this list knows something about forbidden love, it would most certainly be Madonna. In the song” Forbidden Love” from her 1994 album “Bedtime Stories,” Madonna sings about the joys of forbidden love and how it makes the relationship feel so much better. She expresses this through the lyrics, “I know that you’re no good for me. That’s why I feel I must confess that what’s wrong is why it feels so right.”
63. Secret Lovers by Atlantic Starr
| Genre | R&B, Soul |
| Year Released | 1985 |
| Album | As the Band Turns |
When Atlantic Starr released their album “As The Band Turns” in 1985, little did they know that they were going to turn the world on its ear with their hit single “Secret Lovers.” As you might expect from its title, this track is about two people who are in a forbidden romantic relationship. However, they choose to throw caution to the wind and be together anyway. Although they know what they are doing is wrong, it doesn’t matter because it feels so good.
64. Layla by Derek and The Dominos
| Genre | Classic Rock |
| Year Released | 1970 |
| Album | Driving Anthems |
When Eric Clapton wrote “Layla,” he was making his public declaration of love for George Harrison’s wife, Pattie. As the story goes, Clapton was completely smitten with Pattie at first sight. Unfortunately, she didn’t appreciate Clapton’s gesture, as Pattie was trying to save her and George’s marriage at the time. Eventually, the two divorced, and Patty moved in with Eric Clapton. Sadly, the relationship ended when Clapton left her for someone else after 11 years.
65. Part-Time Lover by Stevie Wonder
| Genre | R&B, Pop |
| Year Released | 1985 |
| Album | In Square Circle |
When I think of songs about forbidden romance, this track from Stevie Wonder is one of the first songs that comes to mind. This song is about infidelity and the little things the couple does to get away with their part-time romance, like calling and hanging up or blinking the lights to let the other know you are home, if somebody is with you, or if you are available for a secret rendezvous. This is what I call spy-level cheating.
Wrap Up:
That does it for this article. If you know of any great songs that we missed, let us know in the comments below.
Hi, my name is Kevin and I’m from Butler, Pennsylvania. I’ve been obsessed with music and audio gear for as long as I can remember. I started this website to help people find professional advice related to a wide range of audio topics. We have a number of Audio Engineers on our team who have been designing and fixing audio gear for decades.