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Older Cheating Songs: Classic Oldies, Country, Soul, Rock, and Pop Songs About Infidelity

Older cheating songs have been part of popular music for generations. Long before texting, social media, and “it’s complicated” relationship statuses, singers were already telling stories about secret lovers, suspicious spouses, wandering eyes, guilty hearts, motel rooms, lipstick on collars, phone calls, rumors, revenge, and the awkward moment when everybody in town knew before the person being cheated on did.

This list focuses mostly on cheating songs from the 1950s through the 1980s, with country, soul, Motown, rock, pop, folk-rock, and R&B all represented. Some songs are about being cheated on. Some are about doing the cheating. Some are about temptation. Some are about guilt. Some are about catching someone in the act and choosing a very dramatic response.

Older cheating songs are useful because they show how many ways pop music has handled betrayal. A country song might cry into a barstool. A soul song might confront the other man. A rock song might turn suspicion into a guitar riff. A disco-era or 80s pop song might turn the whole mess into something you can dance to, which is one way to avoid making eye contact.

This page keeps the subject lively but not trashy. Cheating songs can be funny, sad, bitter, theatrical, or morally complicated, but the best ones usually tell a story people remember.

Best Older Cheating Songs

1. Your Cheatin’ Heart – Hank Williams

Your Cheatin’ Heart is the classic country cheating song. Hank Williams turned betrayal into a simple, devastating warning: guilt follows. The song became one of the essential templates for country heartbreak.

2. I Heard It Through the Grapevine – Marvin Gaye

I Heard It Through the Grapevine captures the humiliation of learning about betrayal through rumors before getting the truth directly. Marvin Gaye’s version is tense, wounded, and unforgettable.

3. Who’s Making Love – Johnnie Taylor

Who’s Making Love flips the cheating-song angle into a warning. Johnnie Taylor asks who is with your partner while you are out doing wrong yourself. It is a soul classic with a built-in moral mirror.

4. Part-Time Lover – Stevie Wonder

Part-Time Lover turns secret infidelity into a polished 1980s pop hit. The song’s twist is that both people in the relationship are hiding something. Stevie Wonder made the arrangement upbeat, but the story is pure double-cross.

5. Me and Mrs. Jones – Billy Paul

Me and Mrs. Jones is one of the most famous songs about an affair. Billy Paul’s smooth vocal makes the secret relationship sound romantic, but the song never lets listeners forget that the lovers are meeting in stolen time.

6. Lyin’ Eyes – Eagles

Lyin’ Eyes is a polished country-rock story about a woman trapped in a loveless situation and sneaking away for romance. Eagles gave the song enough detail to feel like a short story with harmonies.

7. Jolene – Dolly Parton

Jolene is not about confirmed cheating. It is about fear, temptation, and the possibility of losing someone to a rival. Dolly Parton made the plea direct, vulnerable, and impossible to forget.

8. Secret Lovers – Atlantic Starr

Secret Lovers is one of the 1980s’ clearest affair songs. The singers know the relationship is wrong, but the song focuses on the emotional pull of secrecy and desire.

9. Escape (The Piña Colada Song) – Rupert Holmes

Escape is one of pop music’s strangest cheating stories because both partners accidentally try to cheat with each other. It is funny, catchy, and morally messy, which is why people still remember the twist.

10. Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town – Kenny Rogers and The First Edition

Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town is a darker country-pop song about suspicion, war injury, loneliness, and a partner leaving for another man. It is not playful cheating drama; it is a sad and complicated story song.

Country Cheating Songs and Honky-Tonk Heartbreak

Country music has long been one of the strongest homes for cheating songs. These songs cover suspicion, betrayal, guilt, revenge, temptation, and the kind of barroom heartbreak that arrives with a jukebox receipt.

  • Your Cheatin’ Heart – Hank Williams
  • Crazy – Patsy Cline
  • Jolene – Dolly Parton
  • Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town – Kenny Rogers and The First Edition
  • Daytime Friends – Kenny Rogers
  • She’s Actin’ Single (I’m Drinkin’ Doubles) – Gary Stewart
  • Married, but Not to Each Other – Barbara Mandrell
  • If Loving You Is Wrong (I Don’t Want to Be Right) – Barbara Mandrell
  • You Ain’t Woman Enough – Loretta Lynn
  • Almost Persuaded – David Houston / Etta James
  • He’ll Have to Go – Jim Reeves
  • It Don’t Feel Like Sinnin’ to Me – The Kendalls
  • Talking in Your Sleep – Crystal Gayle
  • Seven Year Ache – Rosanne Cash
  • (Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song – B.J. Thomas

Soul and R&B Songs About Cheating

Soul and R&B cheating songs often bring the confrontation right into the room. These songs deal with suspicion, confession, side relationships, emotional fallout, and the pain of knowing someone else is involved.

  • I Heard It Through the Grapevine – Marvin Gaye
  • Who’s Making Love – Johnnie Taylor
  • Me and Mrs. Jones – Billy Paul
  • If Loving You Is Wrong (I Don’t Want to Be Right) – Luther Ingram
  • The Dark End of the Street – James Carr / Clarence Carter
  • Slip Away – Clarence Carter
  • Want Ads – Honey Cone
  • Don’t Mess with Bill – The Marvelettes
  • You’ve Been Cheatin’ – The Impressions
  • Who Is He (And What Is He to You)? – Bill Withers
  • How Long (Betcha Got a Chick on the Side) – The Pointer Sisters
  • Don’t Waste Your Time – Yarbrough & Peoples
  • He Don’t Love You (Like I Love You) – Tony Orlando and Dawn
  • Love Makes Things Happen – Pebbles featuring Babyface
  • The Rain – Oran “Juice” Jones

Rock Songs About Cheating, Suspicion, and Betrayal

Rock cheating songs often turn jealousy, suspicion, and betrayal into guitar-driven drama. Sometimes the singer is the victim. Sometimes the singer is the problem. Sometimes everyone needs to stop and make better choices before the bridge.

  • Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield
  • Tempted – Squeeze
  • Love Stinks – The J. Geils Band
  • My Best Friend’s Girl – The Cars
  • It’s All Over Now – The Rolling Stones
  • Your Time Is Gonna Come – Led Zeppelin
  • Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’ – Journey
  • Take It on the Run – REO Speedwagon
  • I Can’t Stand It – Eric Clapton
  • Smoke from a Distant Fire – Sanford-Townsend Band
  • Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley – Robert Palmer
  • Would I Lie to You? – Eurythmics
  • I Know There’s Something Going On – Frida
  • Into Temptation – Crowded House
  • Cuts Like a Knife – Bryan Adams

Pop Songs About Cheating and Secret Lovers

Pop cheating songs often lean into story, melody, and big hooks. These songs turned rumors, guilty hearts, secret meetings, and suspicious phone calls into radio-friendly drama.

  • Secret Lovers – Atlantic Starr
  • Escape (The Piña Colada Song) – Rupert Holmes
  • 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover – Paul Simon
  • It’s My Party – Lesley Gore
  • Stop! In the Name of Love – The Supremes
  • Human – The Human League
  • Torn Between Two Lovers – Mary MacGregor
  • Smooth Operator – Sade
  • Careless Whisper – Wham! featuring George Michael
  • Angel of the Morning – Merrilee Rush / Juice Newton
  • Who’s That Girl? – Eurythmics
  • Talking in Your Sleep – The Romantics
  • Are You There (With Another Girl) – Dionne Warwick
  • The Cheater – Bob Kuban and The In-Men
  • The Night Has a Thousand Eyes – Bobby Vee

Other Woman, Other Man, and Love Triangle Songs

Many older cheating songs focus on the third person in the relationship: the other woman, the other man, the best friend, the rival, or the person everybody suspects but nobody wants to name out loud at dinner.

  • The Other Woman – Ray Parker Jr.
  • Jolene – Dolly Parton
  • Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield
  • Me and Mrs. Jones – Billy Paul
  • If Loving You Is Wrong (I Don’t Want to Be Right) – Luther Ingram / Barbara Mandrell
  • Torn Between Two Lovers – Mary MacGregor
  • My Best Friend’s Girl – The Cars
  • Mrs. Robinson – Simon & Garfunkel
  • Delilah – Tom Jones
  • Hey Joe – The Jimi Hendrix Experience
  • Who Is He (And What Is He to You)? – Bill Withers
  • Take Good Care of My Baby – Bobby Vee
  • Tell Her No – The Zombies
  • C’mon Marianne – The Four Seasons
  • Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind? – The Lovin’ Spoonful

Funny, Twisted, and Clever Cheating Songs

Some cheating songs are tragic. Others are clever, ironic, or almost funny because the situation is so messy. These tracks work because the story has a twist, a sharp lyric, or a little soap-opera energy.

  • Escape (The Piña Colada Song) – Rupert Holmes
  • 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover – Paul Simon
  • Runaround Sue – Dion
  • Who’s Making Love – Johnnie Taylor
  • Want Ads – Honey Cone
  • Love the One You’re With – Stephen Stills
  • Daytime Friends – Kenny Rogers
  • She’s Actin’ Single (I’m Drinkin’ Doubles) – Gary Stewart
  • Liar, Liar – The Castaways
  • The Wanderer – Dion
  • The Rain – Oran “Juice” Jones
  • The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia – Vicki Lawrence / Reba McEntire
  • Frankie and Johnny – Sam Cooke
  • Hats Off to Larry – Del Shannon
  • These Boots Are Made for Walkin’ – Nancy Sinatra

Revenge, Consequences, and Caught-Cheating Songs

Cheating songs often get interesting after the secret comes out. These songs deal with confrontation, regret, exposure, revenge, guilt, and the consequences of being careless with someone else’s heart.

  • These Boots Are Made for Walkin’ – Nancy Sinatra
  • You’re No Good – Linda Ronstadt
  • The Rain – Oran “Juice” Jones
  • Stop! In the Name of Love – The Supremes
  • Your Time Is Gonna Come – Led Zeppelin
  • It’s All Over Now – The Rolling Stones
  • Take It on the Run – REO Speedwagon
  • Would I Lie to You? – Eurythmics
  • You Ain’t Woman Enough – Loretta Lynn
  • Who’s Sorry Now? – Connie Francis
  • I’m Sorry – Brenda Lee
  • Hats Off to Larry – Del Shannon
  • Kind of a Drag – The Buckinghams
  • This Diamond Ring – Gary Lewis & The Playboys
  • Change of Heart – Bread

Top 100 Older Cheating Songs

This oldies cheating songs list focuses mostly on the 1950s through the 1980s, mixing country, soul, Motown, rock, pop, R&B, and classic story songs about infidelity, temptation, betrayal, suspicion, and secret romance.

  1. Your Cheatin’ Heart – Hank Williams
  2. I Heard It Through the Grapevine – Marvin Gaye
  3. Who’s Making Love – Johnnie Taylor
  4. Part-Time Lover – Stevie Wonder
  5. Me and Mrs. Jones – Billy Paul
  6. Lyin’ Eyes – Eagles
  7. Jolene – Dolly Parton
  8. Secret Lovers – Atlantic Starr
  9. Escape (The Piña Colada Song) – Rupert Holmes
  10. Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town – Kenny Rogers and The First Edition
  11. The Other Woman – Ray Parker Jr.
  12. Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield
  13. 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover – Paul Simon
  14. Crazy – Patsy Cline
  15. The Rain – Oran “Juice” Jones
  16. Runaround Sue – Dion
  17. Love the One You’re With – Stephen Stills
  18. (I Know) I’m Losing You – The Temptations / Rod Stewart
  19. It’s My Party – Lesley Gore
  20. Stop! In the Name of Love – The Supremes
  21. Operator (That’s Not the Way It Feels) – Jim Croce
  22. Love Stinks – The J. Geils Band
  23. Human – The Human League
  24. Tempted – Squeeze
  25. These Boots Are Made for Walkin’ – Nancy Sinatra
  26. Smooth Operator – Sade
  27. Torn Between Two Lovers – Mary MacGregor
  28. Mrs. Robinson – Simon & Garfunkel
  29. Delilah – Tom Jones
  30. Want Ads – Honey Cone
  31. Careless Whisper – Wham! featuring George Michael
  32. It’s All Over Now – The Rolling Stones
  33. Piece of My Heart – Big Brother and The Holding Company featuring Janis Joplin
  34. The Dark End of the Street – James Carr / Clarence Carter
  35. Hey Joe – The Jimi Hendrix Experience
  36. Seven Year Ache – Rosanne Cash
  37. Cecilia – Simon & Garfunkel
  38. This Diamond Ring – Gary Lewis & The Playboys
  39. Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’ – Journey
  40. Little Girl – Syndicate of Sound
  41. You’re So Vain – Carly Simon
  42. If Loving You Is Wrong (I Don’t Want to Be Right) – Luther Ingram / Barbara Mandrell
  43. Would I Lie to You? – Eurythmics
  44. Your Time Is Gonna Come – Led Zeppelin
  45. Talking in Your Sleep – Crystal Gayle
  46. Kind of a Drag – The Buckinghams
  47. You’re No Good – Linda Ronstadt
  48. Angel of the Morning – Merrilee Rush / Juice Newton
  49. Married, but Not to Each Other – Barbara Mandrell
  50. Hats Off to Larry – Del Shannon
  51. She’s Actin’ Single (I’m Drinkin’ Doubles) – Gary Stewart
  52. Liar, Liar – The Castaways
  53. Frankie and Johnny – Sam Cooke
  54. The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia – Vicki Lawrence / Reba McEntire
  55. Who’s Sorry Now? – Connie Francis
  56. You Ain’t Woman Enough – Loretta Lynn
  57. I’m Sorry – Brenda Lee
  58. Slip Away – Clarence Carter
  59. Who’s That Girl? – Eurythmics
  60. Daytime Friends – Kenny Rogers
  61. (Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song – B.J. Thomas
  62. All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You – Heart
  63. You’ve Been Cheatin’ – The Impressions
  64. Jealous – Robert Palmer
  65. The Wanderer – Dion
  66. Take It on the Run – REO Speedwagon
  67. The Night Has a Thousand Eyes – Bobby Vee
  68. Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind? – The Lovin’ Spoonful
  69. Don’t Mess with Bill – The Marvelettes
  70. I Know There’s Something Going On – Frida
  71. Cuts Like a Knife – Bryan Adams
  72. C’mon Marianne – The Four Seasons
  73. Change of Heart – Bread
  74. Talking in Your Sleep – The Romantics
  75. Love Makes Things Happen – Pebbles featuring Babyface
  76. Into Temptation – Crowded House
  77. Who Is He (And What Is He to You)? – Bill Withers
  78. If She Would Have Been Faithful… – Chicago
  79. I Can’t Stand It – Eric Clapton
  80. Almost Persuaded – David Houston / Etta James
  81. How Long (Betcha Got a Chick on the Side) – The Pointer Sisters
  82. Don’t Waste Your Time – Yarbrough & Peoples
  83. On and On – Stephen Bishop
  84. He’ll Have to Go – Jim Reeves
  85. Smoke from a Distant Fire – Sanford-Townsend Band
  86. He Don’t Love You (Like I Love You) – Tony Orlando and Dawn
  87. Take Good Care of My Baby – Bobby Vee
  88. Tell Her No – The Zombies
  89. It Don’t Feel Like Sinnin’ to Me – The Kendalls
  90. Are You There (With Another Girl) – Dionne Warwick
  91. The Cheater – Bob Kuban and The In-Men
  92. Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley – Robert Palmer
  93. The Letter – The Box Tops
  94. One Way Out – The Allman Brothers Band
  95. Somebody’s Knockin’ – Terri Gibbs
  96. Behind Closed Doors – Charlie Rich
  97. After the Lovin’ – Engelbert Humperdinck
  98. Making Love Out of Nothing at All – Air Supply
  99. Don’t Fall in Love with a Dreamer – Kenny Rogers and Kim Carnes
  100. Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad – Meat Loaf

Older Cheating Song Trivia

Your Cheatin’ Heart Helped Define the Country Cheating Song

Your Cheatin’ Heart became one of Hank Williams’ signature songs and a foundational country heartbreak record. Its message is simple: betrayal leaves a mark, and guilt has a way of walking the floor with you.

I Heard It Through the Grapevine Is About Rumor Before Confirmation

I Heard It Through the Grapevine works because the singer already knows the betrayal before the partner admits it. That emotional delay creates the tension. The grapevine is faster than honesty, which is rarely good news.

Escape Has One of Pop’s Best Cheating Twists

Escape (The Piña Colada Song) is unusual because both partners secretly try to meet someone else and end up finding each other. The twist turns a cheating song into a strange comic reset for the relationship.

Jolene Is About Fear, Not Proof

Jolene is sometimes grouped with cheating songs, but it is really about fear and temptation. Dolly Parton’s narrator is asking another woman not to take her partner before the damage happens.

Cheating Songs Cross Every Genre

Country, soul, rock, pop, Motown, and R&B all have classic cheating songs because betrayal is one of popular music’s most durable story engines. The details change, but the emotional math stays painfully familiar.

Why Older Cheating Songs Still Work

Older cheating songs still work because they are story songs. Someone is suspicious. Someone is lying. Someone is lonely. Someone is tempted. Someone is caught. The emotional stakes are clear before the first chorus is over.

The best songs also take different angles. Your Cheatin’ Heart warns the cheater. I Heard It Through the Grapevine shows the hurt partner. Me and Mrs. Jones follows the affair. Jolene fears the rival. Part-Time Lover turns the whole situation into a double secret.

That variety is why the theme has lasted so long. Cheating songs can be tragic, bitter, comic, seductive, angry, guilty, or full of regret. They can sound like a country bar, a soul club, a rock arena, or an AM radio confession.

Pop music may not fix a broken heart, but it does give betrayal a melody. Sometimes that is enough to get through the verse.

Sources and Further Listening