![]() ![]() In some instances, cheating is a compulsion, not something that is even enjoyed, but is more like an addiction. George Thorogood & the Destroyers had a hit with it in 1978, but not before it was recorded by many other artists including Bill Haley & the Comets, Ray Charles, Del Shannon, and Willie Nelson. This is one of those songs which is easily adapted to any era and any genre. This is a stylistic cross-over, an example of Williams’ genius. This is a rock n’ roll song disguised as country – note the blues influences in this song. Hank Williams also knew that taking themes common to both black and white communities would allow his music to resonate on both sides of the cultural fence. This is the lighter side of cheating, a man who accepts the price as a matter of course, cuddling next to the dog when he couldn’t manage the restraint it took to overcome temptation in order to end up cuddling with his intended instead. Hank Williams knew that both sexes would get a kick out of this tale of a man who is outdoors after promising not to “fool around/but (he) done let the deal go down”. And in this song, being in the doghouse is a very literal reality, fleas and all. We’ll start with a tale of a man who learns that if you do the crime, you do the time. So here are 10 songs about cheatin’, infidelity, adultery 10 tales of mistresses, backdoor men, cuckolded husbands, betrayed wives, homewreckers, and philanderers served up for your pleasure. So, songwriters have had their work cut out for them with yet another universal human experience and set of emotions to explore in popular song. And not all of those emotions are those felt by the one who has been done wrong. There’s no doubt that much damage has been done because of infidelity, creating powerful emotional states which range from despair, shame, helplessness, anger, regret, and sometimes a sense of emancipation too. And in our culture which treats monogamy and the sanctity of marriage pretty seriously as a result, cheating is treated as one of the worst things one person can do to another. Moses didn’t care much for it when he presented his 10 Commandments to the Israelites (the first top-ten list?). I got to thinking about this the other day when I was listening to Midland’s “Cheatin’ Songs”(also a fantastic cheating song I recommend checking out), and decided to dig up some old cheating songs, and a few more recent ones, that get me fired up when I need it the most.Adultery is as old a concept as recorded history, at least as old as monogamy anyway. There are countless cheating songs within the genre, but it seems like these days we hear less of them (at least in the mainstream world), and historically, the women of country music have had some pretty damn good ones. Even though the actual experience going through that is typically the furthest thing from enjoyable.Īnd when it comes to country music, it’s kind of a specialty. ![]() Whether you’ve been cheated on, know someone who has been, or unfortunately, have done it yourself… there’s something about hearing someone else sing about it can be so fun. I think part of it is the fact that almost everyone can relate to a cheating song in some way. ![]() I don’t know about you, but I do love a good old fashioned country cheatin’ song. ![]()
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