Cheatin Songs
[ Home ] [ Up ] [ Civil Rights Songs ] [ Vietnam ] [ Drug Abuse ] [ Cheatin Songs ]

Please click onthe category you wish to choose from the options below

Even going back to pre-soul days sex has been a massive theme in R&B music, indeed "Rock and Roll" is itself a euphemism for sex.  The lyrics of those songs might be considered pretty tame these days, but in that era they were raunchy to say the least.  One of the reasons Motown became a crossover success was that they replaced sexual themes with ones of romance and thus appealed to middle class markets.  Following Motown's glory days however, the seventies saw a new form of sexual ballad infiltrating the soul charts, the "cheatin song". 

Cheatin songs are more than stories of lust and desire, they are stories of infidelity.   Two people were replaced by three or four, the illicit lovers and their legitimate partners.   Whereas on many other issues soul music had adopted the moral high ground (War, drugs, racism and other social problems) when it came to Cheatin songs it takes a very low stance.  At best the songs would adopt neutral positions, at worst they would sympathise with the adulterers.  The inability to control carnal desires created heroes of those who deceived their husbands, wives and children.  The sympathy always lay with the infidels, never the families.  Even when cheated husbands and wives are the focal point of the song they are usually presented as vengeful, or pragmatic.   They accept circumstances as a fact of life and set about the practicalities of getting their material rights.  Their pain and suffering is rarely considered,  the effect on the children -  never.  Cheatin songs do nothing for family life, but they don't half make excellent soul ballads. 

All the tracks considered here are taken from Kent's album "If Loving You Is Wrong I Don't Want To Be Right, (20 Cheatin' Heartbreakers)" - (CDKEND208)

1. Woman To Woman – Shirley Brown. 

Begins with a rap as Shirley finds an unknown telephone number in her husband's pocket.  She warns her competitor that he's her man and that he'll never leave her because she supports him.  Following the introduction she breaks into a very melodic appeal asking the other woman to understand her position.  Psychologically suspect, but great music.   The morality of what her man is doing is never considered, nor is the idea of kicking him out.  It's just a statement of fact that she will hold on to him whatever the consequences.

2. We’re Getting Careless With Our Love – Johnnie Taylor. 

The record begins with Johnnie waking his mistress so that she can get home before she is caught.  They nearly were at their previous meeting because she overstayed.  He appeals to her for greater vigilance.   As a token acknowledgement to the fact they might be doing something wrong he says “Some people say were wrong” but he clearly does not agree with the view as he plans their next meeting.  He's aware that rumours are spreading but he's determined to continue the relationship.

3. Married, But Not To Each Other – Denise LaSalle. 

Another example of a Cheatin Song which deals with the practicalities of organising the affair rather than considering the moral implications.  It begins with Denise opening with a semi rap in which she complains about having to watch the clock.  Having to go home in middle of night pretending everything's alright is an annoyance for her, especially when she then has to try making love to the person she should but finds herself unable to.  Another stress is having to avoid people who know them.  As an afterthought she acknowledges that they don’t want to hurt either legitimate partner.

4. I’m Gonna Have To Tell Her – Isaac Hayes. 

At last we have a man with a conscience, but not enough to make him want to stay with his wife and kids.  It only stretches to admitting that the affair is going on.  It begins with a long, gentle introduction in which at least a smidgen of guilt is evident.  He insists that he’s gonna tell his partner  that its over and that he will tell the kids “in a way they will understand”.  Oh, if only it were that easy.

5. (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want To Be Right – Millie Jackson. 

Probably the most famous of all cheatin songs Millie is well aware that society thinks they are a disgrace but she doesn’t care.  She is prepared to put up with any circumstances in order to keep him.  “Am I wrong to hunger for the tenderness of your kiss?” she asks but clearly doesn’t think so.  Her awareness that he has children depending on him does not deter her in the slightest.   Despite the fact she has abrogated all moral responsibility it is with her that the song sympathises.

6. Mr And Mrs Untrue – Lloyd Price

“Put your shades on babe, the hotels crowded tonight”, says Lloyd in another cheater that deals with the mechanics of infidelity.  They plan to avoid meeting people they know, a strategy which has served them well throughout a number of assignations.  Forget the feelings of cuckolded partners the song considers the tension which exists between them as he asks her not to slam the door.  Never mind they'll meet again the following week as they plan their next assignation.

7. Who Are You Gonna Love (Your Woman Or Your Wife) – Rozetta Johnson. 

Rozetta introduces the song with some lovely harmony.  “How did you sleep last night, what time did you get home”.  For once we get the victim's perspective as she is the neglected wife.  She is no fool and is well aware of what is going on as she issues her ultimatum.  She reminds him of his vows and tells him to decide.   It is handled without ever examining the pain she is suffering.  She's just tough and worldly wise as she instructs him to make his choice.

8. Part Time Lover, Full Time Fool – Loleatta Holloway. 

Possibly for the first time on the album we get an insight into the damage caused by illicit affairs.  Loleatta is in the supermarket when she overhears a conversation between two friends discussing her man's infidelity.  She tells the gossips that she is unable to give her love to another so she is a fool.  A hint of humiliation but nowhere near as much as there would be in real life.  Not Loleatta's best performance as it comes across as being a little strained.  Definitely delivered with a touch of over souling.

9.  I’ll Be The Other Woman – Soul Children. 

A strange bending of morality in which the singer agrees to be the other woman as long as she is the only mistress.  If he were to take up with a third woman she would feel exactly as wife would feel if she found out about her.  Like she explains, she doesn’t mind loving a married man, but does mind loving a married Casanova.

10. She’ll Never Be Your Wife – Irma Thomas. 

Irma is sending a message to her man's mistress.  She tells her she can have him whenever she wants him, but she’ll never be his wife.  He’s misled her, he's made a fool of her and she's suffered at his hands for a long time.  Now he has the cheek to ask her to consider the other woman’s predicament.  Psychologically a sound song.  She's out for revenge and she'll sign no papers which will benefit him.  She will screw all the support out of him she can get.

11. If He Hadn’t Slipped Up And Got Caught – Bobby Patterson. 

Unusual angle in that Bobby has coveted another man's woman for a long time, but had no chance of getting her until her husband got caught being unfaithful.   Bobby is swift to move in for the kill and confesses that he has  watched her come and go every day.  To solidify her affection he vows to help her get revenge.  Bobby does not come across as entirely innocent as there is a definite sense that he was hovering in the wings and planning to break the relationship anyway.   The vocals are beautifully executed.

12. Dark End Of The Street – James Carr.

The classic cheatin song if ever there was one.  Beautifully delivered it tells of the seediness and deception involved in running an illicit affair, of  "having to hide in shadows" and “livin in darkness to hide our wrong”.  At least James recognises, “It’s a sin and we know its wrong” but none the less he is seeking sympathy for his plight when in truth the cuckolded partners really deceive it.  A fatalistic approach as he believes that it is inevitable that they will  be discovered . 

13. Breaking Up Somebody’s Home – Ann Peebles. 

Ann begins describing her feelings which she feels powerless to change.  Her stance seems to be that her passion is more important than pain which will be caused to husbands and wives. My main criticism is that not all the lyrics are clearly sung.

14.  Some Other Man (Is Beating Your Time) – Carla Thomas.

Again we are given the viewpoint from somebody at the wrong end of an affair.   There is little consideration towards any hurt she has suffered, indeed it's almost as though it doesn't exist.  Carla is very pragmatic and warns the man he's making mistake messin her around.  She tells him she won’t hang on for him and someone else is waiting in the wings.  Her message is clear and simple “If you want to keep me, you’d better learn how to treat me”.  It is a promise of reciprocated unfaithfulness.  The song does not make clear whether this alternative relationship has begun or not.

15.  Backfield in Motion – Mel and Tim. 

A Cheatin song which is also a Northern Soul dance record in which cheating in love draws analogies from a baseball game.  Revenge is a prominent emotion with lines such as “You know you cheated, Gonna have to penalise you" and “I’m gonna have to let you go”.  This is a Classic dancer but in my view does not work on the cheatin level.  The mood and tempo are far too joyous and upbeat.

16. If We Get Caught I Don’t Know You – Phillip Mitchell. 

The key motivations in this tale is cowardice and deceit.  He's clearly fearful of his wife discovering the affair and advises his mistress to walk away from him if they are seen together.  His plan is to then disown his mistress but as a contingency he will pick her up the following day at four.

17. Suspicious Minds – Candi Staton. 

A great remake of the Elvis song in which she can’t walk away because she loves her man too much.  Great song, great interpretation, but in my view not really a cheatin song.  There is no evidence in any of the lyrics that any infidelity has taken place, indeed one assumes that it hasn’t.  This is more a song about the damaging consequences of distrust.  To our knowledge no Cheatin has taken place so it is not really a cheatin song.

18. Stealing Love – Eddie Floyd. 

Not the story of a specific relationship, more of a lament for unfaithful acts of humanity as a whole.  Very cynical in its message not to trust anybody.  Quite different to other songs of this type which examine individual relationships.

19. Loser Again – Jackie Moore. 

Opens with a dialogue between Jackie and her partner.  He’s half an hour late but she doesn't want him to explain where he's been because she already knows.   With her best friend.  This is probably the first time we see the sense of humiliation the the partners of unfaithful spouses have to live with as she announces that she’s "the loser again". 

20. Mess On Your Hands – Sam Dees. 

The dynamics of this song are very confusing.  Sam calls a number which appeared on his telephone bill thirteen or fourteen times.  He warns the woman he speaks to not to trust the new man in her life.  He says that he will woo her until he has captured her heart then start treating her badly by running other women in front of her.  How does he know this? because the man was with him before and also treated him badly.  The logical conclusion is that a homosexual man is warning a woman about their bi-sexual partner.  Alternatively he might be singing a woman's part.  Whatever the circumstances it is a wonderful piece of soul.

Why Not visit the Authors other Website, 'The Alternative Blackpool Website' at

http://www.localdial.com/users/jsyedu133/bpool

This Site Last Updated 18/05/05