What's the best adultery song?

SF Gate ^ | February 02 2007 | Dave Morey

[Stone Mountain]

What's the best adultery song?

In light of current events, KFOG's Dave Morey conducted a contest this morning for the best adultery song ever.

His listeners (of a certain demographic) nominated a bunch, including the Eagles' "Lyin' Eyes," Elvin Bishop's "Fooled Around and Fell in Love," and Derek and the Dominos' "Layla" -- which has the advantage of being about the most famous adulterous affair since, what, Paris and Helen of Troy?

Dave's winner: "Me and Mrs. Jones," by Billy Paul, which isn't much musically but does have lyrics that resonate with people who've got a thing going on.

Even more poignant, though not reflective of the mess at City Hall, there's Whitney Houston's "Saving All My Love For You."

[MozarkDawg]

"Torn Between Two Lovers" - Mary MacGregor

Just about to post this one myself ... I saw Mary as the opening act for Eddie Rabbitt many, many years ago, she quipped when introducing this one, "I had a lady-fan come up and tell me *Born Between Two Lovers* was her most very favorite song!!!" LOLOL!!

[drjimmy]

A great Gordon Lightfoot song on the topic was "Sundown." It was about what he intended to do to some guy who was carrying on with his lady.

"Sundown" was supposedly written about Cathy Smith, a groupie with whom Lightfoot was having an affair. Smith had an on-and-off relationship with Levon Helm of The Band. When The Band appeared on Saturday Night Live in 1976, Smith met John Belushi. In 1982 she injected Belushi with the speedball that killed him. She was convicted of manslaughter and spent a year and a half in prison. And now you know......the rest of the story.

[Texan5]

Now I feel like a dumbass-I sing along with the car stereo to "Hotel California" at least twice a week, and I had no idea it was a reference to shackup motels-I thought "Bring your alibis" referred to it being maybe a brothel or gambling house-duh...

[gate2wire]

Jimi Hendrix--Hey Joe.

"...so I shot her..."

[saminfl]

That was done by Bobby Bare.

[NonValueAdded]

"Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town" by Kenny Rogers, certainly having the best line "And if I could move I'd get my gun and put her in the ground."

[EGPWS]

Well, this goes way back, and I can't say exactly I understand it,..

Promoting the understanding of Bob Zimmerman music could be considered a cry for help via a shrink... ; )

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

The copy I have is sung by Bobby Bare and it is great.

The lyrics were written by Tom T Hall but I do not remember him ever singing it.

[william clark]

"Be My Downfall" - Del Amitri

[saganite]

Don't cheat on DY!

She wore red dresses with her black shining hair
She had my baby and caused me to care
Then coldly she left me to suffer and cry
She wore red dresses and told such sweet lies

I never knew him but he took her away
And on my knees like a madman for vengeance I prayed
While the pain and the anger destroyed my weak mind
She wore red dresses and left the wounded behind

I searched til I found them, then I cursed at the sight
Of their sleeping shadows in the cold neon light
In the dark morning silence I placed the gun to her head
She wore red dresses, but now she lay dead

[JOAT]

Die Motherf#$%er Die, by Dope.

My sentiments exactly.

Thanks a lot BTW, now I have the song rolling through my head, and I can't exactly burst out in song here at the office.....

[wtc911]

Me and Mrs Jones.....

"we both know it's wrong"

That was my first clue.

[NonValueAdded]

or "Rocky Raccoon"

[saminfl]

I didn't know Tom T. Hall wrote it, but Bobby Bare singing it was great. Of course, I liked almost everything Bobby did.

[blam]

"Always fun to hear that song in a bar and have everyone shout out: "You picked fine time to leave me Lucille (YOU B@TCH! YOU SL@T! YOU WH@RE!)"

When my son was still in grade school, he asked me: "What do you think the truck driver said when his wheel came off? You picked a fine time to leave me loose wheel."

[Fierce Allegiance]

LOL! Sorry for that.

[gate2wire]

"I searched til I found them, then I cursed at the sight
Of their sleeping shadows in the cold neon light
In the dark morning silence I placed the gun to her head
She wore red dresses, but now she lay dead"


Happy song, that one.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I think "Gimme Three Steps" is the ultimate adultery song.

[drjimmy]

REO Speedwagon did a whole album on the subject: Hi Infidelity. Lots of great power ballads, especially "Keep on Loving You" and "Take it on the Run."


Another good affair song is "Norwegian Wood" by The Beatles (a John Lennon song).

[saganite]

Happy song, that one.

Yeah, you gotta wonder about what generated lyrics like that!