The 20 Best Songs About Forbidden Love
Affairs of the heart can be complicated. If you’ve ever been in a difficult romantic situation, where love was prohibited for any reason, then you understand the challenges associated with forbidden love. The following 20 songs highlight the complex and dangerous emotions arising from every secret encounter.
Key Takeaways
Forbidden love takes many forms, from secret affairs and unrequited feelings to relationships challenged by family expectations and social boundaries.
“Love Story” by Taylor Swift is one of the most recognizable songs about forbidden love, inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet but featuring a happier ending.
Songs about secret relationships and infidelity, including Whitney Houston’s “Saving All My Love for You,” Rihanna’s “Unfaithful,” and Usher’s “Confessions,” capture the excitement, guilt, and heartbreak of hidden romance.
Not all forbidden love stories end in heartbreak. Songs like Alicia Keys’ “Unthinkable (I’m Ready)” and Leona Lewis’ “Bleeding Love” highlight the courage and emotional struggles involved in pursuing love despite obstacles.
Forbidden love crosses musical genres, appearing in pop, R&B, rock, and country, with each genre offering a different perspective on complicated relationships.
1
"Love Story" - Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift has often explored complicated relationships in her songwriting. Much like Romeo and Juliet, this song is the story of a girl who falls in love with a boy from a rival family. Taylor takes you on a memorable journey through forbidden fantasies, but unlike the Shakespeare classic, it all works out in the end.
2
"Teenage Dream" - Katy Perry
Pop princess Katy Perry has written a few modern songs about forbidden love. In this song, she captures all the excitement of a disallowed young romance. With seductive vocals and catchy melodies, this song highlights the intensity and thrills that accompany secret love.
3
"I Knew You Were Trouble" - Taylor Swift
Another insanely catchy song by Taylor Swift, the title of this number speaks for itself. With her signature passionate but lighthearted delivery, Tay Tay presents the swell and rush of an illicit affair. This track is four minutes of pure drama, with a little danger thrown in for good measure.
4
"Don't Stand So Close to Me" - The Police
This controversial song reflects its era, telling its story from a teacher’s perspective.
5
"Saving All My Love for You" - Whitney Houston
This famous song is about stolen moments and hopeless fantasies. With her incredible vocal delivery, Whitney Houston sings of “saving all” her love for an unavailable man. The feelings are familiar and the yearning is real, as Whitney focuses on the limited time she has with her special person.
6
"Crazy for You" - Madonna
No one does intense love better than Madonna. This song might seem sweet and innocent, but it’s wrapped in longing. Throughout the track, the Queen of Pop pines for someone who’s looking the other way. While we don’t know why he doesn’t care, this track shows how unrequited love can drive anyone crazy.
7
"Unthinkable" - Alicia Keys
In this fantastic song, Alicia Keys is ready to do “the unthinkable.” Waiting for something that may never happen, she asks, “Why give up before we try?” Why “Clip our wings before we fly away.” This track is about the highs and lows of forbidden love, and why it’s often impossible to ignore.
8
"I Call It Love" - Lionel Richie
This memorable radio favorite is all about that special chemistry. While Lionel Richie doubts himself and the tricky situation he’s in throughout the track, he knows exactly what he’s feeling. This song is about the truth of love and how it always shines through in the end.
9
"Unfaithful" - Rihanna
The title of this number speaks for itself, as RiRi sings of sorrow and broken romance. She’s the unfaithful partner in this story. And every time she walks out the door, she notices her partner dying on the inside. This is about the dark side of forbidden love, as trust shatters and pain rises to the surface.
10
"In the Closet" - Michael Jackson
This track is about the intense nature of lust. As the King of Pop croons and grunts, we hear sexual energy, burning desire, and intimate secrets coming forth. While the lovers in this tale agree to “keep it in the closet,” they keep opening the door and casting the spell despite the consequences.
11
"Bad Religion" - Frank Ocean
On this rather sorrowful track, Frank Ocean holds a makeshift therapy session in the backseat of a cab. He opens his heart and sings of one-way love, telling his driver “I can never make him love me.” In the lyrics of this great track, the singer equates unrequited love with bad religion and a one-man cult.
12
"Magnets" - Disclosure (featuring Lorde)
This propulsive track from Disclosure speaks of “melting magnets” and “secret language.” Lorde sings with her usual intensity, as she frees herself and embraces the “point of no return.” This song is a great collaboration, with Disclosure’s signature beats merging perfectly with Lorde’s unique voice.
13
"Jessie's Girl" - Rick Springfield
One of the most recognizable songs about secret love in the world, “Jessie’s Girl” tackles an all-too-familiar feeling. Rick Springfield doesn’t hold back in this track, as he sings of playing charades and making eyes with “Jessie’s girl.” The famous “Where can I find a woman like that” refrain is memorable for good reason.
14
"Back Door Man" - The Doors
In this famous song by The Doors, Jim Morrison sings of what “The men don’t know, But the little girls understand.” While these lyrics probably wouldn’t make it past the legal team these days, this already dated song is a cover of an even older track by blues legend Howlin Wolf.
15
"Daytime Friends" - Kenny Rogers
This track by Kenny Rogers is one of the best country songs about forbidden love. “Daytime Friends” is about neglected women and their special male friends. In this track, country music legend Kenny Rogers sings of “Daytime friends and nighttime lovers.” While sexual needs are met for both parties, “peace of mind” is impossible to find.
16
"I Honestly Love You" - Olivia Newton-John
In this song, a young Olivia Newton-John balances innocence with seduction. She sings of feelings that don’t “come along every day” and impossible relationships that only exist through sliding doors. The chorus of this song couldn’t be clearer, as the singer professes her love regardless of the consequences.
17
"Confessions Part I and II"- Usher
In this epic two-track collection, R’n’B powerhouse Usher speaks of his “chick on the side.” He knows what he’s doing is “all bad,” and he’s sick of telling “so many lies” — and he’s ready to get something off his chest. These songs tell a story and deliver a confession at the same time.
18
"Bleeding Love" - Leona Lewis
This great track from Leona Lewis is about the beauty and pain of secret love. This song really tells a story, as Leona sings about the all-consuming “rush” of seeing her lover’s face. As this song progresses, we learn how much forbidden love hurts, and why the bleeding is sometimes necessary.
19
"Escape (The Piña Colada Song)" - Rupert Holmes
This famous song puts fun and frivolity back into forbidden love. The singer realizes his “old dull routine” as he turns to the personal columns to find excitement and romance. With a shared love for “piña coladas,” Holmes organizes a secret meeting and gets a welcome surprise when his “own lovely lady” walks into the room.
20
"Jolene" - Dolly Parton
Another classic, “Jolene” by Dolly Parton is about the other side of illicit romance. Dolly begs and pleads “Don’t take my man,” recognizing the beauty of the “other woman” and the power she has. In this humble and very catchy song, the singer realizes how much her happiness depends on her love.
Frequently Asked Questions About Songs About Forbidden Love
What are the best songs about forbidden love?
Some of the best songs about forbidden love include Taylor Swift’s “Love Story,” Whitney Houston’s “Saving All My Love for You,” Alicia Keys’ “Unthinkable (I’m Ready),” and Disclosure’s “Magnets” featuring Lorde. These tracks portray different kinds of forbidden romance, from relationships opposed by others to secret affairs and complicated attractions.
What songs are about secret relationships?
“Saving All My Love for You” by Whitney Houston, “In the Closet” by Michael Jackson, and “Magnets” by Disclosure featuring Lorde are popular songs about secret relationships. Each explores the emotional intensity of keeping romantic feelings or encounters hidden from others.
What are some country songs about forbidden love?
“Daytime Friends” by Kenny Rogers is a classic country song about forbidden love, describing a secret affair between people who are involved in other relationships. Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” offers another perspective, focusing on the fear of losing a partner to another woman.
Are there any songs about loving someone you can’t have?
Yes. Frank Ocean’s “Bad Religion” explores the pain of loving someone who doesn’t return those feelings, while Rick Springfield’s “Jessie’s Girl” tells the story of a man attracted to his friend’s girlfriend. Both songs capture the frustration and longing associated with unattainable love.
What songs are about forbidden love and cheating?
Rihanna’s “Unfaithful,” Usher’s “Confessions Part I and II,” and Whitney Houston’s “Saving All My Love for You” explore infidelity from different perspectives. These songs address the emotional consequences of cheating, including guilt, secrecy, heartbreak, and the conflict between desire and commitment.
Find Your Next Soundtrack on rBeatz
From secret crushes to class-based taboos and illicit affairs, forbidden love has many faces. The songs listed above approach this subject from many angles, helping listeners to feel less alone. Whenever you’re dealing with the malady of romantic entanglement, music is the best medicine.
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