Only music can prevent this heartbreak.

June 9, 2009 7:18 PM

I need songs that, amongst other things, advise a woman not to get involved with a married man. Thanks in advance:-)
posted by invisible ink to media & arts (28 comments total)

family tree - loretta lynn
fist city - loretta lynn
she's got you - patsy cline
posted by nadawi at 7:22 PM on June 9

It doesn't specify whether he's not married or not, but Prince's "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" is one of the few songs I know of where a man warns a woman "if you sleep with me, it will not end well."
posted by ocherdraco at 7:26 PM on June 9

Bette Midler - Married Men
Dolly Parton - Jolene
posted by Balonious Assault at 7:29 PM on June 9

Jolene - Dolly Parton
posted by gatorae at 7:30 PM on June 9

Amy Winehouse - Tears Dry On Their Own
posted by Kellydamnit at 7:37 PM on June 9

mary j blige - no happy holidays
posted by nadawi at 7:37 PM on June 9

Ooh, I LOVE the song "Right Next Door" by Robert Cray.

She was right next door and I'm such a strong persuader
That she was just another notch on my guitar
She's gonna lose the man that really loves her
In the silence I can hear their breaking hearts.
posted by vito90 at 7:43 PM on June 9

Rilo Kiley's Does He Love You?
posted by padraigin at 7:44 PM on June 9 [3 favorites]

Loretta Lynn - You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)
posted by hydrophonic at 7:46 PM on June 9

oh god - nthing the "does he love you" by rilo kiley
posted by nadawi at 7:48 PM on June 9

As much as I dislike this song, Before He Cheats?
posted by litterateur at 7:49 PM on June 9

Also don't know if he's married or not - but Stay, by Sugarland.
posted by quodlibet at 8:10 PM on June 9

It's not actually a song, but there's a showstopper recording of David Rakoff's Christmas poem on This American Life that's worth a listen. It starts at 1:45 here.
posted by mochapickle at 8:12 PM on June 9 [1 favorite]

I don't know if it actually advises a woman not to get involved with a married man, but Whitney Houston's Saving All My Love makes it sound pretty depressing.
posted by Kangaroo at 8:29 PM on June 9

Not directly about marriage but "You Made a Fool of Me" by Me'shell Ndegeocello comes to mind.
posted by questionsandanchors at 8:32 PM on June 9

Kitty Wells -It wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels
posted by bonobothegreat at 8:52 PM on June 9 [1 favorite]

"Goodbye Again" by Mary Chapin Carpenter
posted by stevis23 at 9:01 PM on June 9

"I'm a fool to want you", by Billie Holliday.

I'm a fool to want you
I'm a fool to want you
To want a love that cant be true
A love thats there for others too

I'm a fool to hold you
Such a fool to hold you
To seek a kiss not mine alone
To share a kiss that devil has known
posted by twirlypen at 9:29 PM on June 9

"Cold-Hearted Snake", by Paula Abdul.
posted by orange swan at 9:45 PM on June 9

The Roches' The Married Men.

Givin' it to the married men
the married men
all o' that time in hell to spend
for kissin' the married men
posted by trip and a half at 11:44 PM on June 9

The Dixie Chicks "A Home" and "Tortured, Tangled Hearts" are kind of flip sides of that old conundrum.
posted by paulsc at 3:54 AM on June 10

Crystal Gayle's "Why Have You Left The One You Left Me For."
posted by Sweetie Darling at 5:13 AM on June 10

More Loretta Lynn: Mrs. Leroy Brown It's from Van Lear Rose, which was produced by Jack White.
posted by wg at 5:29 AM on June 10

Steely Dan - Dirty Work (although that's more of a lament after getting involved).
posted by ostranenie at 5:31 AM on June 10

Two different takes from the incomparable Jean Shepard: Don't Fall In Love With a Married Man and Act Like A Married Man. You can probably get both on a bargain compilation CD of her hits and then you'll have and an awesome pre-made mix of tough girl lament.
posted by quarterframer at 6:10 AM on June 10

Any number of great artists have covered "The Dark End Of The Street". Nice for conveying the sense that they're doomed from the start. Also, of course, "Your Cheatin' Heart."
posted by Halloween Jack at 8:24 AM on June 10

fwiw - family tree by loretta lynn is also from van lear rose

and your cheatin' heart was written by hank while his 2nd wife was driving him around and he got to reflecting on how much he hurt his first wife. so the you in that song is actually about him.
posted by nadawi at 1:27 PM on June 10

Just chiming in to say THANK YOU to everyone for the fantastic responses, several of which have been downloaded and listened to more than once:-)
posted by invisible ink at 6:42 PM on June 10