Ethical Nonmonogamy in Music
August 29, 2017 3:08 PM   Subscribe

I'm looking for music with lyrics about nonmonogamy. Not cheating songs, not about being the "one and only" or relationship possessiveness. I already have Snake River Conspiracy's You and Your Friend, but there's got to be more out there. Any genre, preferably in English.
posted by MuChao to Media & Arts (28 answers total) 12 users marked this as a favorite
 
Triad, by Jefferson airplane.
posted by carterk at 3:12 PM on August 29, 2017 [2 favorites]


My Girlfriend's Girlfriend by Type O Negative
posted by hobgadling at 3:23 PM on August 29, 2017 [3 favorites]


The Roches: You're the Two
posted by adamrice at 3:26 PM on August 29, 2017


French, I'm afraid, but nevertheless:

L'amour, Stereo Total. Lyrics in English.
posted by Diablevert at 3:41 PM on August 29, 2017


Don't Forget About Me, Arthur Russell
posted by Mender at 3:43 PM on August 29, 2017


I Got It from Agnes by Tom Lehrer
posted by rollick at 3:44 PM on August 29, 2017 [3 favorites]


Slippery Slopes, Jenny Lewis
posted by mudpuppie at 3:46 PM on August 29, 2017


Let's Not Keep It Open by Beams (lyrics)
posted by bethnull at 3:59 PM on August 29, 2017


Debra by Beck
posted by greenish at 4:12 PM on August 29, 2017 [2 favorites]


I came to suggest Two Lovers but then I looked at the words at the end. It's about one lover.
posted by madcaptenor at 4:42 PM on August 29, 2017


I was sure that Stephin Merritt would have this covered somewhere on 69 Love Songs but amazingly he doesn't seem to have. However there is the more recent 93: Me and Fred and Dave and Ted.
posted by Athanassiel at 4:45 PM on August 29, 2017


Soft Picasso by Vic Chesnutt
posted by danielle the bee at 4:46 PM on August 29, 2017


Chef (Isaac Hayes) from South Park: Simultaneous
posted by Huffy Puffy at 5:02 PM on August 29, 2017 [1 favorite]


Multi-love by Unknown Mortal Orchestra
posted by frau_grubach at 5:02 PM on August 29, 2017


Ben Lee, Apple Candy
posted by theatro at 5:10 PM on August 29, 2017


Perils of Poly by Gaia Consort.
posted by JiBB at 5:42 PM on August 29, 2017


You have to think about it, but: When you were mine (Prince; but I enjoy the Cyndi Lauper cover that's linked)
posted by unknowncommand at 7:16 PM on August 29, 2017


Family by Christopher Bingham.
posted by vegartanipla at 7:52 PM on August 29, 2017


Love is Complicated by June Madrona. Warning: extremely twee.
posted by rabbitbookworm at 8:38 PM on August 29, 2017


Love in Stereo by The Monks.
posted by strangely stunted trees at 8:57 PM on August 29, 2017


Not sure if it counts but Okkervil River -- A Girl In Port, about consensual hookups from city to city.
posted by foxfirefey at 10:35 PM on August 29, 2017


Not exactly a very serious exploration of the subject, but One to make her happy by Marque?
posted by Skybly at 10:39 PM on August 29, 2017


There are some long lists of "polyamory songs" available here, here, and here.

I'm not familiar enough with them all to vouch for their relevance (and some of the ones I do know are kind of a stretch).

But they should all, at the very least, not implicitly endorse monogamy.
posted by rollick at 1:43 AM on August 30, 2017


Famous Blue Raincoat by Leonard Cohen.
posted by cincinnatus c at 4:06 AM on August 30, 2017


Sorry deleting my answer because I completely misunderstood the question. Mods feel free to remove altogether.
posted by like_neon at 6:18 AM on August 30, 2017


Not Enough People by High Kicks
posted by komara at 6:55 AM on August 30, 2017


Another poly songs list and a youtube playlist of poly-friendly songs. I can't vouch for the details on either of those.

I'm fond of Jonathan Coulton's "First of May."

I suspect there are relevant songs in the Sense8 soundtracks but a quick look doesn't turn them up, and it's likely they're more generalized "group/community" than "multi-person romance," like The Sharing Song.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 10:34 AM on August 30, 2017


two ladies, from cabaret
posted by katieanne at 6:51 PM on August 30, 2017


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