There is something both tragic and romantic about forbidden love. Two people who are madly in love with each other but are forced to stay apart due to outside forces beyond their control.

It’s a situation that has been the subject of many songs over the years. For many, these songs serve as a reminder that even in the darkest of times, love will find a way to triumph in the end.

Here are 19 Best Songs About Forbidden Love

1. Rewrite the Stars by Zac Efron, Zendaya

Official Live Video: Anne-Marie & James Arthur – Rewrite The Stars [from The Greatest Showman: Reimagined]

Lyric Video: Zac Efron, Zendaya – Rewrite The Stars

Link to Lyrics: Zac Efron & Zendaya – Rewrite The Stars Lyrics

What if we rewrite the stars? Say you were made to be mine Nothing could keep us apart You’d be the one I was meant to find Rewrite the Stars is about two individuals deeply in love with one another but couldn’t be together due to ethnic differences; thus, they wanted to rewrite the stars or change their fate of being separated.  “Rewrite the stars” relates to the expression “what’s written in the stars” – a metaphor for your fate being determined someplace, such as in heaven/the night sky, because it is “(not) in the cards.”

2. Secret Love Song by Little Mix ft. Jason Derulo

Official Music Video: Little Mix – Secret Love Song (Official Video) ft. Jason Derulo

Lyric Video: Secret Love Song – Little Mix ft. Jason Derulo

Link to Lyrics: Little Mix – Secret Love Song Lyrics

When you’re with him, do you call his name Like you do when you’re with me? Does it feel the same? Would you leave if I was ready to settle down? Or would you play it safe and stay? Secret Love Song is about a guy who falls in love with a lady who is already taken but refuses to leave the person she’s with because she doesn’t want to create any trouble. It’s the type of love that prohibits you from doing the things you want to do with the person you really love because society opposes it and criticizes them.

3. Saving All My Love for you

Official Music Video: Whitney Houston – Saving All My Love For You (Official HD Video)

Lyric Video: Whitney Houston – Saving All My Love For You (Lyrics)

Link to Lyrics: Taylor Swift – Love Story Lyrics

It’s not very easy living all alone My friends try and tell me find a man of my own But each time I try, I just break down and cry’ Cause I’d rather be home feeling blue So I’m saving all my love for you This is definitely one of Whitney’s best songs! The concept of the official video for this Whitney hit is adultery, which drew condemnation to Whitney. Whitney Houston professes her devotion to a man who does not appear to share her passion and is already married to another woman in “Saving All My Love For You.” This is a mistress expressing a love she can’t have.

4. Forbidden Love by Madonna

Music Video: Madonna – Forbidden Love (Music Video)

Lyric Video: Madonna – Forbidden Love (Lyrics)

Link to Lyrics: Madonna – Forbidden Love Lyrics

From Madonna’s Confessions on a Dance Floor, “Forbidden Love” is a mid tempo electro-pop song. The theme of this song is being enticed by someone who is undesirable or perhaps an individual that others would disapprove of. Once upon a time There was a boy There was a girl Hearts that intertwine They lived in a different kind of world

5. Rude by Magic

Official Audio: MAGIC! – Rude (Official Video)

Lyric Video: MAGIC! – Rude (Lyrics)

Link to Lyrics: MAGIC! – Rude Lyrics

Can I have your daughter for the rest of my life? say yes, say yes Cause I need to know You say I’ll never get your blessing till the day I die Tough luck, my friend, but the answer is no! The chart-topping song “Rude” by the Canadian reggae-pop band MAGIC! It depicts the romantic tale of a young man who loves his fiancée so much that he’s ready to disobey her father and “marry her regardless.” The father considered the man a loser and refused to allow his daughter to marry him. This upset the man, who believed the father was being rude. In the end, he married her anyway.

6. Don’t Matter What by Akon

Official Music Video: Akon – Don’t Matter (Official Music Video)

Official Lyric Video: Akon – Don’t Matter (Lyrics)

Link to Lyrics: Akon – Don’t Matter Lyrics

Nobody wanna’ see us together But it don’t matter, no (’cause I got you babe) Nobody wanna’ see us together But it don’t matter, no (’cause I got you babe) Akon sings about how committed he is to his girl despite criticism from others. Nobody wants to see them together, yet they will continue to fight and pray for each other. Nothing else matters to him except her.

7. Love Story by Taylor Swift

Official Music Video: Taylor Swift – Love Story

Lyric Video: Taylor Swift – Love Story

Link to Lyrics: Taylor Swift – Love Story Lyrics

Undoubtedly, the entire plot was influenced by “Romeo and Juliet” (1597), William Shakespeare’s great masterpiece centered on a similar concept of a forbidden relationship. It is also inspired by Taylor’s own experiences. ‘Cause you were Romeo, I was a scarlet letter And my daddy said, “Stay away from Juliet” But you were everything to me I was beggin’ you, “Please don’t go,” and I said It’s about two people who instantly fell in love when they met. They are unaware that they are radically different individuals who were never destined to be together. Even though their parents dislike each other’s families, Juliet and Romeo still want to be together.

8. She Don’t Have To Know by John Legend

Official Music Video: Taylor Swift – Love Story Lyrics

Lyric Video: She Don’t Have to Know – John Legend

Link to Lyrics: John Legend – She Don’t Have To Know Lyrics

This is a forbidden love song since both have a relationship yet continue to do what they are doing. But you, I know you got a little secret of your own Sneaking out with me while your man’s at home You know you’re wrong but it’s so strong still carrying on This is about a man who has a partner, but he’s cheating on her with another lady, and despite knowing it’s improper, he justifies it by stating there’s no reason to inform his girlfriend. The woman with whom he is cheating is also doing a similar thing.

9. Uncover by Zara Larsson

Official Music Video: Zara Larsson – Uncover (Official Music Video)

Lyric Video: Uncover – Zara Larsson (Lyrics)

Link to Lyrics: Zara Larsson – Uncover Lyrics

We are a secret, can’t be exposed That’s how it is, that’s how it goes Far from the others, close to each other That’s when we uncover-cover-cover That’s when we uncover-cover-cover This is about people who cherish you but can’t express it. This is about some kind of prohibited romance. Perhaps someone does not agree with it. Even though the connection is forbidden, the individuals see each other privately, suppressing their feelings until they are alone. They are their secret, hidden from the rest of the world, so no one sees or knows about them.

10. You Belong With Me by Taylor Swift

Official Music Video: Taylor Swift – You Belong With Me

Lyric Video: You Belong With Me by Taylor Swift

Link to Lyrics: Taylor Swift – You Belong With Me Lyrics

The song is an outpouring of emotions: irritation, yearning, unfairness, despair, and optimism. The narrator here has a forbidden love for his friend, even though his friend already has a partner. It depicts the story of a teenage girl who falls in love with her friend but cannot get past his superficial girlfriend and appreciates all he has to give. You’ve known this guy your entire life and know him better than she does, yet the popular lady always gets the guy. If you could see That I’m the one Who understands you Been here all along So, why can’t you see You belong with me You belong with me

11. Secret Lovers by Atlantic Starr

Official Audio: Secret Lovers by Atlantic Starr

Lyric Video: Atlantic Starr – Secret Lovers (lyrics) 80’s Throwback

Link to Lyrics: Atlantic Starr – Secret Lovers Lyrics

Here we are the two of us together Taking this crazy chance to be all alone We both know that we should not be together’ Cause if they found out It could mess up, both our happy homes This song tells the story of a man and a woman who had an affair even though they are both married to other individuals.

12. Secret by Ann Marie

Official Music Video: Secret by Ann Marie

Lyric Video: Ann Marie – Secret ft. YK Osiris (Lyrics)

Link to Lyrics: Ann Marie – Secret Lyrics

We can keep it on the low (We can keep it on the low) Swear nobody has to know (Swear nobody gotta know) Ann Marie sings about keeping a love hidden from prying eyes. It is a catchy tune in which the two singers speak about keeping their relationship a secret.

13. Part – Time Lover by Stevie Wonder

Lyric Video: Stevie Wonder – Part Time Lover (Lyrics)

Link to Lyrics: Stevie Wonder – Part-Time Lover Lyrics

This song has the necessary twist. It depicts the story of undercover lovers who hide their adultery from their relationships only to discover that their mates have cheated on them. We are undercover passion on the run Chasing love up against the sun We are strangers by day, lovers by night Knowing it’s so wrong, but feeling so right

14. Teardrops On My Guitar by Taylor Swift

Official Music Video: Taylor Swift – Teardrops On My Guitar

Lyric Video: Teardrops On My Guitar – Taylor Swift (Lyrics)

Link to Lyrics: Taylor Swift – Teardrops On My Guitar Lyrics

Drew looks at me I fake a smile so he won’t see That I want and I’m needing Everything that we should be Taylor’s song expresses her unrequited love for his classmate Drew Hardwick. Drew, she claimed, would frequently ask her for date suggestions for his girlfriend, and she would advise him on how to be a good friend.

15. Holding Her and Loving You by Clay Walker

Official Music: Clay Walker – Holding Her and Loving You (Official Audio)

Lyric Video: Clay Walker – Holding Her and Loving You

Link to Lyrics: Clay Walker – Holding Her & Loving You Lyrics

It’s the third hardest thing I’ll ever do Leaving here without you And the second hardest thing I’ll ever do Is telling her about you It’s a song about someone being bound between two relationships and the guilt and anguish that goes with it. I still love her but I love you more

16. Don’t Mess With My Man by Irma Thomas

Audio: IRMA THOMAS – DON’T MESS WITH MY MAN

Link to Lyrics: Irma Thomas – Don’t Mess With My Man

You can have my husband  But please don’t mess with my man The lyrics to this song are hilarious! It’s okay for the narrator’s husband to have an affair, but not for her man on the side. Nobody can intervene with her infidelity.

17. Strange Love by Halsey

Official Music Video: Halsey – Strange Love (Official Video)

Lyric Video: Halsey – Strange Love [Lyrics]

Link to Lyrics: Halsey – Strange Love Lyrics

They think I’m insane, they think my lover is strange But I don’t have to fucking tell them anything, anything “Strange Love” is about the nature of a secret, yet manipulated, connection from Halsey’s past that still haunts her. She maintains her right to use the subject matter as just an honest object for her songs.

18. Can I Be Him by James Arthur

Official Music Video: James Arthur – Can I Be Him

Lyric Video: James Arthur – Can I Be Him (Lyric Video)

Link to Lyrics: James Arthur – Can I Be Him Lyrics

The song’s narrator asks the one she loves whether it’s okay to be him. He’s contemplating if he may be the one. Can I be the one? Can I be the one? Can I be the one? Oh, can I, can I be him?

19. Don’t Stand Close To Me by The Police

Official Music Video: The Police – Don’t Stand So Close To Me

Lyric Video: Don’t Stand Close To Me by The Police

Link to Lyrics: The Police – Don’t Stand So Close To Me Lyrics

Young teacher, the subject Of schoolgirl fantasy She wants him so badly Knows what she wants to be Inside her there’s longing This girl’s an open page Book marking – she’s so close now This girl is half his age This song is about a teacher who harbors romantic feelings for one of his students. It addresses the taboo subject of being attracted to a minor (in this case, the teacher is twice older than him.)

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