Introduction
“Cheater, Cheater” is an energetic, up-tempo country song that delves into the raw emotions of betrayal and confrontation. The track was co-written by Rory Feek, his wife Joey Feek, Kristy Osmunson, and Wynn Varble. Initially, the song was recorded by the duo Bomshel, with Osmunson being one-half of the act; however, their rendition did not chart. Subsequently, Rory and Joey Feek, performing as the duo Joey + Rory, released their own version, which gained significant traction.
Joey + Rory’s rendition of “Cheater, Cheater” served as the lead single from their debut album, “The Life of a Song,” released on October 28, 2008. The song debuted at number 57 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of September 27, 2008, and eventually peaked at number 30 in January 2009, spending a total of 20 weeks on the chart. The album itself debuted at number 10 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number 61 on the all-genre Billboard 200.
The narrative of “Cheater, Cheater” is straightforward yet impactful, capturing the frustration and anger of someone confronting their unfaithful partner. The lyrics, combined with bluegrass influences and instrumentation such as the Dobro, mandolin, and fiddle, create a lively and engaging musical experience. The song’s candid approach to the theme of infidelity resonated with many listeners, contributing to its popularity
The accompanying music video, directed by Peter Zavadil, visually portrays the song’s storyline, with Joey confronting Rory about his infidelity. The video concludes with a cameo appearance by Naomi Judd, adding a memorable touch to the production.
“Cheater, Cheater” not only marked a successful debut for Joey + Rory but also showcased their ability to blend traditional country sounds with relatable storytelling. The song’s success paved the way for their subsequent releases and solidified their place in the country music landscape.
Video
Lyrics
Cheater, cheater where’d you meet her
Down at Ernie’s Bar?
Did she smile your way, twirl her hair and say how cute your dimples are?
Did she use that line “Your place or mine?” while you danced with her real slow?
Tell me cheater, cheater where’d you meet that no good, white trash ho?
Liar, liar did you buy her whiskey all night long?
Did you hide your ring in the pocket of your jeans or did you just keep it on?
When the deed was done and you had your fun did you think I wouldn’t know?
Tell me cheater, cheater where’d you meet that no good, white trash ho?
Now I’m not one to judge someone that I ain’t never met
But to lay your hands on a married man is bout as low as a gal can get
Hey I wish her well as she rots in hell and you can tell her I said so
Cheater, cheater where’d you meet that no good, white trash ho?
Loser, loser hope you love her cuz your stuck with her now
Take your sorry butt, load up all your stuff, and get the hell out of my house
But I just wish you’d tell me this one thing before you go
Cheater, cheater where’d you meet that no good, white trash ho?
Now I’m not one to judge someone that I ain’t never met
But to lay your hands on a married man is bout as low as a gal can get
Hey I wish her well as she rots in hell and you can tell her I said so
Cheater, cheater where’d you meet that no good, white trash ho?
Yeah I just wish you’d tell me this one thing before you go
Cheater, cheater where’d you meet that low down, up town, slept with every guy around, pressed on eyelash, no good, white trash ho?