"Cheating" by John Newman is a song about a toxic relationship where one person constantly cheats on their partner. The song reflects the narrator's observations of their partner's unfaithful actions and their emotional reactions to the betrayal. The lyrics suggest that the protagonist has witnessed their partner's infidelity on multiple occasions, such as Sundays, Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Each time, their partner returns with a sense of shame or sadness. Despite the pain caused by the cheating, the narrator claims that they can love their partner better than anyone else. The chorus emphasizes that cheating is just a habit for the partner, a "thing they do" without remorse. The narrator seems resigned to this reality, suggesting that if their partner wants to cheat, they should do it but acknowledge that the narrator would never do the same. The second verse suggests that the partner has also hurt the narrator deeply, and they have experienced the pain of their actions. However, the narrator still maintains their love and willingness to be there for their partner. The bridge section expresses the narrator's knowledge of their partner's unfaithfulness, describing them as the one who creeps and cheats. However, despite their awareness, the narrator still wants their partner to bring their beating heart to them, indicating that they are still willing to hold onto the relationship. Overall, "Cheating" portrays a complicated dynamic in a relationship where one person consistently betrays the other. Despite the hurt, the narrator remains dedicated to their partner, believing they can love them better, even though the partner continues to cheat.
