Jolene, Please Don't Take My Man

I just don't get it. All these songs that say "don't take my man" or "don't steal my woman"... I mean, do they think the object of their affections is like a piece of china with no will of their own? I mean "don't tempt my man", sure, that does make sense. Or "don't stalk my man". (Or "don't kidnap my man", but that has different connotations that don't fit this situation.)

I mean, doesn't the Man in question have any say in this? Affection isn't something that can be stolen, as if it were a piece of candy. Affection can only ever be given as a gift, by the will and choice of the person giving it.

So, yeah, fair enough to say "stop bothering my man", but if he's Your Man and he chooses to be unfaithful, that's his fault. Yes, partly the fault of the tempter, but mainly his fault. Because he could always have said "No".