Me and Mrs. Jones

“Me and Mrs. Jones” is a 1972 soul song written by Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and Cary Gilbert, and originally recorded by Billy Paul. The original version performed by Billy Paul became a #1 single in 1972. It was recorded and released on CBS Records’ Philadelphia International imprint.

“Me and Mrs. Jones” became Billy Paul’s only #1 single on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, holding that position for 3 weeks in December 1972. The song also achieved this feat on Billboard’s R&B Singles chart, remaining at the top for 4 weeks. On the Hot 100, it replaced “I Am Woman” by Helen Reddy and was replaced by Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain”. It also hit #10 on the Adult Contemporary chart. For 2 weeks – February 3-10, 1973 – it peaked at #12 on the UK Singles Chart. Billy Paul won Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male at the 15th Grammy Awards.

It describes an extramarital affair between a man and his lover, Mrs. Jones. In the song, the two meet in secret “every day at the same cafe”, at 6:30, where they hold hands and talk. The two are caught in a quandary: “We got a thing going on/we both know that it’s wrong/but it’s much too strong/to let it go now.”