Criminal Lyrics
Fiona Apple
Lyrics
I've been a bad, bad girl
I've been careless with a delicate man
And it's a sad, sad world
When a girl will break a boy
Just because she can
Don't you tell me to deny it
I've done wrong and I wanna suffer for my sins
I've come to you cause I need guidance to be true
And I just don't know where I can begin
What I need is a good defense
Cause I'm feelin' like a criminal
And I need to be redeemed
To the one I've sinned against
Because he's all I ever knew of love
Heaven help me for the way I am
Save me from these evil deeds before I get them done
I know tomorrow brings the consequence at hand
But I keep livin' this day
Like the next will never come
Oh help me, but don't tell me to deny it
I've got to cleanse myself
Of all these lies til I'm good enough for him
I've got a lot to lose
And I'm bettin' high so I'm beggin' you
Before it ends
Just tell me where to begin
What I need is a good defense
Cause I'm feelin' like a criminal
And I need to be redeemed
To the one I've sinned against
Because he's all I ever knew of love
Let me know the way
Before there's hell to pay
Give me room to lay the law and let me go
I've got to make a play
To make my lover stay
So what would an angel say
The devil wants to know
What I need is a good defense
Cause I'm feelin' like a criminal
And I need to be redeemed
To the one I've sinned against
Because he's all I ever knew of love
Song & Lyrics Facts
Fiona Apple's song "Criminal" is a single from her second studio album, When the Pawn…, released in 1999. The song was written by Fiona Apple and co-written with Jon Brion, who also produced it.
It features backing vocals from members of the band Lusk. The lyrics tell the story of a young woman trying to understand why she can't keep away from trouble and bad behavior despite knowing better. The chorus repeats the line “I've been a bad, bad girl” as an acknowledgement of her own wrongdoings. Despite its dark subject matter, the track has become one of Apple's most successful singles, reaching number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.