Criminal
Ariana Savalas Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox Lyrics


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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 want to
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 till
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

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

Overall Meaning

In Ariana Savalas Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox's song 'Criminal,' the singer portrays herself as a remorseful woman who has treated a tender-hearted man poorly. She recognizes that she has made a mistake and wants to accept responsibility and face the consequences of her actions. She believes that she needs guidance to become a better person, and she admits that she is unsure where to begin. She desperately wants to be redeemed in the eyes of the man she loves, who is the only thing she knows about love.


Throughout the song, the singer asks for help and asks to be redeemed from her wrongdoing. She admits that she feels like a criminal and begs for assistance. She is worried about the repercussions of her actions, but she keeps living as though there will be no tomorrow, which further adds to her guilt. Despite this, she is eager to make things right, but she needs a path to follow. The singer is looking for a good defense and asking for assistance in figuring out where to find it.


Overall, 'Criminal' explores the feelings of regret and the desire to make amends for one's wrongdoings. It showcases how even the most confident person can make mistakes and seek redemption.


Line by Line Meaning

I've been a bad bad girl
I have not acted appropriately.


I've been careless
I have not been cautious enough with my actions.


With a delicate man
I have mistreated someone who is emotionally sensitive.


And it's a sad sad world
The situation is depressing and frustrating.


When a girl will break a boy
It is disheartening when a woman damages a man.


Just because she can
She simply does it because she is capable of doing it.


Don't you tell me to deny it
Do not ask me to reject it.


I've done wrong and
I have committed a mistake.


I want to
I truly desire to.


Suffer for my sins
I want to personally face the consequences of my actions.


I've come to you
I have approached you.


'Cause I need
Because I require.


Guidance to be true
I want someone to guide me in making the right decisions.


And I just don't know
I am simply unaware.


Where I can begin
I am lost as to where I should start.


What I need is
What I urgently require is.


A good defense
I need a strong argument in my favor.


'Cause I'm feelin'
Because I am experiencing strong emotions of.


Like a criminal
I feel guilty for what I did.


And I need
I urgently require.


To be redeemed
I am seeking to be forgiven.


To the one
To the person.


I've sinned against
I have wronged.


Because he's all
Because I care deeply for this person.


I ever knew of love
He is the only person I have ever loved and cared for.


Heaven help me
I am asking for divine intervention.


For the way I am
For my behavior.


Save me from
Rescue me from.


These evil deeds
The harmful things I have done.


Before I get them done
Before I commit further wrongdoing.


I know tomorrow brings
I am anticipating that the future holds.


The consequence at hand
The punishment I deserve.


But I keep livin' this day like
However, I continue to act as if today is.


The next will never come
As if the future doesn't matter.


Oh help me but
I need help, but.


Don't tell me to deny it
Do not advise me to ignore what I have done.


I've got to cleanse myself
I need to purify myself.


Of all these lies till
I must admit my guilt until.


I'm good enough for him
I am able to regain his trust and respect.


I've got a lot to lose
I stand to lose so much.


And I'm bettin' high
I am risking everything.


So I'm beggin' you
I am imploring you.


Before it ends
Before it's too late.


Just tell me where to begin
Advise me on how to start making things right.


Let me know the way
Instruct me on the proper course of action.


Before there's hell to pay
Before I have to face the full consequences of my actions.


Give me room to lay
Allow me to establish.


The law and let me go
The rules that I will follow so I can make amends.


I've got to make a play
I have to take action.


To make my lover stay
To convince my partner to remain with me.


So what would an angel say
What advice would a good person give me?


The devil wants to know
Although the question is innocent, the intention behind it may not be.




Contributed by Gabriella F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@SG-ns4jm

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



All comments from YouTube:

@ericatomas8481

Holy shit, the horn section is KILLING on this song. That horn break at 2:38 was simply amazing.

Also, Ariana should sing all of your cabaret/torch song numbers. Because she is clearly amazing that them.

@ravelfish6018

True C:

@monkfoobar

James M LOLS 😂 I

@ytspam1000

yes, except there isn't a single "horn" in that "horn section" and the trombone is barely audible :D

@viqttor1

it was the apple

@danm2173

TOTALLY AGREE! Gives me chills every time!

@MakerInMotion

I wonder if Scott Bradlee's neighbors complain about the noise coming from his apartment. I sure as hell wouldn't. I'd make an excuse to come over. "Hey Scott can I borrow a cup of sugar? Oh, what's going on here?"

@user-dd6ms4wc7x

Ти мене трохи заїбала , але попадаїш
Техніка поняв що тепер

@upnorthyooper1196

If not for the music then for the pretty girls.

@noahone7110

there is a video he released where someone was pounding on the wall next door, it was very funny

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