Criminal
Ashes Remain Lyrics


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By Your side, whatever may come
Guilty by association
Put me in chains and lock me away
Flip the switch, start digging the grave

Living by every word You speak
They come for You, they come for me
Won’t say a word in my defense
I won’t give in

I wanna talk a whole lot less
I’m gonna walk like I’ve been listening
They said You were a fool
But I know You’re the truth
To follow You must be criminal

No one thinks they have blood on their hands
But we all blamed an innocent man
Turned our backs and we left You alone
Sold You out and surrendered our souls

But You were strong, You never backed down
Made a way for the lost to be found
You were accused, convicted, condemned
You gave it all, and You’d do it again

I wanna talk a whole lot less
I’m gonna walk like I’ve been listening
They said You were a fool
But I know You’re the truth
To follow You must be criminal

I wanna talk a whole lot less
I’m gonna walk like I’ve been listening
They said You were a fool
But I know You’re the truth
To follow You must be criminal

I wanna talk a whole lot less
I’m gonna walk like I’ve been listening
They said You were a fool




But I know You’re the truth
To follow You must be criminal

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ashes Remain's song "Criminal" explore themes of faith, conviction, and the courage to stand up for one's beliefs, even in the face of opposition. The song begins with the singer proclaiming their loyalty to a higher power, stating that they will stand by their side no matter what challenges may come. They acknowledge that they may be seen as guilty by association, but they are willing to bear the consequences and be locked away if necessary. The singer is prepared to face any adversity because they believe in the truth represented by this higher power.


The lyrics then touch on the betrayal of this higher power, mentioning how people turned their backs and left them alone, ultimately leading to their condemnation. Despite facing these accusations and condemnation, the higher power remains strong and never backs down. They make a way for the lost to be found, fully sacrificing themselves for the benefit of others. The singer recognizes this sacrifice and acknowledges that following them requires bravery and a willingness to go against societal norms. They embrace the idea that to follow this higher power, one must be seen as a criminal by the world.


Overall, the lyrics of "Criminal" emphasize the conviction and courage required to stand up for one's beliefs, even when faced with opposition and misunderstanding. It showcases the strength of the higher power and the loyalty and dedication of the singer to follow their truth.


Line by Line Meaning

By Your side, whatever may come
No matter what happens, I will stay with you.


Guilty by association
I am perceived as guilty because of my connection with you.


Put me in chains and lock me away
Even if I am imprisoned or restrained, I will not abandon you.


Flip the switch, start digging the grave
They are trying to destroy us, but I won't let them succeed.


Living by every word You speak
I follow and adhere to your every word.


They come for You, they come for me
When they come after you, they come after me as well.


Won’t say a word in my defense
I will not defend myself or make excuses.


I won’t give in
I will not succumb or surrender.


No one thinks they have blood on their hands
People believe they are not responsible for any wrongdoing.


But we all blamed an innocent man
Yet, we accused and held accountable someone who was innocent.


Turned our backs and we left You alone
We abandoned and deserted you when you needed us the most.


Sold You out and surrendered our souls
We betrayed you and gave up our integrity and moral compass.


But You were strong, You never backed down
Despite everything, you remained resilient and steadfast.


Made a way for the lost to be found
You provided a path for the lost and broken to find redemption.


You were accused, convicted, condemned
You were wrongfully blamed, found guilty, and faced condemnation.


You gave it all, and You’d do it again
You sacrificed everything for us, and you would do it repeatedly.


I wanna talk a whole lot less
I desire to speak less and instead take action.


I’m gonna walk like I’ve been listening
I will walk in a way that reflects that I have truly heard and understood.


They said You were a fool
People deemed you foolish.


But I know You’re the truth
I believe and know that you are the ultimate truth.


To follow You must be criminal
To fully commit and follow you, it may be considered rebellious or against societal norms.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jeremy Smith, Mark Maxwell

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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