The band formed in 2013 and released their debut album 'New Skin' on October 28th, 2016. The album was mostly written by just Valensi and served as his first solo effort upon branching out from The Strokes. The album spawned two singles, 'Ways To Fake It' and 'Broken Bones'.
During extensive touring for 'New Skin', Valensi encouraged greater collaboration by inviting in Zahedi and Safley to help him write tracks based on the music they were listening to while traveling. In 2018, their single 'Love Me Again' was released; this single would would mark an introduction of a New Wave inspired sound into the band's music.
Pulling from more New Wave influences like Love Me Again, their sophomore album 'PEEK' was released on August 23rd, 2019 and spawned three singles: 'We're All Alone', 'Falling', and 'Get Close'.
Criminals
CRX Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We are both criminals, just serving up our time
We're not so different, don't act surprised
We both have fantasies that hide behind our lies
I've been looking for you, to the edge of the city
I've been looking for you, on the back of the sun
Everything that you do, is making me dizzy
Hey baby midnight
Hey baby midnight
Don't be so serious, Don't act so wise
Don't be so careless babe, I'm tryna do you right
Don't turn your back on me and hang me out to dry
I'll give you anything for another try
I've been looking for you, to the edge of the city
I've been looking for you, on the back of the sun
Everything that you do, is making me dizzy
Pull you out of the blue, and back into my arms
Hey baby midnight
I'm getting lost in your charm
Baby midnight take me back, please don't walk away
In the moonlight I can see the shadows on your face
Baby midnight I can feel you close to me
Lonely dreams of feeling washing over me
I've been looking for you, to the edge of the city
I've been looking for you, on the back of the sun
Everything that you do, is making me dizzy
Pull you out of the blue, and back into my arms
Hey baby midnight
The lyrics to CRX's "Criminals" describe a relationship between two people who recognize and accept that they both have flaws and have made mistakes. The use of the words "criminals" and "serving up our time" implies that they have both been punished for their actions and are now trying to move forward. There is a sense of mutual understanding between the two, as they both have fantasies that they hide behind lies. The chorus suggests that they have been separated and are reunited in the nighttime, with the singer seeking out the other person to be with them again. The second verse reassures the other person not to take things too seriously and to give the singer another chance. The bridge emphasizes the connection between the two, with the singer asking to be taken back and expressing how much they feel for the other person.
Overall, the song seems to be exploring the idea of acceptance and reconciliation in a relationship. Both parties have made mistakes and have secrets, but they still find their way back to each other. The use of the word "criminals" adds a sense of edginess and danger to the relationship, but the tone of the song is ultimately hopeful and romantic.
Line by Line Meaning
No one is innocent, Oh I don't mind
The singer acknowledges that everyone has flaws and accepts it.
We are both criminals, just serving up our time
The singer and someone they care about have made mistakes and are dealing with the consequences.
We're not so different, don't act surprised
The singer is pointing out that they and the person they are talking to share some similarities despite their differences.
We both have fantasies that hide behind our lies
The artist thinks that both they and the other person have things they want, but don't admit to, and cover up with lies.
I've been looking for you, to the edge of the city
The artist has been searching for the person they are addressing for a while and has gone to great lengths to find them.
I've been looking for you, on the back of the sun
The singer has searched for the other person in many places, including places that they normally wouldn't look.
Everything that you do, is making me dizzy
The person being addressed is affecting the singer in a way that is disorienting or overwhelming.
Pull you out of the blue, and back into my arms
The artist wants to help the other person and get them back to a place where they feel secure, which the artist associates with being in the artist's arms.
Don't be so serious, Don't act so wise
The artist is asking the other person to lighten up and not be too serious or wise in their words or actions.
Don't be so careless babe, I'm tryna do you right
The artist is telling the other person that they care about them and want to treat them well, so they need to take their behavior seriously.
Don't turn your back on me and hang me out to dry
The singer doesn't want the other person to abandon them or leave them exposed if things go wrong.
I'll give you anything for another try
The artist is willing to go to great lengths to make things work with the other person and has a desperation to try again.
I'm getting lost in your charm
The singer is becoming enveloped in the attractiveness or personality of the person they are addressing.
Baby midnight take me back, please don't walk away
The singer is pleading with the other person not to leave them but instead to reconcile.
In the moonlight I can see the shadows on your face
The singer is saying that the light of the moon is highlighting some sort of shame or secrecy that the other person is exhibiting.
Baby midnight I can feel you close to me
The artist feels closer and more intimate with the other person in the nighttime, possibly due to a shared vulnerability.
Lonely dreams of feeling washing over me
The artist is experiencing feelings of longing, perhaps for the closeness and intimacy that they associate with being near the person they are addressing.
Writer(s): Nick Valensi
Contributed by Cooper C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@mr.anyone9254
No one is innocent, Oh I don't mind
We are both criminals, just serving up our time
We're not so different, don't act surprised
We both have fantasies that hide behind our lies
I've been looking for you, to the edge of the city
I've been looking for you, on the back of the sun
Everything that you do, is making me dizzy
Pull you out of the blue, and back into my arms
Hey baby midnight
Hey baby midnight
Don't be so serious, Don't act so wise
Don't be so careless babe, I'm tryna do you right
Don't turn your back on me and hang me out to dry
I'll give you anything for another try
I've been looking for you, to the edge of the city
I've been looking for you, on the back of the sun
Everything that you do, is making me dizzy
Pull you out of the blue, and back into my arms
Hey baby midnight
I'm getting lost in your charm
baby midnight take me back, please don't walk away
In the moonlight I can see the shadows on your face
baby midnight I can feel you close to me
lonely dreams of feeling washing over me
I've been looking for you, to the edge of the city
I've been looking for you, on the back of the sun
Everything that you do, is making me dizzy
Pull you out of the blue, and back into my arms
Hey baby midnight
@Minion-qk7er
Criminally underrated, I love you CRX.
@aqgdmarcy4963
I'll never give up on CRX
They always get it right
@LocalToasterStreet
As in never to...
Give It Up?
@aqgdmarcy4963
@@LocalToasterStreet xD
@alarc
This could be my favourite album of 2019
@mr.anyone9254
No one is innocent, Oh I don't mind
We are both criminals, just serving up our time
We're not so different, don't act surprised
We both have fantasies that hide behind our lies
I've been looking for you, to the edge of the city
I've been looking for you, on the back of the sun
Everything that you do, is making me dizzy
Pull you out of the blue, and back into my arms
Hey baby midnight
Hey baby midnight
Don't be so serious, Don't act so wise
Don't be so careless babe, I'm tryna do you right
Don't turn your back on me and hang me out to dry
I'll give you anything for another try
I've been looking for you, to the edge of the city
I've been looking for you, on the back of the sun
Everything that you do, is making me dizzy
Pull you out of the blue, and back into my arms
Hey baby midnight
I'm getting lost in your charm
baby midnight take me back, please don't walk away
In the moonlight I can see the shadows on your face
baby midnight I can feel you close to me
lonely dreams of feeling washing over me
I've been looking for you, to the edge of the city
I've been looking for you, on the back of the sun
Everything that you do, is making me dizzy
Pull you out of the blue, and back into my arms
Hey baby midnight
@HaysomBeats
Sir you're an amazing person
@Man-ej6uv
It’s it behind our eyes?
@joaojunior8238
Thank you soo much
@th3_ne0__
Only song where I didn’t have to look up the lyrics