Criminal
Eliza Hardy Jones Lyrics
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I close my eyes and pretend you're never with me
I'm a liar, I'm a fraud, I'm a criminal at heart
And I steel myself for the fall, but I'm already in the dark
Take off your clothes and be the ghost they want you to be
Take off your clothes and let them see you're just a ghost
Take off your clothes and let them see you're just a ghost
I am broken, I am bored
I bide my time with crooked words
I'm a clown, I play a part
But I'm already in the dark
I'm already in the dark
I am tired, I am cold, I am angry
And I feel the sun but the wind it blows right through me
Take off your clothes and be the ghost of who you were
Everybody knows that you won't be who you should be
Cause who you should be
Is just a ghost
The lyrics to Eliza Hardy Jones's song, "Criminal," convey a sense of frustration and disillusionment with oneself. The singer opens with a confession of exhaustion and weariness, but the sentiment quickly turns darker as they reveal that they are also angry and deceptive. The singer refers to themselves as a liar, a fraud, and a criminal at heart, suggesting that they are not living up to some internal moral standard. They seem to be trying to distance themselves from someone they are with, perhaps because they feel guilty or ashamed, and are attempting to escape into a kind of self-imposed isolation.
The repetition of the line, "Take off your clothes and be the ghost," creates a haunting atmosphere, as if the singer is urging themselves to shed their physical body and disappear into the ether. The lyrics also touch on the theme of identity and the pressure to conform to others' expectations. The line, "Of who you should be," implies that there is some ideal version of oneself that the singer is striving for but unable to attain.
Overall, "Criminal" is a poignant exploration of the complex emotions that arise when we feel trapped by our own limitations and unsure of how to move forward. The lyrics evoke a sense of restlessness, self-doubt, and a longing to break free from the constraints of our own minds.
Line by Line Meaning
I am tired, I am cold, I am angry
I am exhausted, I am freezing, I am furious
I close my eyes and pretend you're never with me
I shut my eyes and imagine that you are not by my side
I'm a liar, I'm a fraud, I'm a criminal at heart
I tell untruths, I deceive, I am inherently a lawbreaker
And I steel myself for the fall, but I'm already in the dark
I brace myself for the downfall, but I am already in the shadows
Take off your clothes and be the ghost they want you to be
Disrobe and become the phantom they desire you to be
Take off your clothes and let them see you're just a ghost
Remove your clothing and reveal that you are nothing but a spirit
Take off your clothes and let them see you're just a ghost
Strip down and show them that you are only a phantom
Of who you should be
Of the person you ought to be
I am broken, I am bored
I am shattered, I am uninterested
I bide my time with crooked words
I pass the time with dishonest language
I'm a clown, I play a part
I am a jester, I portray a role
But I'm already in the dark
But I am already in the shadows
I'm already in the dark
I am already in the shadows
I am tired, I am cold, I am angry
I am exhausted, I am freezing, I am furious
And I feel the sun but the wind it blows right through me
And though I sense the sun, the wind moves directly through me
Take off your clothes and be the ghost of who you were
Remove your clothing and become the apparition of the person you used to be
Everybody knows that you won't be who you should be
Every person is aware that you will not become the person you ought to be
Cause who you should be
Because the person you ought to be
Is just a ghost
Is simply a phantom
Contributed by Eva T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.