Guilty
Peggy Seeger & Irene Scott Lyrics


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Though you've decided that our love is wrong
And think that we should part
It seems as though I have loved you so long
You'll always be in my heart

Is it a sin
Is it a crime
Loving you dear like I do
If it's a crime then I'm guilty
Guilty of loving you

Maybe I'm wrong dreaming of you
Dreaming the lonely night through
If it's a crime then I'm guilty
Guilty of dreaming of you

What can I do
What can I say
After I've taken the blame?
You say we're through
You'll go your way
But I'll always feel just the same

Maybe I'm right
Maybe I'm wrong
Loving you dear like I do




If it's a crime then I'm guilty
Guilty of loving you

Overall Meaning

The song "Guilty" by Peggy Seeger & Irene Scott is a heart-wrenching ballad about a love that is considered wrong by society. The lyrics express the singer's yearning for her lover who has decided to end the relationship because of societal norms. The lyrics suggest that the singer has loved her partner for a long time, implying that it was not a fleeting infatuation but a deep, intense love. The song is imbued with a sense of guilt as the singer wonders if loving someone in a way that is considered wrong is a sin or a crime. Despite the societal pressures that come with their love, the singer admits that she cannot help but love the one she loves, even if it means being guilty of violating the unwritten laws of society.


The lyrics of "Guilty" reflect the societal norms of the time, which stigmatized same-sex relationships. The song is about the challenges faced by lesbians in a world where their love was considered taboo. It is important to note that the song was recorded in 1957, a time when homosexuality was illegal in many parts of the world, and same-sex relationships were not widely accepted. The song resonated with many LGBT individuals who were struggling with their sexuality and felt alone and isolated.


Line by Line Meaning

Though you've decided that our love is wrong
You believe that our love is unacceptable, and you want to break up


And think that we should part
You believe that ending our relationship is the right thing to do


It seems as though I have loved you so long
My love for you is so intense and enduring


You'll always be in my heart
You will always hold a special place in my heart, even if we can't be together


Is it a sin
Is it morally wrong


Is it a crime
Is it against the law


Loving you dear like I do
Having such strong feelings of love for you


If it's a crime then I'm guilty
If it is against the law, then I admit to having committed that crime


Guilty of loving you
I have done nothing wrong by loving you, even if society or the law thinks otherwise


Maybe I'm wrong dreaming of you
Perhaps it is foolish to keep longing for you


Dreaming the lonely night through
Spending restless nights lost in thoughts of you


Guilty of dreaming of you
I cannot help how I feel, even if it is causing me pain and loneliness


What can I do
What action can I take


What can I say
What words can I express


After I've taken the blame?
After having been unfairly judged or punished for my love for you


You say we're through
You have made it clear that our relationship is over


You'll go your way
You will move on with your life


But I'll always feel just the same
My feelings for you will remain unchanged


Maybe I'm right
Perhaps my love for you is justified


Maybe I'm wrong
Perhaps my love for you is futile or misguided


If it's a crime then I'm guilty
Regardless of whether society deems my love as wrong, I accept responsibility for how I feel


Guilty of loving you
My love for you is a part of who I am, and I refuse to be ashamed of it




Lyrics © DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Harry Akst, Gus Kahn, Richard A. Whiting

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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