Criminal
Sarah Paulson Lyrics
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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
[chorus]
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
[chorus]
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
[chorus]
[repeat chorus]
The song "Criminal" by Sarah Paulson is a lamentation of a woman who has been careless and has broken the heart of a delicate man. The lyrics describe the woman as a bad girl who has succumbed to her temptation and taken advantage of a boy who is in love with her. She is aware of her wrongdoing and is looking for redemption for her sins. She acknowledges the gravity of her actions and how they have hurt the love of her life, but she is at a loss about how to make things right.
The singer of the song is in search of a good defense for her guilt, and she implores someone to give her direction on how to redeem herself to the man she has sinned against. She is aware of the consequences of her actions and pleads for help to avoid hellfire. Despite her desires to repent and make amends, she is still living recklessly and needs guidance on where to begin her cleansing process. The song is a somber reflection on love, redemption, and the consequences of our actions.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been a bad bad girl
I acknowledge that I have been behaving poorly
I've been careless with a delicate man
I have been thoughtless with a sensitive person and hurt them
And it's a sad sad world
It is unfortunate that in this society, a female would break a male due to the gender dynamic
When a girl will break a boy just because she can
Females can hurt males and do so intentionally as a result of societal power dynamics.
Don't you tell me to deny it
Do not encourage me to be in denial over my wrongdoings
I've done wrong and I want to suffer for my sins
I accept I have behaved immorally, and I'm willing to face the consequences.
I've come to you 'cause I need guidance to be true
I need help in figuring out how to be a better person and stay truthful
And I just don't know where I can begin
I am lost and unsure of how to begin righting my wrongs
What I need is a good defense
I require good justifications for my actions
'Cause I'm feelin' like a criminal
I feel guilty and shameful
And I need to be redeemed
I desire forgiveness, salvation and to make amends
To the one I've sinned against
I want to rectify my wrong doings toward the person I have hurt
Because he's all I ever knew of love
He's the person I have known love with, so it's important to make things right with them
Heaven help me for the way I am
I need help because of my behavior
Save me from these evil deeds before I get them done
I need divine intervention or guidance to stop these wrongful atrocities before they happen
I know tomorrow brings the consequence at hand
I am aware of the outcomes of my current and past errors
But I keep livin' this day like the next will never come
Despite my knowledge of consequences, I continue to act as if accountability does not exist
Oh help me but don't tell me to deny it
I am open to help, but please do not tell me to ignore/hide from the fact that I've made mistakes
I've got to cleanse myself of all these lies 'till I'm good enough for him
I must be honest and fix my wrongs to make myself worthy of my partner's love.
I've got a lot to lose and I'm bettin' high so I'm beggin' you
I have a lot to lose if I do not fix my behavior, so I am pleading for help
Before it ends, just tell me where to begin.
Before it's too late, please let me know where I can start to fix my behavior.
Give me room to lay the law and let me go
Please give me the space to understand right from wrong and allow me to move forward
I've got to make a play to make my lover stay
I must demonstrate positive behavioral changes to keep the person I love close to me.
So what would an angel say the devil wants to know
What advice would a heavenly being provide to rectify my immoral actions, and how can I fulfill it?
Contributed by Keira M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.