Criminal - Fiona Apple: Song Lyrics, Music Videos & Concerts

Criminal

858,772

Alternative

Criminal was released on July 23, 1996 by Clean Slate/Work as a part of the album Tidal

Popular Segments

Song Details

Most Popular

Past 7 Days

01:00 - 01:05

Criminal was discovered most frequently at around 1 minutes into the song during the past week

00:00

00:05

00:20

00:25

00:45

00:55

01:00

01:10

01:50

01:55

02:25

02:40

02:50

03:05

03:20

03:35

03:40

03:50

04:05

04:25

04:45

04:50

04:55

05:10

05:15

05:25

05:35

00:00

05:42

OVERVIEW

LYRICS

Music Video

Music Video

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS

Fiona Apple

Vocals

Jon Brion

Chamberlain Strings

Matt Chamberlain

Matt Chamberlain

Drums

Rob Laufer

Guitar

Dan Rothchild

Bass

Patrick Warren

Piano

COMPOSITION & LYRICS

Fiona Apple

Songwriter

PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING

Andrew Slater

Producer

Mark Endert

Mixing Engineer

Claude Achille

Additional Engineer

Brian Scheubel

Additional Engineer

Jim Wirt

Additional Engineer

Niko Bolas

Additional Engineer

Troy Gonzales

Assistant Engineer

Al Sanderson

Assistant Engineer

Tom Banghart

Assistant Mixing Engineer

Ted Jensen

Mastering Engineer

Lyrics

[Verse 1]

I've been a bad, bad girl

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

[PreChorus]

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

And I just don't know where I can begin

[Chorus]

Ooh

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

[Verse 2]

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

[PreChorus]

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]

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

[Bridge]

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]

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

[Chorus]

Well, 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

Written by: Fiona Apple

Shazam Footer

Select language:

Company

Legal

Chrome Web Store

Galaxy Store

Follow Us

© Copyright 2026 Apple Inc. and its affiliates | Supplier Responsibility

Loading...