Songs
Criminal
Description
"Criminal" is a cover of a Fiona Apple song performed by Regina Spektor. Regina confirmed in a 2012 interview with Vulture that she has indeed played this song live, potentially even with this performance being recorded, saying: "Actually, when I was 18 and a senior in high school, I tried out for our high-school rock band that was called The Boptones. I auditioned a capella and I got in as a singer and one of the three songs that I did at our school concert or whatever — at our school rock concert — was “Criminal.” It just captured my imagination so hard. And there’s gotta be footage of me doing it. Luckily, it was a time before camera phones, but I think even my parents have a VHS or something with me singing it, and I obviously tried to do my best Fiona Apple impression."
Interestingly, footage of a concert from this time does exist: the Spring 1998 Fair Lawn High School end of year concert in which Regina supported the school rock band, the Boptones. It is possible that "Criminal" was recorded during this set, but no known footage of this specific performance exists.
Official Releases
There are no known official releases associated with this song.
Music Videos
Demos
There are no known demos associated with this song.
Lyrics
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
Don't you tell me to deny it
I've done wrong, and I wanna 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
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
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
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
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
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
Sheet Music
Transcribers
There's no sheet music associated with this song.
Song Facts
Release Status:
Unconfirmed
Originally By:
Fiona Apple
Collaborators:
The Boptones
Alternate Titles:
N/A
Written:
Unknown
Demo:
N/A
First Official Release:
N/A
First Live Performance:
Last Live Performance:
Song Stats
First Known Date:
Last Known Date:
Time Between First Known Date and Last Known Date:
Time Between First and Last Performance:
played once
# of Appearances on Official Releases:
0
# of Times Performed Live:
1
Themes & References
Trivia
Media Features
There are no known media features associated with this song.
Concert data provided by
