Criminal to "Criminal" by Fiona Apple

I've been a bad, bad girl
I've been careless with a delicate account
And it's a sad, sad world
When a girl will cook the books and never be found out

Don't you tell me to deny it
I've done wrong and I'll have to pay some benjamins
I've come to you 'cause I've got a lawsuit to get through
And I just don't know where I can begin

(chorus)
What I need is a good defense
'Cause I'm feeling like a criminal
Well, I need a legal scheme to get me out of this mess
And you're all I ever knew of law

Counsel, help me for the way I am
Save me from these alleged deeds before the D.A. comes
I know tomorrow brings the consequence at hand
But I keep livin' this day like the feds will never come

Oh, help me, but don't tell me to deny it
I've got to cleanse myself of these red flags
Till my balance sheet's clean again
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 renege

(chorus)

There ain't no other way
Before there're fines to pay
So give me room to learn the law and let me go
I need your help, you see
To beat the SEC
So how will Eliot be
The CFO wants to know

(chorus)
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 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)
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)

Original lyrics copyright © 2006. All rights reserved.