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Criminal Lyrics

he is a hustler, he's no good at all.
he has a loser, he's a bum bum bum bum.
he lies, be bluffs, he's unreliable.
he is a sucker with a gun gun gun gun.
i know you told me i should stay away,
i know you say he's just a dog, a stray one.
he's a bad boy with a tainted heart
and even i know this aint smart,

but mama i'm in love with a criminal.
and this type of love isn't rational, it's physical.
mama, please don't cry, i will be alright.
all reason aside, i just can't deny, i love the guy.

he is a villain by the devil's law
he is a killer just for fun fun fun fun
that man's a snitch and unpredictable.
he's got no conscience, he got none none none none

all i know should let go, but no.

cuz he's a bad boy with a tainted heart.
and even i know this aint smart,

but mama i'm in love with a criminal.
and this type of love isn't rational, it's physical.
mama, please don't cry, i will be alright.
all reason aside, i just can't deny, i love the guy.

and he's got my name tattooed on his arm, his lucky charm.
so i guess it's okay he's with me.
and i hear people talk, try to make remarks, keep us apart.
but i don't even hear, i don't care.

cuz mama i'm in love with a criminal.
and this type of love isn't rational, it's physical.
mama, please don't cry, i will be alright.
all reason aside, i just can't deny, i love the guy.

mama i'm in love with a criminal.
and this type of love isn't rational, it's physical.
mama, please don't cry, i will be alright.
all reason aside, i just can't deny, i love the guy.
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6 Meanings

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Cover art for Criminal lyrics by Britney Spears

I think this song means different things, not just the literal meaning of "being in love with a criminal." I think it's about how in life, we usually don't always make the correct decisions, and we are stubborn to go on the route we feel is right, even if it isn't. Even if our parents, authorities, and other types of social institutions tell us that OUR way isn't the best, that we are making a mistake, we want to do it our way and follow our gut! Like in this song, sometimes we even know our way is definitely wrong, "And even I know this ain't smart" but we gotta take our risks and do what we feel is right for us at that moment. In this song, Britney says she's in love with a criminal, not what any parent would like their children to be involved with. But at the end of the day, like Britney says, "I will be alright" because even if we are not, we gotta move on and learn from our mistakes. AMAZING song! Love everything about it!

My Interpretation
Cover art for Criminal lyrics by Britney Spears

anmx is dead on.

This song isn't necessarily about being in love with an actual criminal, but rather someone that you have been warned about. Someone that you know is wrong for you in all ways. But your strong enough to realize it and understand that you'll be alright no matter how the situation unfolds.
This isn't the type of fairytale love that can easily be defined, but rather more of a love thats on the edge, that most people wouldn't risk their hearts for, but your not thinking about the negative outcomes of this love, instead your just enjoying the ride, escaping from rationality. Beautiful song matched with the right artist.

Cover art for Criminal lyrics by Britney Spears

[Verse 1:] He is a hustler, he's no good at all He is a loser, he's a bum, bum, bum, bum He lies, he bluffs, he's unreliable He is a sucker with a gun, gun, gun, gun I know you told me I should stay away I know you said he's just a dog astray He is a rebel with a tainted heart And even I know this ain't smart

[Chorus:] But mama I'm in love with a criminal And this type of love isn't rational, it's physical Mama please don't cry, I will be alright All reason inside I just can't deny, I love that guy

[Verse 2:] He is a villain of the devil’s law He is a killer just for fun, fun, fun, fun That man's a snitch and unpredictable He's got no conscious, he got none, none, none, none All I know, should let go, but no 'Cause he's a rebel with a tainted heart And even I know this ain't smart

[Chorus:] But mama I'm in love with a criminal And this type of love isn't rational, it's physical Mama please don't cry, I will be alright All reason inside I just can't deny, I love that guy

[Bridge:] And he's got my name Tatooed on his arm His lucky charm So I guess it's okay He's with me And I hear people talk Trying to make remarks Keep us apart But I don't even hear I don't care

[Chorus x2:] 'Cause mama I'm in love with a criminal And this type of love isn't rational, it's physical Mama please don't cry, I will be alright All reason inside I just can't deny, I love that guy

Lyric Correction
Cover art for Criminal lyrics by Britney Spears

He is a hustler, he's no good at all, he is a loser, he's a bum, bum, bum, bum He lies, he bluffs, he's unreliable, he is a sucker with a gun, gun, gun, gun I know you told me I should stay away, I know you said he's just a dog astray-ay He is a bad boy with a tainted heart, and even I know this ain't smart

But mama I'm in love with a criminal And this type of love isn't rational, it's physical Mama please don't cry, I will be alright All reason aside I just can't deny I love that guy

He is a villain by the devil's law, he is a killer just for fun, fun, fun, fun That man's a snitch and unpredictable, he's got no conscious, he got none, none, none, none Oh-all I know-oh, shoulda let go, but no Cuz he is a bad boy with a tainted heart, and even I know this ain't smart

But mama I'm in love with a criminal And this type of love isn't rational, it's physical Mama please don't cry, I will be alright All reason aside I just can't deny I love that guy

And he's got my name tattooed on his arm, his lucky charm So I guess it's ok he's with me And I hear people talk, trying to make remarks, keep us apart But I don't even hear, I don't care

Lyric Correction

In my opinion, this song talks about girls. and how naive they realy are. she said all the bad things in the world about him and how every one knows and talks about how bad he is but just because he had her name tattooed on his arm, she loves him

this was the only sweet thing she said about him and its enough he is with her All reason aside even little thing can make a girl fill for the worst guy ever

Not Valid
Cover art for Criminal lyrics by Britney Spears

In my opinion, this song talks about girls. and how naive they realy are. she said all the bad things in the world about him and how every one knows and talks about how bad he is but just because he had her name tattooed on his arm, she loves him

this was the only sweet thing she said about him and its enough he is with her All reason aside even little thing can make a girl fill for the worst guy ever

Cover art for Criminal lyrics by Britney Spears

i find it is about a real criminal-it only depends how you identify him: one who has already a social status and another one that is viewed and identified as a criminal in society. The abuse and humiliation from one rich and powerful man ,(especially emotional abuse that women suffer from abusive partners)is one that defines an abuser and another man that does save her but turns her into a criminal because he has not the financial needs to support her i.e so they do everything they can to survive. The man assuming,he might be involved sort of gang that he cant get out and he initiates her into it and she loves him but she is not happy with him or what they do. That is why the love is physical-meaning superficial ....there is no insight or no real future with him-that is why he is a bum,bum ,bum .bum...symbolism.. unfortunately they cant develop real love and more emotions and joy has there always in the run ,run ,run he is a loser in a sense that he is the underdog in society; his behaviour is frowned upon

its not rational i believe cz she is not with the guy who has a stable future and career that she can establish a real family with him and grow as one

My Interpretation