Criminal Record
Lyrics
Oooooo
Oooooo
I’ve stolen drinks from the fridge
Downtown at the 7-11
I got a couple speeding ticks
5 4 maybe even 17
But my love I thought you loved me for me
Raised a little wagged child
Ran around playing “Cops and robbers”
Got tattooed, cut my hair and all
Also thought I’d be gorgeous and tall
So uncomfortable in my own skin
Still bored on the weekend
My home town bought by big business
I thought why not destroy this
You found my criminal record
What does this mean for us?
So you found my criminal record
Some folks are born to die
Some folks are born to thrive
I was born with intrusive thoughts
I won’t hold a 9 to 5
I can’t stop stealing shit
Get black out drunk and forget
I was a mall rat at heart
Now I can’t be security guard because -
You found my criminal record
What does this mean for us?
So you found my criminal record
What does this mean for us?
So you found my criminal record
What does this mean for us?
You found my criminal record
Oooooo
Oooooo
Criminal Record was inspired by my experience on dating apps. I had decided to give online dating a try. I found myself talking to one person quite often and really enjoyed our conversations. We had decided after a few months of talking to meet up in person. I was excited for a new chapter but also a bit weary because we were still strangers.
Before meeting up, I decided to look them up online just in case. I found out they had been arrested several times for torturing animals. It freaked me out and I decided against meeting in person. I felt bad because I really enjoyed speaking with them. I felt guilty for not explaining why I decided to stop talking with them.
It made me wonder how often this happens to people. Especially those who hold a criminal history but have since altered course and focused on their mental health.
I wrote Criminal Record from the perspective of someone confessing their crimes because they got caught by a partner, employer, or friend. A past that occasionally sneaks up as a burden in their lives, even if they have since changed their ways. In this song I also express my anger and frustrations with the way the world is rapidly changing in front of my eyes. My community bought up by big corporations. Forrests and open fields turned into highways, expensive cookie-cutter housing, and parking garages.
As a band, we took a more laid back approach with this one. The piano is played on a baby grand, organ is Roland’s VR-09, strings are Roland’s JX-8P, and the drums were recorded in a barn. I wanted it to sound like modern Americana, with the focus being on the storytelling.
