Is It a Crime – English Lyrics

• By: Mariah the Scientist, Kali Uchis

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the sultry and ethereal soundscape of 'Is It a Crime' by Mariah the Scientist featuring Kali Uchis, released on July 31, 2025 . This R&B track offers a unique opportunity to explore themes of forbidden love and vulnerability, echoing classic R&B sentiments while showcasing the artists' compelling performances . Discover how Mariah and Kali use their lyrics to question societal norms around love and second chances, enriching your understanding of contemporary R&B music and its cultural references .

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
fall /fɔːl/ A2	verb - to drop or descend quickly verb - to begin to feel in love
crime /kraɪm/ B2	noun - an act punishable by law
understand /ˌʌndərˈstænd/ B1	verb - to perceive the intended meaning of words, a language, or a speaker
patience /ˈpeɪʃəns/ B2	noun - the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset
contain /kənˈteɪn/ B2	verb - to hold or include within its limits
love /lʌv/ A2	noun - an intense feeling of affection verb - to feel deep affection for
discuss /dɪˈskʌs/ B1	verb - to talk about something
break /breɪk/ A2	verb - to separate into pieces verb - to end a relationship
search /sɜːrtʃ/ B1	verb - to try to find something by looking or otherwise seeking carefully and thoroughly
heart /hɑːrt/ A2	noun - the organ that pumps blood noun - the center of emotion
mind /maɪnd/ B1	noun - the element of a person that enables them to be aware of the world and their experience
cruel /kruːəl/ B2	adjective - willfully causing pain or suffering to others
woman /ˈwʊmən/ A2	noun - an adult female human being
girl /ɡɜːrl/ A1	noun - a young female human being
cryin' /ˈkraɪɪn/ A2	verb - shedding tears, usually as an expression of sadness or pain
mistrial /ˈmɪstrɑɪəl/ C1	noun - a trial declared invalid because of a substantial error
prisoner /ˈprɪzənər/ B1	noun - a person who is kept in prison

Key Grammar Structures

• Sometimes I look around for someone who might understand it.

  ➔ Relative Clause (who)

  ➔ The relative pronoun "who" introduces a clause that modifies "someone", providing more information about the type of person the singer is looking for.

• I think I lost my patience, and now I can't contain it.

  ➔ Conjunction (and) connecting independent clauses

  ➔ The conjunction "and" joins two independent clauses, showing a sequential relationship between losing patience and the inability to contain it.

• They, they were wrong about us. Ain't the way they paint it.

  ➔ Subject-verb agreement (were)

  ➔ The past tense plural verb "were" correctly agrees with the plural subject "they", indicating a past state or opinion.

• I just let 'em talk, but it bothers me 'cause it ain't love, it ain't love they see

  ➔ Contraction ('em for them) and informal negation (ain't)

  ➔ The contraction "'em" is a common informal replacement for "them", and "ain't" is a non-standard contraction used for "is not" or "are not", conveying a casual and direct tone.

• But it bothers me 'cause it ain't love, it ain't love they see

  ➔ Causal conjunction (because)

  ➔ The conjunction "because" introduces a subordinate clause that explains the reason why something bothers the singer.

• And so what? I fell, you fell in love a couple times.

  ➔ Interrogative pronoun (what) and past tense verb (fell)

  ➔ "What" is used here as an interrogative pronoun to express defiance or indifference. "Fell" is the past tense of "fall", used to describe past actions of falling in love.

• Tell me, is it a crime to fall?

  ➔ Direct question with modal verb (is)

  ➔ This is a direct question using the verb "is" to inquire about the nature of falling in love, framed as a potential offense.

• So let me throw away this key 'cause you won't give me up.

  ➔ Causal conjunction (because) and future negative (won't)

  ➔ "Because" introduces the reason for throwing away the key, and "won't" is a contraction of "will not", indicating a future refusal or a strong determination.

• You could search the Seven Seas and never find, no, a heart like mine.

  ➔ Modal verb (could) for possibility/hypothetical situations

  ➔ "Could" is used here to express a hypothetical situation or a strong possibility, emphasizing the uniqueness of the singer's heart.

• Some may say I'm crashin' and their cards are on the table,

  ➔ Modal verb (may) for possibility and present participle (crashin')

  ➔ "May" indicates that others might have this opinion. "Crashin'" is an informal, contracted form of "crashing", used here to imply a downward spiral or decline.