Is It a Crime – English Lyrics

• By: Mariah the Scientist, Kali Uchis

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the soulful R&B sounds of "Is It a Crime" by Mariah the Scientist and Kali Uchis. This powerful duet, rich with emotional vulnerability and defiant lyrics, offers a fantastic opportunity to engage with contemporary English expressions related to love, relationships, and societal perceptions. Pay attention to the nuanced phrasing and the artists' distinct vocal deliveries to enhance your understanding of English in an authentic, modern context.

[English]

Sometimes I look around for someone who

might understand it. I seen it in their eyes that they'll

they'll never get it. I think I lost my patience, and

now I can't contain it. They, they were wrong about us.

Ain't the way they paint it. I, I love the way that you walk and the air you breathe

I just let 'em talk, but it bothers me 'cause

it ain't love, it ain't love, it ain't love they see

But it ain't nothin' to discuss 'cause it is to me.

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

Tell me, what's it to ya?

Tell me, is it a crime to fall?

To fall in love, in love a couple times.

Tell me, what's it to ya?

Tell me, is it a crime to fall?

Is it a crime? All of the cryin', no.

'Cause if not a mistrial, then you're my prisoner.

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

Let 'em know we don't give a fuck.

All they want to see is us break it off.

You could search the Seven Seas and never find, no,

a heart like mine. Better yet, can't forget my mind, no.

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

but I'm a woman. I'm not a girl.

Is that a crime in this cruel world?

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

Tell me, what's it to ya?

Tell me, is it a crime to fall?

To fall in love, in love a couple times.

Tell me, what's it to ya?

Tell me, is it a crime to fall?

I fell, you fell in love a couple times.

Tell me, what's it to ya?

Tell me, is it a crime to fall?

To fall in love a couple times.

What's it to ya?

Is it a crime to fall?

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.