Leave me out with the waste
This is not what I do
It's the wrong kind of place
To be thinking of you
It's the wrong time
For somebody new
It's a small crime
And I've got no excuse

Is that alright, yeah?
Give my gun away when it's loaded?
Is that alright, yeah?
If you don't shoot it how am I supposed to hold it?
Is that alright, yeah?
Give my gun away when it's loaded?
Is that alright yeah?
With you?

Leave me out with the waste
This is not what I do
It's the wrong kind of place
To be cheating on you
It's the wrong time
But she's pulling me through
It's a small crime
And I've got no excuse

And is that alright, yeah?
Give my gun away when it's loaded? (Is that alright, yeah?)
Is that alright, yeah?
If you don't shoot it how am I supposed to hold it? (Is that alright, yeah?)
Is that alright, yeah?
If I give my gun away when it's loaded? (Is that alright, yeah?)
Is that alright
Is that alright with you?

Is that alright, yeah?
If I give my gun away when it's loaded? (Is that alright, yeah?)
Is that alright, yeah?
You don't shoot it how am I supposed to hold it? (Is that alright, yeah?)
Is that alright with you?
If I give my gun away when it's loaded? (Is that alright, yeah?)
Is that alright?
Is that alright with you?

Is that alright, yeah? (Give my gun away when it's loaded)
Is that alright, yeah? (If you don't shoot it how am I supposed to hold it?)
Is that alright, yeah? (Give my gun away when it's loaded)

Is that alright? Is that alright?
Is that alright with you?
No


Lyrics submitted by xXlastgoodbyeXx

9 Crimes Lyrics as written by Damien George Rice

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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9 Crimes song meanings
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    Song Meaning

    This is a song about an affair, in which both of those involved are ashamed. The female is the other woman, while the man is the one who has a significant other. The female begins, saying “leave me out with the waste, this is not what I do.” She means she knows she is doing something dirty and wrong, so she belongs where garbage belongs - where it isn’t to be seen. In a more literal sense, she hopes that she is left out of all of his conversation, because she can’t let anyone know what she is doing. She feels shame, and admits that this is something that she knows is morally wrong, and it’s not something that is within her character to do. It’s the “wrong kind of place” because the place, the setting, is that he is with someone else. Therefore, she shouldn’t even think of him. She’s either telling him that it’s the wrong time for “somebody new” meaning her; or she’s telling herself it’s the wrong time for somebody new on her part. Perhaps she has a significant other of her own on whom she is cheating as well. The line “it’s a small crime and I got no excuse” is very self-explanatory as within the world and all of its large crimes, being a mistress is not a big deal. ...but it’s still a crime. There is no way to prove it innocent or acceptable. So many times she has asked herself “is that alright?” because she feels the apprehension and the doubts. Deep down, she knows it’s wrong, but at the surface, she says it’s alright, because she is still engaged in the affair and the affair is something she wants. It’s a melancholy, thoughtless, almost sarcastic “yeah,” as it is said quickly, yet not with the assurance an truly affirmative reply would normally have.

    As for the gun, there’s confusion between the two involved in the affair. There is one gun, and someone has to shoot it because someone will be hurt in the end. The gun is loaded and ready to shoot and kill, since the affair is happening. The shot happens when the affair is exposed. But who exposes it? Whose gun is it? Can it be given away so that someone else can do the shooting? She’s not used to hurting people the way she is, so how is she going to hold the gun if the man doesn’t shoot it for her?
    JuliaWiersumon September 25, 2012   Link

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