Smooth Criminal – English Lyrics

• By: Michael Jackson
• Album: Bad

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the dark narrative and innovative dance moves of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal." This track offers a thrilling blend of music and storytelling, showcasing Jackson's ability to create a captivating, cinematic experience. Learn about the song's origins, the meaning behind the lyrics, and the secrets of the famous anti-gravity lean, making it a perfect choice for understanding Jackson's artistry and the power of music videos.

[English]

(finger clicking)

(light thudding)

(air whooshing)

(light thudding)

(magical music)

(uplifting music)

(air whooshing)

(uplifting music)

(door thudding)

(coin jingling)

(coin jingling)

♪ Ow ♪

(upbeat music)

♪ Cha ♪

♪ Shoo-cha-choo-cha ♪

♪ Shoo-cha-choo-cha ♪

♪ As he came into the window was a sound of a crescendo ♪

♪ He came into her apartment ♪

♪ He left the bloodstains on the carpet ♪

♪ She ran underneath the table ♪

♪ He could see she was unable ♪

♪ So she ran into the bedroom ♪

♪ She was struck down it was her doom ♪

♪ Annie, are you okay ♪

♪ So, Annie, are you okay, are you okay, Annie ♪

♪ Annie, are you okay ♪

♪ So, Annie, are you okay, are you okay, Annie ♪

♪ Annie, are you okay ♪

♪ So, Annie, are you okay, are you okay, Annie ♪

♪ Annie, are you okay ♪

♪ So, Annie, are you okay, are you okay, Annie ♪

♪ Annie, are you okay ♪

♪ Will you tell us that you're okay ♪

♪ There's a sound at the window ♪

♪ Then he struck you, a crescendo, Annie ♪

♪ He came into your apartment ♪

♪ Left the bloodstains on the carpet ♪

♪ And then you ran into the bedroom ♪

♪ You were struck down it was your doom ♪

(upbeat music)

- Hey.

Come here.

- Wait a minute.

(gun booming)

(gangsters groaning)

(upbeat music)

- Hmm.

♪ Annie, are you okay ♪

♪ So, Annie, are you okay, are you okay, Annie ♪

♪ Annie, are you okay ♪

♪ So, Annie, are you okay, are you okay, Annie ♪

♪ Annie, are you okay ♪

♪ So, Annie, are you okay, are you okay, Annie ♪

♪ You've been hit by ♪

♪ You've been hit by ♪

♪ A smooth criminal ♪

♪ Ow ♪

(ball clicking)

(cue thumping)

- Yeah.

(air whooshing)

(upbeat music)

♪ So they came in to the out way ♪

♪ It was Sunday, what a black day ♪

♪ Every time I tried to find him ♪

♪ There were no clues, they're behind him ♪

♪ And they end up never knowing ♪

♪ Other suspect or what to expect ♪

♪ Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation ♪

♪ Sounding heartbeats, intimidations ♪

♪ Annie, are you okay ♪

♪ So, Annie, are you okay, are you okay, Annie ♪

♪ Annie, are you okay, Annie, are you okay ♪

♪ Annie, are you okay, Annie, are you okay ♪

♪ Are you okay, Annie ♪

♪ Annie, are you okay, Annie, are you okay ♪

(upbeat music)

(gun booming)

♪ Annie, are you okay ♪

♪ So, Annie, are you okay, are you okay, Annie ♪

♪ Annie, are you okay ♪

♪ So, Annie, are you okay, are you okay, Annie ♪

♪ You've been hit by ♪

♪ You've been hit by ♪

♪ A smooth criminal ♪

♪ Ow ♪

♪ Annie, are you okay ♪

♪ Will you tell us that you're okay ♪

♪ There's a sound at the window ♪

♪ Then he struck you, a crescendo, Annie ♪

♪ He came into your apartment ♪

♪ Left the bloodstains on the carpet ♪

♪ And then you ran into the bedroom ♪

♪ You were struck down it was your doom, Annie ♪

♪ Ow ♪

(upbeat music)

♪ Hoo ♪

♪ Ow ♪

♪ Whoa ♪

♪ Hoo ♪

♪ Hoo ♪

(upbeat music)

♪ Pow ♪

(glass shattering)

(finger snapping) (surreal music)

- Ooh.

(piano notes jingling)

Shoo. (finger snapping)

(foot tapping)

- Oh, oh, oh.

(crowd squealing)

Ooh.

(hands clapping)

Oh.

- Okay.

- [Crowd] Annie, are you okay?

Annie, are you okay, are you okay, Annie?

Annie, are you okay?

Annie, are you okay, are you okay, Annie?

Annie, are you okay?

- Annie, are you okay?

- [Crowd] Are you okay, Annie?

(upbeat music)

(upbeat music)

(upbeat music)

- Whoa, that's cool, huh.

I taught him everything he knows.

- Oh yeah, right, you show me.

- Okay, sure, hold this.

(upbeat music)

(upbeat music)

♪ Ow ♪

♪ Annie, are you okay, I don't know ♪

♪ Will you tell us that you're okay, I don't know ♪

♪ There's a sound at the window, I don't know ♪

♪ Then he struck you, a crescendo, Annie, I don't know ♪

♪ He came into your apartment, I don't know ♪

♪ Left bloodstains on the carpet, I don't know why, baby ♪

♪ And then you ran into the bedroom, help me ♪

♪ You were struck down it was your doom, Annie ♪

♪ Annie, are you okay, dag gone it, baby ♪

♪ Will you tell us that you're okay, dag gone it, baby ♪

♪ There's a sound at the window, dag gone it, baby ♪

♪ Then he struck you, a crescendo, Annie, hoo, hoo ♪

♪ He came into your apartment, dag gone it ♪

♪ Left bloodstains on the carpet, hoo ♪

♪ And then you ran into the bedroom, hoo, hoo ♪

♪ You were struck down, dag gone it ♪

♪ It was your doom, Annie ♪

♪ Annie, are you okay, I don't know ♪

♪ Will you tell us that you're okay, I don't know ♪

♪ There's a sound at the window, I don't know ♪

♪ Then he struck you, a crescendo, Annie, I don't know ♪

♪ He came into your apartment, I don't know ♪

♪ Left bloodstains on the carpet, I don't know why, baby ♪

♪ And then you ran into the bedroom, help me ♪

♪ You were struck down it was your doom, Annie, dag gone it ♪

♪ Annie are you okay, dag gone it, baby ♪

♪ Will you tell us that you're okay, dag gone it, baby ♪

♪ There's a sound at the window, dag gone it, baby ♪

♪ Then he struck you, a crescendo, Annie, hoo, hoo ♪

♪ He came into your apartment, dag gone it ♪

(gun booming)

♪ You were struck down, it was your doom, Annie, ow ♪

♪ Annie, are you okay, dag gone it, baby ♪

♪ Will you tell us that you're okay, dag gone it, baby ♪

♪ There's a sound at the window, gag gone it, baby ♪

♪ Then he struck you, a crescendo, Annie, hoo, hoo ♪

♪ He came into your apartment, dag gone it ♪

♪ Left bloodstains on the carpet, hoo ♪

♪ And then you ran into the bedroom, hoo, hoo ♪

♪ You were struck down, dag gone it ♪

♪ It was your doom, Annie, ow ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
window /ˈwɪndoʊ/ A1	noun - an opening in the wall or roof of a building, fitted with glass, to admit light or air and allow people to see out.
crescendo /krəˈʃɛndoʊ/ B2	noun - a gradual increase in loudness or intensity, especially in music or a developing situation.
apartment /əˈpɑːrtmənt/ A2	noun - a set of rooms for living in, usually on one floor of a building.
bloodstains /ˈblʌdsteɪnz/ B2	noun - a mark left by blood.
carpet /ˈkɑːrpɪt/ A2	noun - a thick covering for a floor, made of woven material.
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - to move quickly on foot.
table /ˈteɪbl/ A1	noun - a piece of furniture with a flat top and one or more legs, used for eating, writing, or working on.
unable /ʌnˈeɪbl/ A2	adjective - not able to do something.
bedroom /ˈbɛdruːm/ A1	noun - a room used for sleeping.
strike /straɪk/ B1	verb - to hit someone or something forcibly and deliberately.
doom /duːm/ B2	noun - an unpleasant or disastrous destiny; a terrible fate.
okay /ˌoʊˈkeɪ/ A1	adjective - acceptable, satisfactory, or in good health.
hit /hɪt/ A2	verb - to strike with a blow or missile.
smooth /smuːð/ B1	adjective - having an even and regular surface; free from roughness. (Also, acting with skill and sophistication, often to avoid detection or trouble).
criminal /ˈkrɪmɪnl/ B1	noun - a person who has committed a crime.
sound /saʊnd/ A1	noun - vibrations that travel through the air or another medium and can be heard.
clue /kluː/ B1	noun - a piece of evidence or information used in the detection of a crime or solving of a mystery.
suspect /ˈsʌspɛkt/ B1	noun - a person thought to be guilty of a crime or offense.
expect /ɪkˈspɛkt/ A2	verb - to regard (something) as likely to happen.
resuscitation /rɪˌsʌsɪˈteɪʃn/ C1	noun - the action or process of reviving someone from unconsciousness or apparent death.

Key Grammar Structures

• She was struck down it was her doom

  ➔ Past Simple Passive Voice

  ➔ The phrase "was struck down" uses the past simple passive voice (be + past participle) to show that the subject 'She' received the action, rather than performing it. It emphasizes the victim of the action.

• He could see she was unable

  ➔ Modal Verb 'Could' for Past Ability/Perception + Adjective as Complement

  ➔ The phrase "could see" indicates past ability or perception. "unable" is an adjective acting as a subject complement after the verb 'was', describing the state of 'she'.

• You've been hit by

  ➔ Present Perfect Passive Voice

  ➔ The phrase "You've been hit by" combines the Present Perfect tense (have/has + past participle) with the Passive Voice (be + past participle). It indicates an action that happened in the past but has a result or relevance in the present, and the subject is receiving the action.

• Every time I tried to find him

  ➔ Adverbial Clause of Time (introduced by "Every time")

  ➔ The phrase "Every time" introduces an adverbial clause of time, which specifies when the action in the main clause (implied 'they') occurs. It indicates a recurring or habitual action in the past.

• And they end up never knowing

  ➔ Phrasal Verb "End Up" + Gerund

  ➔ The phrasal verb "end up" means to eventually reach a particular situation or place. It is followed by a gerund ("never knowing") to describe the final state or action.

• Other suspect or what to expect

  ➔ Interrogative Pronoun + Infinitive Clause

  ➔ The phrase "what to expect" is a common structure formed by an interrogative word (what, where, how, when, who, which) followed by a 'to'-infinitive. It functions as a noun phrase and often implies a question or a decision.

• I taught him everything he knows.

  ➔ Relative Clause (implied 'that' or 'which')

  ➔ The phrase "he knows" is a defining relative clause modifying "everything." The relative pronoun 'that' or 'which' is omitted here because it acts as the object of the verb 'knows'. This is common in informal English.

• Will you tell us that you're okay

  ➔ Noun Clause as Object (introduced by 'that')

  ➔ The clause "that you're okay" functions as a noun clause, specifically the direct object of the verb 'tell'. It introduces a statement or information that is being communicated.

• Left bloodstains on the carpet, I don't know why, baby

  ➔ Ellipsis (implied subject) + Noun Clause with 'Why'

  ➔ In "Left bloodstains", the subject (likely 'He' from previous lines) is omitted, which is common in song lyrics or informal speech (ellipsis). "I don't know why" contains a noun clause where 'why' introduces an indirect question functioning as the object of 'know'.