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Stranger In Moscow Lyrics

I was wandering in the rain
Mask of life, feelin' insane
Swift and sudden fall from grace
Sunny days seem far away
Kremlin's shadow belittlin' me
Stalin's tomb won't let me be
On and on and on it came
Wish the rain would just let me

How does it feel (How does it feel)
How does it feel
How does it feel
When you're alone
And you're cold inside

Here abandoned in my fame
Armageddon of the brain
KGB was doggin' me
Take my name and just let me be
Then a begger boy called my name
Happy days will drown the pain
On and on and on it came
And again, and again, and again...
Take my name and just let me be

How does it feel (How does it feel)
How does it feel
How does it feel
How does it feel
How does it feel (How does it feel now)
How does it feel
How does it feel
When you're alone
And you're cold inside

How does it feel (How does it feel)
How does it feel
How does it feel
How does it feel
How does it feel (How does it feel now)
How does it feel
How does it feel
When you're alone
And you're cold inside

Like stranger in Moscow
Like stranger in Moscow
We're talkin' danger
We're talkin' danger, baby
Like stranger in Moscow
We're talkin' danger
We're talkin' danger, baby
Like stranger in Moscow
I'm livin' lonely
I'm livin' lonely, baby
Stranger in Moscow

(KGB interrogator -
Russian to English Translation)
"Why have you come from the West?
Confess! To steal the great achievements of
the people, the accomplishments of the workers..."
Song Info
Submitted by
agathakavka On May 30, 2002
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Cover art for Stranger In Moscow lyrics by Michael Jackson

It's been well documented that this song was written during the child molestation charges in the early 90's and Michael became frustrated that his star had fallen so quickly in the eyes of the media and some fans ("swift and sudden fall from grace")...he also told an author of a book that when he was at the height of his popularity, he always felt alone, would sometimes cry alone at night and just walk around his neighborhood looking for someone to talk to.

That's where the concept for the video came from...with him wandering the streets alone looking for someone, and on the verge of pretty much going insane from everything that is falling down on him at once.

In a weird way the video, which follows a few other people, some of the same bad luck or bad things happen to them in the video too, showing that while he feels alone, he really isn't. He just can't or couldn't connect with anyone to share his feelings at the time.

This is his best song in terms of having a very deep meaning, no question. A lot of his work has some very eerie forshadowing in it.

Not true, he has said that this song was written in Moscow when he was on the Dangerous Tour, he was in the hotel room because he could not go anywhere, he looked out the window and all his fans were down there screaming for him and he felt that he knew no one and was alone, a stranger. I heard him explain this song himself in an interview before.

Not Valid

Yhh i heard that as well,i think thats why in the middle of the instrumental you hear 'yhh michael' it must represent his fans. awesome song though :D

Not Valid
Cover art for Stranger In Moscow lyrics by Michael Jackson

I just discovered this song. I have to say this is his best song. I feel bad for MJ. How quickly we tear down our heroes!! RIP Mikey, I hope you are finally at peace.

Cover art for Stranger In Moscow lyrics by Michael Jackson

This song is how Michael felt after the molestation charges...its so sad and shows you exactly how he felt..

Swift and sudden fall from grace Sunny days seem far away

Then a begger boy called my name

Take my name and just let me be

The begger boy was the boy that accused Michael...or it could be a reference to all the thousands of kids that Michael helped. In the background of this song you can hear the sounds of kids playing and calling to him "over here, Michael"

Him walking the streets could definately be referring to how he used to do that when he was lonely looking for strangers just to talk to..but I think it more represents how alone and alienated he felt after the charges.

Song Meaning
Cover art for Stranger In Moscow lyrics by Michael Jackson

I heard the thing about Michael's feelings while staying in a hotel in Moscow as well. He had a bunch of fans cheering outside the place he was at, yet he felt like the loneliest man in the world.

Cover art for Stranger In Moscow lyrics by Michael Jackson

Damn, I've never heard it. Just read the lyrics. In his autobiography he says that he used to feel really lonely so he would go on walks looking for someone to talk to. Someone to be his friend. He wanted to be friends with someone who liked him for him and not for who he was. I advise everyone to read Moonwalk. It's in his words, and it's incredible. Michael Jackson still remains a mystery to me, but this helps a little.

Thanks for the suggestion. I came to this website to read the lyrics too; never heard the song. I was thinking about his death and how he used to wear a red arm band; Recently I started studying Putin's politics. If these lyrics are in any way offensive to Russia, he could have been assassinated.

Cover art for Stranger In Moscow lyrics by Michael Jackson

HE WAS SO LONELY I FELT BAD FOR HIM. HE WOULD TAKE LONG WALKS TO LOOK FOR PEOPLE TO TALK TO. I WOULD OF LOVED TO TALK TO MICHAEL I LOVE HIM SO MUCH I REALLY DO. HE WROTE THIS SONG WHEN HE HAD A PARTY WITH ALL HIS FANS AT A HOTEL ROOM, AND HE FELT LONELY HE WENT OUTSIDE AND SAT BY THE DOOR OR SOMTHING A STARTED WRITTING THE SONG. WWW.MJWORLD.NET TO FIND OUT ABOUT STARNGER IN MOSCOW AND PTHER SONGS ITS A REALLY GOOD WEBSITE ALL ABOUT MJ!!!!

Cover art for Stranger In Moscow lyrics by Michael Jackson

KGB was the Soviet security agency. Kind of like the Gestapo for the Nazis. I think that by KGB he means the media (KGB was doggin' me). "The Kremlin" could be the Soviet government (Kremlin is a fortification in Moscow. The presidents of Russia now live there...)and all the restriction that came along with it. You had no freedom of speech etc. If someone hears you speak evil about the country or do anything to demostate your disobediance and disagreement towards the government, be sure that the KGB will get you and make you disappear. And we all now who Stalin was .. So, in generall, I think that the song is about being an outcast. All your actions being watched closely, distorted and frowned upon. Being alone in a crazy society.

Cover art for Stranger In Moscow lyrics by Michael Jackson

i get the same feel as i get whe i hear Sting's an englishman in new york, you are in a place where the people and your surroundings are so different from what you are used too and you feel miles away from your own reality

Cover art for Stranger In Moscow lyrics by Michael Jackson

Can't believe no-one has commented on this song, it's so awesome.

Cover art for Stranger In Moscow lyrics by Michael Jackson

I agree...this is a great song!