The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
(Oh no)
As he came into the window
Was a sound of a crescendo
He came into her apartment
Left the bloodstains on the carpet
She was sitting at 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, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay?
Would you tell us that you're okay?
There's a sign at a window
That he struck you
A crescendo, Annie
Came into her apartment
Left the bloodstains on the carpet
And then you ran into the bedroom
You were struck down, it was your doom
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
You've been hit by
You've been struck by
A smooth criminal
So they came into the outway
It was Sunday, but a black day
I could make a salutation
Sounding heartbeat, intimidation
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay?
Would you tell us that you're okay?
There's a sign at a window
That he struck you
A crescendo, Annie
Came into her apartment
Left the bloodstains on the carpet
And then you ran into the bedroom
You were struck down, it was your doom
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
You've been hit by
You've been struck by
A smooth criminal
Annie, are you okay? (Oh no)
Would you tell us that you're okay? (Oh no)
There's a sign at a window (oh no)
That he struck you
A crescendo, Annie (oh no)
Came into her apartment (oh no)
Left the bloodstains on the carpet (oh no)
And then you ran into the bedroom (oh no)
You were struck down, it was your doom
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
As he came into the window
Was a sound of a crescendo
He came into her apartment
Left the bloodstains on the carpet
She was sitting at 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, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay?
Would you tell us that you're okay?
There's a sign at a window
That he struck you
A crescendo, Annie
Came into her apartment
Left the bloodstains on the carpet
And then you ran into the bedroom
You were struck down, it was your doom
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
You've been hit by
You've been struck by
A smooth criminal
So they came into the outway
It was Sunday, but a black day
I could make a salutation
Sounding heartbeat, intimidation
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay?
Would you tell us that you're okay?
There's a sign at a window
That he struck you
A crescendo, Annie
Came into her apartment
Left the bloodstains on the carpet
And then you ran into the bedroom
You were struck down, it was your doom
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
You've been hit by
You've been struck by
A smooth criminal
Annie, are you okay? (Oh no)
Would you tell us that you're okay? (Oh no)
There's a sign at a window (oh no)
That he struck you
A crescendo, Annie (oh no)
Came into her apartment (oh no)
Left the bloodstains on the carpet (oh no)
And then you ran into the bedroom (oh no)
You were struck down, it was your doom
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Lyrics submitted by thewhitepony33
Smooth Criminal Lyrics as written by Michael Jackson
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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OK First of all... Clearly, the song is about "Annie" being "struck by a smooth criminal". That's easy enough. Perhaps it happened to a friend of Michael's. Now then... a crescendo is, as described earlier by Sebato, when a note goes from piano to forte. However, in the song, it didn't refer to an actual song, as Michael Jackson is a pedophile, not an idiot. It could have meant a few things. "As he came into the window". I don't know whether it meant he climbed in or broke it and came in, but if he broke it, then there's the crescendo as the glass is hit, cracks, and shatters. The crescendo could have been Annie screaming. It could have been gunshots. It could have been a grunt, it could have been many things, but I guaruntee you that it wasn't Annie listening to some simple plan and dying.