Stranger in Moscow
by Michael Jackson
I was wandering in the rain
Mask of life, feeling insane
Swift and sudden fall from grace
Sunny days seem far away
Kremlin’s shadow belittling me
Stalin’s tomb won’t let me be
On and on and on it came
Wish the rain would just let me be
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 dogging 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 a stranger in Moscow
Like a stranger in Moscow
We’re talking danger
We’re talking danger, baby
Like a stranger in Moscow
We’re talking danger
We’re talking danger, baby
Like a stranger in Moscow
I’m living lonely
I’m living lonely, baby
A stranger in Moscow
[spoken outro in Russian]
dancing with the elephant 
Here is my take on the lyrics to this amazing song. One of MJ’s greatest achievements in my estimation.
I was wandering in the rain
(Mask of life, feeling insane)
Swift and sudden fall from grace
(Sunny days seem far away)
Kremlin’s shadow belittling me
(Stalin’s tomb won’t let me be)
On and on and on it came
(Wish the rain would just let me be)
(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 dogging 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 a stranger in Moscow
(Lord have mercy!)
Like a stranger in Moscow
(Hee! Lord have mercy!)
We’re talking danger
We’re talking danger, baby
Like a stranger in Moscow
We’re talking danger
We’re talking danger, baby
Like a stranger in Moscow
I’m living lonely
I’m living lonely, baby
A stranger in Moscow
[KGB Interrogatory – Russian to to English Translation]
“Why have you come from the West?
Confess!
To steal the great achievements of the people,
the accomplishments of the workers…”
Hi Bruce. Thanks so much for posting this – I really like the way you emphasize which lines are in the foreground and which in the background. Just reading your lyrics, I could hear the song so clearly in my head. (btw, it’s one of my favorites as well. In fact, Stranger in Moscow may be my favorite video, though there are so many that are simply wonderful in their own way it’s hard to single out any one of them as his best. But Stranger in Moscow is very special, I think.)