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Smooth Operator

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Dminor

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Sade - SMOOTH OPERATOR
"Diamond Life" album
Words and Music: Sade Adu and St. John
[Verse]
DmHe's laughing wiDm/Dbth another girl
Am7/CAnd playing with Am7/Cbanother heart.
DmPlacing high staDm/Dbkes, making hearts ache.
Am7/CHe's loved in seAm7/Cbven languages.
DmDiamond nights aDm/Dbnd ruby lights, high in the sky.
Am7/CHeaven help him, Am7/Cbwhen he falls.
DmDiamond Am7life,    Gm7      Am7     DmlovAm7er boGm7y.Am7  
We move in space with minimum waste and maximum joy.
DmCity ligAm7hts      Gm7         Am7and DmbusinAm7ess nGm7ightAm7s.
When Dmyou requAm7ire sGm7treeAm7tcar desire for DmhighAm7er heGm7ightAm7s.
Gm7No place for    Am7beginners or sensitive DmheartsDm/Db  Am7/C  Am7/B  
Gm7When sentiment iAm7s left to chancDme.Dm/Db  Am7/C  Am7/B  
Gm7No place to be eAm7nding but somewhere to Dmstart.
Fill A  
No need to ask.
[Chorus]
He's a sDmmooth opAm7erator,Gm7  Am7  
smoDmoth oAm7peratGm7or,Am7  
smDmooth oAm7peratGm7or,Am7  
smDmooth oAm7peratGm7or.Am7  
DmCoast to Am7coasGm7t, LAm7A to Chicago, weDmstern Am7maleGm7.Am7  
DmAcross tAm7he north and soGm7uth, to KeAm7y Largo, Dmlove Am7for sGm7ale.Am7  
[Verse]
Face to face, each classic case.
We shadow box and double cross,
Yet need the chase.
""Some where here is the guitar, sax solo" "Dorfun make it your own 
solo"
Gm7A license to love, insurAm7ance to Dmhold.
Gm7Melts all your memories and chanAm7ge into goDmld.
Gm7His eyes are like angels Am7but his heart is Dmcold.
Fill A
No need to ask.
[Chorus]
He's a sDmmooth opAm7eratoGm7r,Am7  
smDmooth oAm7peratGm7or,Am7  
smDmooth oAm7peratGm7or,Am7  
smDmooth oAm7peratGm7or.Am7  
DmCoast to Am7coasGm7t, LAm7A to Chicago, weDmstern Am7maleGm7.Am7  
DmAcross tAm7he noGm7rth Am7and south, to KeDmy LarAm7go, lGm7ove Am7for sale.
SmDmooth oAm7peratGm7or,Am7  Dm  Am7  Gm7  Am7  
smDmooth oAm7peratGm7or,Am7  Dm  Am7  Gm7  Am7  
smDmooth oAm7peratGm7or,Am7  Dm  Am7  Gm7  Am7  
smDmooth oAm7peratGm7or,Am7  Dm  Am7  Gm7  Am7  
smDmooth oAm7peratGm7or..Am7.Dm  Am7  Gm7  Am7  
Fill A
e-----------------Dm---5---------|
b--------------------6---------|
g--------------------7---------|
d--------------------7---------|
a-------------------5----------|
e------5-----8-----------------|
Chords
e-Dm/Db--5--  -Am7/C--5---  -Am7/B--5---  -Gm7-----  -Am7------
b---6--  ---5---  ---5---  ---3--  ---5---
g---7--  ---5---  ---5---  ---3--  ---5---
d---7--  ---5---  ---5---  ---3--  ---5---
a---4--  ---3---  ---2---  ------   ------
e------  -------  -------  ---3--  ----5--

All chords in this song (7)

The story behind the song

"Smooth Operator" paints a picture of a man who moves through life with effortless charm, always on the go, leaving a trail of broken hearts and fleeting connections. He's a master of illusion, a wanderer who never settles, leaving sentiment to chance as he laughs with another girl. The song captures the allure and the ultimate emptiness of a life lived without genuine attachment, hinting at the lonely fate that awaits him when he falls. Co-written by Sade Adu and Ray St. John, it was a breakthrough track from Sade's 1984 debut album, Diamond Life. It's a song that evokes a sophisticated melancholy, a quiet understanding of human nature.

AI-written from these sources:Smooth Operator — Wikipedia ↗Sade (band) — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

Story time

Smooth Operator

Smooth Operator

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Smooth Operator

by Sade

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Dm/Db

Am7/C

Am7/Cb

Am7

Gm7

Am7/B

Sade - SMOOTH OPERATOR

"Diamond Life" album

Words and Music: Sade Adu and St. John

[Verse]

Dm Dm/Db

He's laughing with another girl

Am7/C Am7/Cb

And playing with another heart.

Dm Dm/Db

Placing high stakes, making hearts ache.

Am7/C Am7/Cb

He's loved in seven languages.

Dm Dm/Db

Diamond nights and ruby lights, high in the sky.

Am7/C Am7/Cb

Heaven help him, when he falls.

Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7 Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7

Diamond life, lover boy.

We move in space with minimum waste and maximum joy.

Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7 Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7

City lights and business nights.

Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7 Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7

When you require streetcar desire for higher heights.

Gm7 Am7 Dm Dm/Db Am7/C Am7/B

No place for beginners or sensitive hearts

Gm7 Am7 Dm Dm/Db Am7/C Am7/B

When sentiment is left to chance.

Gm7 Am7 Dm

No place to be ending but somewhere to start.

Fill A

No need to ask.

[Chorus]

Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7

He's a smooth operator,

Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7

smooth operator,

Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7

smooth operator,

Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7

smooth operator.

Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7 Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7

Coast to coast, LA to Chicago, western male.

Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7 Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7

Across the north and south, to Key Largo, love for sale.

[Verse]

Face to face, each classic case.

We shadow box and double cross,

Yet need the chase.

""Some where here is the guitar, sax solo" "Dorfun make it your own

solo"

Gm7 Am7 Dm

A license to love, insurance to hold.

Gm7 Am7 Dm

Melts all your memories and change into gold.

Gm7 Am7 Dm

His eyes are like angels but his heart is cold.

Fill A

No need to ask.

[Chorus]

Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7

He's a smooth operator,

Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7

smooth operator,

Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7

smooth operator,

Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7

smooth operator.

Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7 Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7

Coast to coast, LA to Chicago, western male.

Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7 Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7

Across the north and south, to Key Largo, love for sale.

Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7 Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7

Smooth operator,

Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7 Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7

smooth operator,

Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7 Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7

smooth operator,

Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7 Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7

smooth operator,

Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7 Dm Am7 Gm7 Am7

smooth operator...

Fill A

e--------------------5---------|

b--------------------6---------|

g--------------------7---------|

d--------------------7---------|

a-------------------5----------|

e------5-----8-----------------|

Chords

Dm/Db Am7/C Am7/B Gm7 Am7

e---5-- ---5--- ---5--- ------ -------

b---6-- ---5--- ---5--- ---3-- ---5---

g---7-- ---5--- ---5--- ---3-- ---5---

d---7-- ---5--- ---5--- ---3-- ---5---

a---4-- ---3--- ---2--- ------ ------

e------ ------- ------- ---3-- ----5--

About Smooth Operator Chords by Sade

Learn how to play Smooth Operator by Sade with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Smooth Operator chords”, “Smooth Operator guitar chords”, or “Sade Smooth Operator chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Smooth Operator chords and for experienced players who want accurate Smooth Operator lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Dm, Dm/Db, Am7/C, Am7/Cb, Am7, Gm7.

FAQ — Smooth Operator by Sade

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What key is "Smooth Operator" in?

The chords for "Smooth Operator" show the original chord names (including Dm, Dm/Db, Am7/C, Am7/Cb, Am7, Gm7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.