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Sade – Smooth Operator (Live 2001) (2002) | Track profile | Dork

Tracks
Sade
Lovers Live
Smooth Operator (Live 2001)

TRACK

Smooth Operator (Live 2001)

Release date: 5th February 2002

From Lovers Live

About This Track

"Smooth Operator (Live 2001)" is a track by Sade, from the album Lovers Live, released 5th February 2002. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 1 article about Sade.

About the Artist

Sade

Sade

Lyrics

Smooth Operator (Live 2001)

[Verse 1]

Diamond life, lover boy

He move in space with minimum waste and maximum joy

City lights and business nights

When you require streetcar desire for higher heights

[Pre-Chorus]

No place for beginners or sensitive hearts

When sentiment is left to chance

No place to be ending but somewhere to start

[Chorus]

No need to ask

He's a smooth operator

Smooth operator, smooth operator

Smooth operator

[Post-Chorus]

Coast to coast, LA to Chicago, western male

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

[Verse 2]

Face to face, each classic case

We shadow box and double cross

Yet need the chase

[Pre-Chorus]

A license to love, insurance to hold

Melts all your memories and change into gold

His eyes are like angels but his heart is cold

[Chorus]

No need to ask

He’s a smooth operator

Smooth operator, smooth operator

Smooth operator

Smooth operator, smooth operator

Smooth operator, smooth operator

Smooth operator, smooth operator

Smooth operator

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From Lovers Live

2002

Listen

Album

Release year

2002

—Cherry Pie (Live 2001)
—Immigrant (Live 2001)
—Somebody Already Broke My Heart (Live 2001)
—The Sweetest Taboo (Live 2001)
—Every Word (Live 2001)
—Kiss of Life (Live 2001)
—Smooth Operator (Live 2001)
—By Your Side (Live 2001)
—No Ordinary Love (Live 2001)
—Paradise (Live 2001)
—King of Sorrow (Live 2001)
—Flow (Live 2001)
—Lovers Rock (Live 2001)
—Is It a Crime (Live 2001)
—Slave Song (Live 2001)
—Jezebel (Live 2001)
—Cherish the Day (Live 2001)
—The Sweetest Gift (Live 2001)
—It’s Only Love That Gets You Through (Live 2001)

More from Sade

Albums & EPs

Soldier of Love

Soldier of Love

Lovers Rock

The Best of Sade

The Best of Sade

Love Deluxe

Promise

The Ultimate Collection

The Ultimate Collection

Explore

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The Postman Always Rims Twice

Paradise's Fool (Rasta Root Edit)

Love Is Stronger Than Pride [EDIT]

Nailed to the Cross

Season of the Witch

Pearls (Somalia Mix)

Don't Control Me

Certainly Uncertain

The Big Unknown

The Man Who Has Hurt Me

Flower of the Universe (from Disney’s “A Wrinkle in Time”)

Flower of the Universe

Flower of the Universe (No I.D. Remix)

Hang on to Your Love (Allure remix)

Pearls (Timo Jahns Remix)

Nothing Can Come Between Us (Pomo Edit)

Paradise / Nothing Can Come Between Us (Live 2011)

By Your Side (Live 2011)

Love is Found (Live 2011)

Morning Bird (Live 2011)

No Ordinary Love (Live 2011)

Skin (Live 2011)

Cherish the Day (Live 2011)

Kiss of Life (Live 2011)

In Another Time (Live 2011)

Soldier Of Love (Live 2011)

All About Our Love (Live 2011)

Jezebel (Live 2011)

The Moon and the Sky (Live 2011)

I Would Never Have Guessed

The Moon and the Sky (Remix)

Still in Love With You

The Safest Place (NYC Dance Remix)

View all tracks by Sade →

Certainly Uncertain
Deniz Tutmaz
Don't Control Me
Excuses
Flower of the Universe (from Disney’s “A Wrinkle in Time”)
Jezebel
Love Cat
Maybe Baby
Nailed to the Cross
Proof

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Ms. Lauryn Hill

Ms. Lauryn Hill

Amy Winehouse

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The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame have revealed their 2026 class including Oasis, Wu-Tang Clan, Iron Maiden and Joy Division / New Order

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame have revealed their 2026 class including Oasis, Wu-Tang Clan, Iron Maiden and Joy Division / New Order

A record six British acts are honoured, surpassing 2019's haul of five.

14 Apr 2026 • 7:42 am

Credits

Production & Engineering

Writer: Raymond St. John, Sade Adu
Producer: Robin Millar
Engineer: Howard Page
Bass: Paul Spencer Denman
Drums: Pete Lewinson
Guitar: Leroy Osbourne, Ryan Waters, Stuart Matthewman
Keyboards: Andrew Hale
Assistant Engineer: Eric Johnston
Assistant Mixing Engineer: Andrew Nichols
Background Vocals: Leroy Osbourne, Tony Momrelle
Lead Vocals: Sade Adu
Mixing Engineer: Mike Pela
Percussion: Karl van den Bossche
Recording Engineer: Charlie Bouis, Ian Duncan
Saxophone: Stuart Matthewman