“Skin” is the fifth track off Ray Of Light.
The song opens up with distorted vocals over the beats of an electronic orchestra. The song seems to be about the physical desire of another person, in fact it was titled “Flirtation Dance” during the first writing sessions of the album.
[Intro]
Do I know you from somewhere?
Why do you leave me wanting more?
Why do all the things I say
Sound like the stupid things I've said before?
Put your hand on my skin
Put your hand on my skin
Put your hand on my skin
[Verse 1]
Kiss me, I'm dying
Put your hand on my skin
I close my eyes
I need to make a connection
I'm walking on a thin line
I close my eyes
I close my eyes
[Chorus]
Do I know you from somewhere?
Why do you leave me wanting more?
Why do all the things I say
Sound like the stupid things I've said before?
[Verse 2]
Touch me, I'm trying
To see inside of your soul
I've got this thing
I want to make a correction
I'm not like this all the time
You've got this thing
You've got this thing
[Chorus]
Do I know you from somewhere?
Why do you leave me wanting more?
Why do all the things I say
Sound like the stupid things I've said before?
[Bridge]
Kiss me, I'm dying
Put your hand on my skin
I close my eyes
I need to have your protection
I close my eyes
I close your eyes
(Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss me)
[Chorus]
Do I know you from somewhere?
Why do you leave me wanting more?
Why do all the things I say
Sound like the stupid things I've said before?
Do I know you from somewhere?
Why do you leave me wanting more?
Why do all the things I say
Sound like the stupid things I've said before?
[Outro]
Kiss me, I'm dying
Touch me, I'm trying, oh
I'm not like this all the time
I'm not like this all the time
Put your hand on my skin
Put your hand on my skin
Put your hand on my skin
Touch me, I'm trying, oh
Put your hand on my skin
Put your hand on my skin
I'm not like this all the time
I'm not like this all the time
I'm not like this all the time
Put your hand on my skin
Put your hand on my skin
Skin was written by Patrick Leonard & Madonna.
Skin was produced by Marius de Vries & William Orbit & Madonna.
Producer William Orbit on why pitch-delay effects were used in the song:
That was Marius; he and I worked on that one. The bit where it kind of drops down is a looped-up guitar – a guitar phrase, looped up and then pitched up and down again.
–via KeyboardMag (1998)