The Grand Masquerade
We’re having a big party, and you’re all invited
The doctor, the dentist, the teacher, the preacher,
Even the old Wal-Mart greeter;
Your roommate from college, your sweetheart from high school,
That guy you smoked hash with out by the public pool;
Everyone’s coming, the presidents, too.
Come dressed to the nines, mask over your true face,
And join us in the dance, the Grand Masquerade.
CHORUS:
We’ll dance and we’ll sing,
Pretend everything’s fine.
See no war, no strife,
No sin, no lying.
No telling who’s who,
True memories will fade,
When you come to dance
In the Grand Masquerade
The preacher, he smiles, drinking under his mask.
His despair is great in the loss of his faith.
The doctor’s kind face hides his darkest sin:
The poor man he didn’t cure, ’cause there’s no money in them.
We all have something to hide behind our faces
But this crowd could put you through your paces.
Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe said it right
Come join the paper-faced parade tonight!
CHORUS
This big ball is not some one-night-only,
But it’ll leave you bereft and lonely.
You’ll see a face for everyone you know
And that will be the face they want to show.
No knowing your friends have daggers on their lips
And loose them behind you after a few sips.
You know you already follow us in the dance,
So why do you try to catch a second glance?
CHORUS
