Masquerade
(Andrew Lloyd Webber)
Masquerade
by Andrew Lloyd Webber
“ Masquerade ” is a song from the 1986 musical The Phantom Of The Opera with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart, and a libretto by Lloyd Webber and Richard Stilgoe. Based on the 1910 French novel of the same name by Gaston Leroux, its central plot revolves around a beautiful soprano, Christine Daaé, who becomes the obsession of a mysterious, masked musical genius living in the subterranean labyrinth beneath the Paris Opéra House.
The musical opened in London’s West End in 1986, and on Broadway in 1988. It won the 1986 Olivier Award and the 1988 Tony Award for Best Musical, and Michael Crawford (in the title role) won the Olivier and Tony Awards for Best Actor in a Musical. It is currently the longest running show in Broadway history, and celebrated its 10,000th Broadway performance on 11 February 2012, the first production ever to do so.
Lyrics
Masquerade
Paper faces on parade . . .
Masquerade!
Hide your face,
So the world will
Never find you!
Masquerade!
Every face a different shade . . .
Masquerade!
Look around –
There’s another
Mask behind you!
Flash of mauve . . .
Splash of puce . . .
Fool and king . . .
Ghoul and goose . . .
Green and black . . .
Queen and priest . . .
Trace of rouge . . .
Face of beast . . .
Faces . . .
Take your turn, take a ride
On the merry-go-round . . .
In an inhuman race . . .
Eye of gold . . .
Thigh of blue . . .
True is false . . .
Who is who . . .?
Curl of lip . . .
Swirl of gown . . .
Ace of hearts . . .
Face of clown . . .
Faces . . .
Drink it in, drink it up,
Till you’ve drowned
In the light . . .
In the sound . . .
RAOUL/CHRISTINE
But who can name the face . . .?
ALL
Masquerade!
Grinning yellows,
Spinning reds . . .
Masquerade!
Take your fill –
Let the spectacle
Astound you!
Masquerade!
Burning glances,
Turning heads . . .
Masquerade!
Stop and stare
At the sea of smiles
Around you!
Masquerade!
Seething shadows
Breathing lies . . .
Masquerade!
You can fool
Any friend who
Ever knew you!
Masquerade!
Leering satyrs,
Peering eyes . . .
Masquerade!
Run and hide –
But a face will
Still pursue you!
GIRY
What a night
MEG
What a crowd!
ANDRE
Makes you glad!
FIRMIN
Makes you proud!
All the creme
De la creme!
CARLOTTA
Watching us watching them!
MEG/GlRY
And all our fears
Are in the past!
ANDRE
Six months…
PIANGI
Of relief!
CARLOTTA
Of delight!
ANDRE/FIRMIN
Of Elysian peace!
MEG/GIRY
And we can breathe at last!
CARLOTTA
No more notes!
PIANGI
No more ghost!
GIRY
Here’s a health!
ANDRE
Here’s a toast:
To a prosperous year!
FIRMIN
To the new chandelier!
PIANGI/CARLOTTA
And may its
Splendour never fade!
FIRMIN
Six months!
GIRY
What a joy!
MEG
What a change!
FIRMIN/ANDRE
What a blessed release!
ANDRE
And what a masquerade!
CHRISTINE
Think of it!
A secret engagement!
Look – your future bride!
Just think of it!
RAOUL
But why is it secret?
What have we to hide?
CHRISTINE
Please, let’s not fight . . .
RAOUL
Christine, you’re free!
CHRISTINE
Wait till the time is right . . .
RAOUL
When will that be?
It’s an engagement,
Not a crime!
Christine,
What are you
Afraid of?
CHRISTINE
Let’s not argue . . .
RAOUL
Let’s not argue . . .
CHRISTINE
Please pretend . . .
RAOUL
I can only hope I’ll . . .
CHRISTINE
You will . . .
BOTH
. . . understand
In time . . .
ALL
Masquerade!
Paper faces on parade!
Masquerade!
Hide your face,
So the world will
Never find you!
Masquerade!
Every face a different shade!
Masquerade!
Look around –
There’s another
Mask behind you!
Masquerade!
Burning glances,
Turning heads . . .
Masquerade!
Stop and stare
At the sea of smiles
Around you!
Masquerade!
Grinning yellows,
Spinning reds . . .
Masquerade!
Take your fill –
Let the spectacle
Astound you
PHANTOM
Why so silent, good messieurs?
Did you think that I had left you for good?
Have you missed me, good messieurs?
I have written you an opera!
Here I bring the finished score –
“Don Juan Triumphant”!
I advise you
To comply –
My instructions
Should be clear –
Remember
There are worse things
Than a shattered chandelier . . .
Your chains are still mine –
You will sing for me!
Songwriters: Andrew Lloyd Webber / Richard Henry Zachary S. Stilgoe / Charles A. Hart
