This Masquerade
´The Carpenters Lyrics


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Are we really happy with
This lonely game we play
Looking for the right words to say
Searching but not finding
Understanding anyway
We're lost in this masquerade

Both afraid to say we're just too far away
From being close together from the start
We tried to talk it over
But the words got in the way
We're lost inside this lonely game we play

Thoughts of leaving disappear
Each time I see your eyes
And no matter how hard I try
To understand the reason
Why we carry on this way
And we're lost in this masquerade

We tried to talk it over
But the words got in the way
We're lost inside this lonely game we play

Thoughts of leaving disappear
Each time I see your eyes
And no matter how hard I try
To understand the reason
Why we carry on this way
And we're lost in this masquerade





We're lost in a masquerade

Overall Meaning

The Carpenters' classic ballad 'This Masquerade' is a song about a couple who are struggling to communicate and connect with each other. The lyrics suggest that they have been playing a 'lonely game' of searching for the right words to say, but not finding understanding anyway. They are both afraid to admit that they are too far apart, and their attempts to talk things over are hindered by the 'words getting in the way'. They are lost in a masquerade, hiding behind masks of their own making.


Throughout the song, the singer expresses their confusion and despair at being trapped in this cycle of misunderstanding. They admit that thoughts of leaving have crossed their mind, but each time they look into their partner's eyes, the desire to stay overrides the impulse to flee. There is a sense of resignation in the lyrics, as if the couple have resigned themselves to the fact that they are stuck in this masquerade forever.


Line by Line Meaning

Are we really happy with
Are we truly content with


This lonely game we play
This solitude-filled charade we put on


Looking for the right words to say
Searching for the perfect thing to say


Searching but not finding
Looking but not discovering


Understanding anyway
Still trying to understand


We're lost in this masquerade
We're confused in this façade


Both afraid to say we're just too far away
We're both scared to admit we're too distant from each other


From being close together from the start
From being intimately connected from the beginning


We tried to talk it over
We attempted to discuss it


But the words got in the way
But we couldn't express ourselves successfully


We're lost inside this lonely game we play
We're trapped in this solitary performance we're portraying


Thoughts of leaving disappear
The idea of leaving fades


Each time I see your eyes
Whenever I gaze into your eyes


And no matter how hard I try
Regardless of how much I try


To understand the reason
To comprehend the cause


Why we carry on this way
Why we continue behaving like this


And we're lost in this masquerade
And we're disoriented in this disguise


We're lost in a masquerade
We're lost in a masquerade




Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: LEON RUSSELL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@HotRodBill99

Besides Karen's perfect pitch angelic voice, Richard's piano is absolutely amazing and his arrangements are brilliant. There is nothing today that compares to this. Pure magic!

@SUGAR_XYLER

Agree. I still remember the shock of her death 40 years ago on this day 💔

@dean3434

Yes indeed Richard was focused at all times. After a few years he was 'required' to be focused from the bosses.

@dean3434

Richard Carpenter I see is continuing his craft and I anticipate he will keep-on-keeping on to help others along the way.

@dean3434

Yes. Richard Carpenter is highly talented and he is one of the good guys still working and I'm sure introducing new talent and helping to produce new talent.

@guilhermecanaes7003

The beautyest piano solo ever, no words to describe...

2 More Replies...

@user-ny7my1wp4l

Aunque no le entiendo porque no hablo inglés su voz y su música es magnífica lastima que murió muy joven que maravillosa su voz desde México con cariño❤😢

@leisasheehan6672

Love, Love, Love this song. One of my all time favourites. The Carpenters still do it for me all these years later. ❤

@tishkerrville8942

🙏

@marcosaureliocarvalhodossa5249

Na minha humilde opinião, Karen Carpenter foi a voz feminina mais linda de todos os tempos 💘💘💘

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