His awards include seven Tonys, three Grammys including Best Contemporary Classical Composition for Requiem, seven Oliviers, a Golden Globe, an Oscar, two International Emmys, the Praemium Imperiale, the Richard Rodgers Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre, a BASCA Fellowship and the Kennedy Center Honor.
He currently owns six London theatres, including the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and the London Palladium.
Finale
Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Masquerade,
paper faces on parade
masquerade
so the world will never find you
hide your face
Christine, I love you.
Say you'll share with me
one love, one lifetime
Christine:
Phantom:
Say the word
Christine:
and I will follow you
Share each day with me
each night, each morning
Phantom:
You alone can make my song take flight
Its over now, the music of the night.
The lyrics of Andrew Lloyd Webber's song Finale from The Phantom of the Opera are poignant and dramatic, capturing the essence of the story's final moments. The song begins with the Phantom commenting on the masquerade that is taking place around him, with "paper faces on parade." He is urging those around him to hide their true selves, so that "the world will never find you." This reflects the Phantom's own desire to hide from the world, to exist in the shadows.
The focus of the song then shifts to Christine, whom the Phantom declares his love for with the words "Christine, I love you." He pleads with her to share with him "one love, one lifetime," asking her to "say the word" and promising to follow her wherever she goes. Christine responds by agreeing to share each day and night with him, and the Phantom exclaims that she alone can make his song take flight.
Line by Line Meaning
Masquerade
Disguise your true identity
paper faces on parade
Putting on a show and displaying false personalities
masquerade
Continue disguising yourself to keep your true intentions hidden
so the world will never find you
Conceal yourself and your motives from others to avoid being discovered
hide your face
Cover up your true self and intentions physically and metaphorically
Christine, I love you.
Expressing love and affection towards another person named Christine
Say you'll share with me
Agree to collaborate and cooperate with the singer
one love, one lifetime
Committing to a long-lasting relationship with the artist
Say the word
Waiting for confirmation or acceptance from Christine
and I will follow you
Willing to support and accompany Christine wherever she goes
Share each day with me
Spend time and share experiences with the singer on a daily basis
each night, each morning
Affirming a desire to be with the artist at all times of the day
You alone can make my song take flight
Acknowledging that Christine alone has the capacity to inspire the singer and bring his creativity to life
Its over now, the music of the night.
The night has come to an end and thus the music that was created in the darkness must end as well.
Contributed by Caden E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.