The Party's Over
Anita O Lyrics
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They've burst your pretty balloon
And taken the moon away
It's time to wind up the masquerade
Just make your mind up
The piper must be paid
The party's over, the candles flicker and dim
It seemed to be right just being with him
Now you must wake up, all dreams must end
Take off your makeup, the party's over
It's all over, my friend
The party's over, it's time to call it a day
They've burst your pretty balloon
And taken the moon away
Now you must wake up, all dreams must end
Take off your makeup, the party's over
It's all over, my friend
It's all over, my friend
The lyrics of Anita O'Day's song The Party's Over express the melancholy experience of waking up from a dream-like state and realizing that reality has set in. The first few lines unravel the fact that the party has ended and it's now time to call it a day. The lyric "they've burst your pretty balloon" seems to suggest that something beautiful has been ruined, or that a dream-like state of mind has been punctured by the unmerciful reality of daybreak. Additionally, the metaphorical statement that "they've taken the moon away" could also imply that the magic and allure of the night has ended and everything is now bereft of the enchantment it held previously.
The idea of wearing masks for a masquerade ball is further explored in the song when she sings "It's time to wind up the masquerade." This line seems to imply that at some point or another, everyone in the party was pretending to be something they're not, with their masks on. The line that comes next, "Just make your mind up, the piper must be paid" suggests that it's time to face the consequences of whatever actions were taken while the masks were on, and come out of the artifice.
Finally, the line "It's all over, my friend" makes it clear that time has passed, and there is no real way to go back to the state of being one inhabited when the dream was alive. The song is full of melancholy nostalgia for something that seems so long ago, and it perfectly captures the sense of loss and sadness that comes with waking up from a dream.
Line by Line Meaning
The party's over, it's time to call it a day
The celebration has ended, and it's time to conclude and go home.
They've burst your pretty balloon
Your excitement and joy have been crushed.
And taken the moon away
The sense of magic and wonder that you once had has vanished.
It's time to wind up the masquerade
It's time to bring the deception and false appearances to a close.
Just make your mind up
You must decide and commit to a course of action.
The piper must be paid
You must face the consequences of your actions, whether positive or negative.
The candles flicker and dim
The atmosphere and mood are becoming subdued and melancholy.
You danced and dreamed through the night
You entertained illusions and escaped from reality.
It seemed to be right just being with him
At the moment, it appeared to be the right choice to be with him.
Now you must wake up, all dreams must end
It's time to face the reality of the situation and move forward.
Take off your makeup, the party's over
It's time to remove the facade and reveal your true self.
It's all over, my friend
The experience has come to an end, and it's time to move on.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ADOLPH GREEN, BETTY COMDEN, JULE STYNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind