Masquerade
Bears and Motorcycles Lyrics

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Paint your face and run around
Dance in silky satin gowns
Turn my full length mirror dow-hown
Oh you think you're safe and sound
But you know what I found

Base this lifetime on a lie
Which you then proceed to hide

Comes a time I can't deci-hide
But don't you open up your eyes
To think it's time that you tried to see

Your masquerade
And that's an awful game to play
It's just a masquerade
Making you the queen of diamonds honey
On the ace, of spa-ya-ya-yades

Paint your face and run around
Dance in silky satin gowns
Turn my full length mirror dow-hown
Oh you think you're safe and sound
I thought you'd know I'd found

It's just a masquerade
And that's an awful game to play
It's just a masquerade
Making you the queen of diamonds honey
On the ace, of spa-ya-ya-yades

It's just a masquerade
It's just a masquerade

It's just a masquerade
It's just a masquerade

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Masquerade" by Bears and Motorcycles paint a picture of someone who is putting on a façade and living a lie. The repeated phrase "paint your face and run around" suggests an insincerity and a lack of authenticity. The use of the word "masquerade" throughout the song further emphasizes the theme of hiding behind a mask or persona.

The lyricist describes this person as wearing "silky satin gowns" and thinking they are "safe and sound," but ultimately they are living a life based on a lie. The line "comes a time I can't deci-hide" suggests that the truth will eventually come out and can no longer be hidden. However, the person is urged not to "open up your eyes" and instead to continue playing this dangerous game.

The chorus emphasizes the point that this masquerade is an "awful game to play" and that it's time for the person to face their true self. The metaphorical references to "queen of diamonds" and "ace of spades" suggest that this person is placing their worth on surface-level appearances rather than inner values.

Overall, "Masquerade" is a cautionary tale about the cost of living a life based on falsehoods and the importance of recognizing and embracing one's true identity.

Line by Line Meaning

Paint your face and run around
Put on a mask and pretend to be someone else wandering around

Dance in silky satin gowns
Swing around in luxurious clothes with the mask on

Turn my full length mirror dow-hown
Cover the whole reflection of true identity

Oh you think you're safe and sound
Assuming no one would recognize the true self

But you know what I found
But the truth is not hidden and became apparent

Base this lifetime on a lie
Living life on a false foundation

Which you then proceed to hide
And then cover it up

Comes a time I can't deci-hide
At some point, it becomes inconceivable to hide anymore

But don't you open up your eyes
But even then, it's your choice to turn a blind eye

To think it's time that you tried to see
And realize that it's time to recognize and accept the reality

Your masquerade
Your act of concealing true identity