Bobby Darin (May 14, 1936 - December 20, 1973, Bronx NY.) was born Walden R… Read Full Bio ↴Bobby Darin (May 14, 1936 - December 20, 1973, Bronx NY.) was born Walden Robert Cassotto and was one of the most popular rock and roll American teen idols of the late 1950s. However, he is widely respected for being a multi-talented, versatile performer.

Darin was a very special and talented entertainer. He was a Grammy award winning singer ('Mack The Knife'), a respected member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ('Dream Lover', 'Splish Splash', 'If I Were A Carpenter') a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, a successful record producer, an Oscar nominated actor and a strong supporter of the American Heart Association. Bobby was married to actress Sandra Dee from 1960-1967. They had one son, Dodd, born in December 1961. As a result of complications from a rheumatic heart, Bobby's life was tragically cut short in 1973.

Darin's mother, Vanina Cassotto, had given birth to him when she was 16, and as a result, her parents raised Darin as though he were their son while Vanina was presented off as his elder sister. Darin did not learn the truth about his parentage until he was 32.

For more on Bobby Darin, watch "Beyond the Sea," in which Kevin Spacey portrays the entertainer.

Party's Over
Bobby Darin Lyrics

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The party's over
It's time to call it a day
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
You danced and dreamed through the night
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
Now you must wake up
All dreams must end

Take off your makeup

The party's over
It's all over, my friend

Overall Meaning

The song "Party's Over" by Bobby Darin is a classic song about the end of a party, but it has a deeper meaning of the end of a relationship as well. The lyrics convey a sense of sadness and resignation, as the party-goer realizes that the fun has ended and that it's time to face reality. The line "They've burst your pretty balloon and taken the moon away" is a metaphor for the end of a dream or a romantic fantasy. The moon represents the ideal, the perfect life or relationship, and when it is taken away, the reality of the situation is revealed.

The image of the masquerade is also significant, as it represents the false pretenses that people often put up in social situations. The piper, who must be paid, is a reference to the Pied Piper of Hamelin, who lured children away with his music. In this case, the party-goer has been lured into a false sense of security, and now must face the consequences.

The final lines of the song, "It's all over, my friend, now you must wake up, all dreams must end, take off your makeup," bring the metaphor full circle. The dream is over, and it's time to face reality. The makeup represents the pretenses that people put up in social situations, and now it's time to take it off and confront the truth.

Overall, "Party's Over" is a poignant and bittersweet song that speaks to the human experience of facing the end of a dream or a relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

The party's over
The fun and excitement of the event is over

It's time to call it a day
It's time to end the event and go back to your everyday routines

They've burst your pretty balloon
Someone or something has shattered your expectations and hopes

And taken the moon away
Your sense of wonder and magic has vanished

It's time to wind up the masquerade
The game of deception and pretending is over

Just make your mind up
You need to take a decision

The piper must be paid
You have to face the consequences of your actions

The candles flicker and dim
The lights and energy of the celebration are fading away

You danced and dreamed through the night
You enjoyed yourself and imagined a different reality for a while

It seemed to be right
You felt that everything was perfect and in place