Masquerade
Cast and Chorus Lyrics
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Sits on her pumpkin
The masquerade's over
Her gown is in shreds
Poor Cinderella
Watches the hours tick by
And wonders why
Why must she be someone else if she wanted to fly
Wearing another girl's smile
I laughed at all the dumb jokes they made
Even believing my guile
Why can't I be the girl that I am in my heart
Why must I spend my whole life just playing a part
Goodbye glass slipper
No prince is coming
He loved the fair maiden
He met at the ball
Not Cinderella
What lies beneath the mask
He'd never ask
She is left hollow and glumly returns to her task
I want to sing! I want to dance
I want to strip down to my underpants
Oh if I ever had the chance
I'd show to all of fucking France
The light inside of me
But... I live my life at the masquerade
Wearing another girl's smile
I laughed at all the dumb jokes they made
Even believing my guile.
Why can't I be the girl that I am in my heart
Why must I spend my whole life just playing a part
Apart
"Masquerade" by Cast and Chorus is a powerful song that explores the theme of identity and the struggle of conforming to societal expectations. The lyrics tell the story of Cinderella, who is trapped in a world where she is forced to be someone she is not. The opening lines depict her sitting on a pumpkin, symbolizing her lowly state and feeling of helplessness. The masquerade mentioned refers to the facade she must don in order to fit into society's mold.
The chorus of the song reflects Cinderella's internal struggle. She questions why she must pretend to be someone else in order to achieve her dreams and why she cannot be true to herself. The lyrics express her desire to break free from the constraints placed upon her and to be accepted for who she truly is.
The second verse introduces the idea of a prince, who is drawn to the fair maiden he met at the ball instead of Cinderella. This further emphasizes the contrast between Cinderella's true self and the false persona she must adopt. The lyrics illustrate her disappointment and resignation as she realizes that she will never be loved for who she truly is. She feels hollow and is forced to return to her mundane tasks, unable to express her talents and desires.
In the final verse, Cinderella expresses her longing to break free from the masquerade and unleash her true self. She yearns for the opportunity to sing, dance, and be seen for who she really is without fear of judgment or rejection. She imagines stripping away all pretenses and revealing the light inside her. However, she acknowledges that in her current reality, she is trapped in the masquerade, wearing another girl's smile and pretending to be someone she is not.
This song beautifully captures the universal struggle of individuals who feel constrained by societal expectations and long to embrace their true selves. It highlights the longing for authenticity, self-expression, and the desire to be loved for who one truly is.
Line by Line Meaning
Poor Cinderella
Unfortunate Cinderella
Sits on her pumpkin
Remains stationary on her pumpkin
The masquerade's over
The deceptive façade has ended
Her gown is in shreds
Her dress is torn into pieces
Watches the hours tick by
Observes the passing of time
And wonders why
And ponders the reason
Why must she be someone else if she wanted to fly
Why is it necessary for her to assume a different identity when she desires freedom
Oh, I live my life at the masquerade
Oh, I exist in a world of pretense
Wearing another girl's smile
Displaying an imitation of another girl's happiness
I laughed at all the dumb jokes they made
I chuckled at all the foolish jokes they created
Even believing my guile
Even falling for my own deceit
Why can't I be the girl that I am in my heart
Why am I unable to be the girl that truly resides within my heart
Why must I spend my whole life just playing a part
Why do I have to devote my entire existence to acting a role
Goodbye glass slipper
Farewell, symbol of fragile hope
No prince is coming
No prince is arriving
He loved the fair maiden
He adored the beautiful maiden
He met at the ball
Whom he encountered at the ball
Not Cinderella
Not Cinderella herself
What lies beneath the mask
What lies hidden beneath the disguise
He'd never ask
He would never inquire
She is left hollow and glumly returns to her task
She remains empty and gloomily resumes her duties
I want to sing! I want to dance
I desire to sing! I desire to dance
I want to strip down to my underpants
I yearn to undress and reveal my vulnerability
Oh if I ever had the chance
Oh, if I were ever granted the opportunity
I'd show to all of fucking France
I would demonstrate to the entire country of France
The light inside of me
The inner radiance within me
But... I live my life at the masquerade
However, I persist in my existence of deception
Wearing another girl's smile
Displaying an imitation of another girl's happiness
I laughed at all the dumb jokes they made
I chuckled at all the foolish jokes they created
Even believing my guile
Even falling for my own deceit
Why can't I be the girl that I am in my heart
Why am I unable to be the girl that truly resides within my heart
Why must I spend my whole life just playing a part
Why do I have to devote my entire existence to acting a role
Apart
Separated
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Naomi Park
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@susannajackson137
"it's a secret engagement, Raoul...so lets sing loudly next to people and no one will know!"
@tomasthegreen
I love this song so much, and especially when Madame Giry says "And what a Masquerade!" She has a beautiful voice and I wish she had a longer song than that and "Keep your hand at the level of your eyes"
@Bananianiown
"I hope no one notices this gorgeous engagement ring I've stealthily hidden right around my neck."
@wickedpheonix1995
I love this song. It's my favourite scene/song from the whole musical/film. The choreographers are just amazing. The costumes are beautiful and the dancers are so precise!! This is why I love this scene so much!! :D
@kellypleitez249
I want a party like this....
@mikantangerines
I like this version of Masquerade better than the play, the costumes here are just elegant and eye-friendly because everything blends.
@mikenzieschwalger4244
i wish my school could do a masquerade like this!
@ronnymickle3457
Anyone else notice how everyone is wearing black white or gold and then Christine shows up in pink! Hahaha
@AngelWivABentHalo
The chandelier crash is moved to create a difference between opera production and movie production and probably for dramatic effect when - SPOILERS - the theatre is burned down because of the candlelit chandelier. The phantom also kills in that scene so it makes him appear more menacing and fearsome. They also cut the line "remember there are worse things than a shattered chandelier" from Phantom's speech. Personally, I like the difference so that we can appreciate both interpretations :)
@randwilliams7184
We should get 6000 pple to walk down in the Macy's parade yelling, "MASQUERADE!"