An actress, singer, talk show host, and author, the multi-talented Reese first started singing in church in her hometown of Detroit when she was six years old. By the age of 13, she was touring with gospel great Mahalia Jackson; then, at 18, she formed the Meditation Singers and became the first performer to bring gospel music to the casinos of Las Vegas. Reese expanded her musical repertoire as a vocalist with the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra and began recording albums, with such hits as "Don't You Know" and "And That Reminds Me" in the 1950s. She appeared extensively as a guest on the top television variety series, logging more than 20 appearances in one year on The Ed Sullivan Show on the CBS Television Network. Reese was nominated for a Grammy Award as Best Female Soloist in Gospel Music in 1987.
Tapping into her other skills, she was host of a television talk show in 1969-1970, then began guest-starring in such series as Sanford and Son, The A-Team, Crazy Like a Fox and Picket Fences. She starred in the CBS Network series Charlie & Co. and The Royal Family. Reese's current projects include a new album based on her 27-city tour with her revue, "Some of My Best Friends Are the Blues," as well as song on the Touched By An Angel Soundtrack. Her best-selling autobiography, "Angels Along the Way," is published by G.P. Putnam's Sons. Reese also starred in the telefilms Emma's Wish, with Joanna Kerns, and The Secret Path, with Ossie Davis.
The Party's Over
Della Reese 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 Party's Over" by Della Reese is a song about the end of a fun and exciting event, and the realization that it's time to face reality again. The opening line, "The party's over, it's time to call it a day," immediately sets the tone of the song, implying that the fun has come to an end. The line "They've burst your pretty balloon and taken the moon away" suggests the idea of something that was once beautiful and magical has been destroyed, and the reality has set in that nothing lasts forever.
The song highlights the idea of putting on a façade at a party, dressing up, and pretending to be someone you're not. As the verse continues, "It's time to wind up the masquerade, just make your mind up, the piper must be paid," it seems as though people have been pretending for too long, and now it's time to move on from the party and to return to reality.
The final verse emphasizes the transient nature of life itself. "Now you must wake up, all dreams must end, take off your makeup, the party's over, it's all over, my friend." This last line is particularly poignant, with its suggestion that even friendships do not last forever.
Line by Line Meaning
The party's over, it's time to call it a day
The good times have ended and it's time to go home and get back to reality.
They've burst your pretty balloon
Your hopes and dreams have been crushed by reality.
And taken the moon away
The beautiful things in life have been taken away, leaving you feeling empty and alone.
It's time to wind up the masquerade
It's time to stop pretending and face reality.
Just make your mind up
Make a decision to move forward and leave the past behind.
The piper must be paid
You must face the consequences of your actions and pay the price for your choices.
The candles flicker and dim
The good times are fading away and coming to an end.
You danced and dreamed through the night
You enjoyed yourself and had dreams that seemed possible in the moment.
It seemed to be right just being with him
You believed that being with someone made everything feel perfect and complete.
Now you must wake up, all dreams must end
It's time to face reality and accept that dreams don't always come true.
Take off your makeup, the party's over
It's time to remove the facade and be honest about who you are and what you want.
It's all over, my friend
The chapter has ended, and it's time to move forward with your life.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ADOLPH GREEN, BETTY COMDEN, JULE STYNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind