The Ugly Duckling
Illusion Suite Lyrics

The pain that I feel;
I am going through excruciating physical or emotional discomfort;

the agony,
I experience intense, prolonged pain or suffering;

the tribulation,
I am facing a time of great hardship, struggle or adversity;

is something I will overcome.
I am hopeful that I will get past this and emerge stronger;

And I see the swan pond.
Despite my difficulties, there is some beauty and positivity in my life that I can find solace in;

It's hard to imagine a life free of strain.
I find it difficult to envision a future where I won't face challenges or difficulties, but I'm determined to keep trying.

I want this life that I am constantly denied.
I crave a life that I am not currently able to have, but I won't give up on trying to attain it;

They raise their hand in repugnance,
Others react with disgust or dislike towards me or something I do or say;

but I will get through.
I am determined to persevere despite the negative reaction of others and succeed despite the odds.

Hey, duck,
The artist is being addressed in a derogatory way;

go and hide inside!
The singer is being told to retreat or conceal themselves;

You are too foul and ugly to socialize.
The artist is being insulted and degraded based on their physical appearance to discourage them from interacting socially;

You might even scare them off.
The singer is being told they will frighten and repulse others if they try to engage with them;

Complain and cry.
The singer is being told to express their grievances and tears;

You are a sucker,
The singer is being called a foolish or gullible person;

you are a nasty case.
The artist is labeled as unpleasant, disagreeable, or undesirable;

Your face should be hidden,
The artist is being scorned and belittled based on their appearance;

your presence forbidden.
The singer is being told they are not welcome around others and should stay away;

Inside I am a diamond,
The singer has a hidden inner beauty, strength, or value that may not be immediately visible;

but turning inside out
Revealing this inner beauty or strength is difficult, unnatural or even painful;

is painfully complicated.
The process of bringing forth and revealing the artist's innermost qualities is often painful and challenging;

Now I will take my life and my leave.
The artist has decided to leave their current situation or circumstance, possibly permanently;

Looking into the water;
The singer is observing their reflection in a body of water;

too shocked to duck and drown.
The artist is too surprised or stunned to react to their reflection in a negative way;

I'm not the one that I used to be.
The singer has changed and evolved over time;

The mirror shows a swan.
The singer now sees themselves as beautiful and graceful, like a swan, instead of ugly and worthless like a duck.

Hey swan,
The singer is now being addressed in a more positive and flattering way;

play with us tonight.
The artist is being invited to engage in social activities with others;

Follow the secret path where the river ends.
The artist is being given a direction to follow to reach a specific destination, possibly symbolic of finding their true purpose or happiness;

We welcome you to our home.
The singer is being made to feel welcome and included among others for the first time;

This way!
The singer is being guided towards a positive, new direction;

Come now!
The artist is being urged to join in the social activities that are on offer;

You came out of nowhere.
The other characters are surprised and impressed by the artist's sudden appearance in their lives;

We want you to live your life.
The other characters encourage the artist to embrace life fully and not be held back by their previous pain or self-doubt.