Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. was born in 1939 to Marvin Gay, Sr. and Alberta Gay in Washington, D.C.. Gaye began his career in Motown in 1958, and soon became Motown's top solo male artist. He scored numerous hits during the 1960s, among them "Ain't That Peculiar", "Stubborn Kind of Fellow", and "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)", as well as several hit duets with Tammi Terrell, including "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"" and "You're All I Need to Get By", before moving on to his own form of musical self-expression.
Along with Stevie Wonder, Gaye is notable for fighting the hit-making—but creatively restrictive—Motown record-making process, in which performers, songwriters and record producers were generally kept in separate camps. Gaye forced Motown to release his 1971 album What's Going On, which is today hailed as one of the best albums of all time. Subsequent releases proved that Gaye, who had been a part-time songwriter for Motown artists during his early years with the label, could write and produce his own singles without having to rely on the Motown system. This achievement would pave the way for the successes of later self-sufficient singer-songwriter-producers in African American music, such as Luther Vandross and Babyface.
During the 1970s, Gaye would release several other notable albums, including Let's Get It On and I Want You, and released several successful singles such as "Come Get to This", "Got to Give It Up" and "Sexual Healing". By the time of his shooting death in 1984, at the hands of his clergyman father, Gaye had become one of the most influential artists of the soul music era.
The Masquerade Is Over
Marvin Gaye Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And my dreams are drifting away
Your eyes don't shine like they used to shine
And the thrill is gone when your lips meet mine
I'm afraid the masquerade is over
And so is love, and so is love
They were once inspired, now they're just routine
I'm afraid the masquerade is over
And so is love, and so is love
I guess I'll have to play Pagliacci
And get myself a clown's disguise
And learn to laugh like Pagliacci
With tears in my eyes
You look the same, you're a lot the same
But my heart says "no, no, you're not the same"
I'm afraid the masquerade is over
And so is love, and so is love
I guess I'll have to play Pagliacci
And get myself a clown's disguise
And learn to laugh like Pagliacci
With tears in my eyes
You look the same, you're a lot the same
But my heart says "No, no, you're not the same"
I'm afraid the masquerade is over
And so is love, and so is love
In "The Masquerade Is Over," Marvin Gaye laments the loss of love and the end of a relationship. He describes his once-blue horizon turning grey and his dreams drifting away, as he faces the reality that the thrill is gone when he and his lover kiss. He recognizes that the masquerade (the pretending and masking of true feelings) is over and that love has ended. Gaye also notices a change in his partner's behavior- their words are no longer inspired and have become routine. He compares himself to Pagliacci, an opera character who wears a clown's disguise and performs with tears in his eyes, promising to learn to laugh like him. He ends the song by acknowledging that although his partner looks the same, his heart knows the truth- the love is over.
The lyrics of this song can be interpreted in a number of ways, but the underlying theme seems to be the loss of true love and the pretense that often comes with it. Gaye's heartbreak and disillusionment are palpable in his vocal delivery, making "The Masquerade Is Over" a powerful expression of romantic disappointment.
Line by Line Meaning
My blue horizon is turning grey
The once bright and hopeful future I saw for us is becoming bleak and uncertain.
And my dreams are drifting away
The aspirations and hopes I had for us are slowly disappearing.
Your eyes don't shine like they used to shine
The love and passion that used to ignite in your eyes when you looked at me are now absent.
And the thrill is gone when your lips meet mine
The excitement and pleasure I used to feel when we kissed are no longer there.
I'm afraid the masquerade is over
I can no longer pretend that things are okay between us. The facade I've been putting on is crumbling.
And so is love, and so is love
Our relationship is coming to an end, and so is the affection and affection we had for each other.
Your words don't mean what they used to mean
The promises and declarations of love you used to make feel empty and meaningless now.
They were once inspired, now they're just routine
The things you used to say that came from the heart now feel like empty phrases you repeat without thinking.
I guess I'll have to play Pagliacci
I have to put on a brave face and pretend that I'm okay, just like the clown in the famous opera.
And get myself a clown's disguise
I need to put on a mask and hide my true emotions to avoid further hurt and humiliation.
And learn to laugh like Pagliacci
I must learn to hide my sadness and pretend that everything is fine so that others won't see my pain.
With tears in my eyes
Even though I have to act as if I'm happy, the pain I feel inside is real and I cannot hide it completely.
You look the same, you're a lot the same
Although you seem familiar, you are not the person I fell in love with. You have changed.
But my heart says "No, no, you're not the same"
My heart recognizes the difference and knows that the love we shared is no more.
I'm afraid the masquerade is over
I can no longer pretend that things are okay between us. The facade I've been putting on is crumbling.
And so is love, and so is love
Our relationship is coming to an end, and so is the affection and affection we had for each other.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Allie Wrubel, Herbert Magidson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
n00se
Your eyes don't shine like they used to shine
And the thrill is gone when your lips meet mine
I'm affraid the masquerade is over
And so is love, my darling and so is love
Your words don't mean what they used to me
They were once inspired, now they're just routine
I'm affraid the masquerade is over
And so is love, my darling and so is love
I guess I'll have to play Pagliacci and get myself a clown's disguise
And learn to laugh like Pagliacci with tears in my eyes
You look the same
You're a lot the same
But my heart says "No, no, you're not the same"
I'm affraid the masquerade is over
And so is love, and so is love
So is love, the masquerade is over
So is love
n00se
Your eyes don't shine like they used to shine
And the thrill is gone when your lips meet mine
I'm affraid the masquerade is over
And so is love, my darling and so is love
Your words don't mean what they used to me
They were once inspired, now they're just routine
I'm affraid the masquerade is over
And so is love, my darling and so is love
I guess I'll have to play Pagliacci and get myself a clown's disguise
And learn to laugh like Pagliacci with tears in my eyes
You look the same
You're a lot the same
But my heart says "No, no, you're not the same"
I'm affraid the masquerade is over
And so is love, and so is love
So is love, the masquerade is over
So is love
Norman Frederick
Love the Round Midnight intro!
Catherine Mitchell
LOVELY!
Kevin Spencer
Nancy Wilson owns this one. But Marvin’s is wonderful as well.
Dirtiest Nastiest
Funny to see the older Marvin Gaye basically as a crooner, after knowing his more recent musical endeavors.
Romarina
I’m doubting if that’s Marvin’s voice?
Nora Johnson
love Marvin, but Nancy Wilson, best of all....better than Etta James, who I adore!
classanddignity
Nancy Wilson copied off of Jimmy Scott, who sung circles around her singing this song and any song. Jimmy Scott did it best. When he was younger his voice was untouchable. Nancy does not have the pipes and depth to out sing him.
Edélcio Alonso
I personally enjoy David Porter's more funked out version, the emotion he outputs is contagious
Blink beatbox
agree. nancy wiilson wins to me