Main Title
Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra Lyrics


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When we played our charade
We were like children posing
Playing at games, acting out names
Guessing the parts we played

Oh what a hit we made
We came on next to closing
Best on the bill, lovers until
Love left the masquerade

Fate seemed to pull the strings
I turned and you were gone
While from the darkened wings
The music box played on

Sad little serenade
Song of my heart's composing
I hear it still, I always will




Best on the bill
Charade

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Main Title" by Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra, particularly in the first verse, captures the essence of a charade or a game of make-believe; the playful and childlike atmosphere where individuals act out roles, giving clues for others to guess. The second verse speaks of the inevitable end of such games, where the love that was built during its course ends as the players remove their masks. The key line, "Fate seemed to pull the strings" suggests the powerful force at play that intervenes in the lives of the players, bringing about the end of the game.


The third verse represents the metaphorical aftermath of the game, where the players have gone their separate ways. The line "while from the darkened wings, the music box played on" is significant in that it represents the memories that continue playing despite the end of the game. The last line, "Charade," aptly sums up the whole song, indicating that the game was but a charade that will always hold a special place in the hearts of those who played it.


Line by Line Meaning

When we played our charade
When we pretended to be something we're not


We were like children posing
We were inexperienced and naive in our acting


Playing at games, acting out names
Participating in games, pretending to be different characters


Guessing the parts we played
Trying to identify the roles we were playing by guessing who we were pretending to be


Oh what a hit we made
We were very successful in our act


We came on next to closing
We came on stage towards the end of the show


Best on the bill, lovers until
We were the main attraction and acted as lovers in our performance


Love left the masquerade
When our act was over, our love for each other was revealed to be a sham


Fate seemed to pull the strings
It appeared as if our destiny was predetermined and we couldn't control it


I turned and you were gone
When I looked for you, you had disappeared


While from the darkened wings
From the unseen backstage area


The music box played on
The music kept playing even after our act was over


Sad little serenade
A melancholic, emotional song that expresses my feelings


Song of my heart's composing
A song that I created and that expresses my emotions


I hear it still, I always will
I can still hear the song and it will always be with me


Best on the bill
The most successful act of the night


Charade
Our act was just an illusion




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Henry N. Mancini, Johnny Mercer

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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