I'm Afraid the Masquerade Is Over
Porter David Lyrics
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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
Your love and so is love
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
Your words don't mean what they used to me
They were once inspired, now they're just routine
I'm afraid the masquerade is over
The lyrics of Porter David's "I'm Afraid The Masquerade Is Over" express a heart-wrenching tale of a love coming to an end. The opening lines "My blue horizon is turning gray, and my dreams are drifting away" aptly describe the fading of hope and happiness in love. The singer realizes that the person he loves no longer reciprocates the same feelings, as evidenced by the lines "Your eyes don't shine like they used to shine, and the thrill is gone when your lips meet mine." The crux of the song comes from the chorus where the singer says "I'm afraid the masquerade is over, and so is love." The masquerade refers to the façade that they have been maintaining all this while, and the fear of removing it and facing the harsh reality of love falling apart.
The second verse accentuates the pain of a love long gone. The singer sees through the pretense his love is putting up, and his heart tells him that the person he loves is not the same anymore, adding "You look the same, You're a lot the same, but my heart says "No, no, you're not the same." The next line, "I guess I'll have to play Pagliacci and get myself a clown's disguise," is a reference to the Italian opera 'Pagliacci,' where the clown Pagliacci performs with a broken heart, hiding behind his painted smile. The singer, like Pagliacci, has to put up a happy facade, even though he is hurting inside, and "learn to laugh like Pagliacci with tears in my eyes."
Line by Line Meaning
My blue horizon is turning gray
My previously bright future is now becoming clouded with uncertainty and despair.
And my dreams are drifting away
The aspirations and hopes for my life are fading and losing their grasp on reality.
Your eyes don't shine like they used to shine
The love and affection you once had for me is no longer present in your gaze.
And the thrill is gone when your lips meet mine
The excitement and passion we once shared when we kissed has now vanished.
I'm afraid the masquerade is over
I fear that the deception and facade we have been hiding behind is now exposed and the truth is clear.
And so is love, and so is love
Our love is gone, and nothing can bring it back or change the reality of the situation.
Your love and so is love
Your affection towards me is no longer present, and our love has ended completely.
I guess I'll have to play Pagliacci and get myself a clown's disguise
I will have to pretend that everything is alright and put on a happy face, even though my heart is breaking.
And learn to laugh like Pagliacci with tears in my eyes
I must be able to put on an act of joy and laughter despite the intense sorrow I feel inside.
You look the same
Your physical appearance has not changed, but our relationship has.
You're a lot the same
Though you may seem familiar, our love has changed and is no longer the same as it once was.
But my heart says "No, no, you're not the same"
Although you may appear to be the same person, my feelings towards you have shifted and changed.
Your words don't mean what they used to me
The things you say to me no longer carry the same weight or significance they once did.
They were once inspired, now they're just routine
The passion and creativity that used to inspire me in your words are now dull and monotonous.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Allie Wrubel, Herbert Magidson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind