According to Bettis, this track was supposed to be the very first Carpenters single, but was later relegated to the B-side of "Ticket to Ride". The demo version of "Your Wonderful Parade", released later on The Essential Collection, forms the basic of this recording. The four-track tape from the bassist Joe Osborn session was transferred to A&M's eight track machine, enabling Richard's lead vocal to be re-recorded, and a string section added to the existing bass, drums, piano and backing vocals.
This marks as the first The Carpenters song featuring Richard as the lead vocals.
Your Wonderful Parade
The Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Moving thru the towns that rise and then they fade
Over streets that pass the houses where you've stayed
Your wonderful parade
Your daily masquerade
Paper masks behind this face that you have made
Crumble down upon foundation that you've laid
Your daily masquerade
(*) Stand in line try to climb
Meet your wife at cocktail time
Surely you should try and choose a better way to fall
Your marvelous charade
Never could be worth the prices that you've paid
Blindness is a part of every game you've played
Your marvelous charade
Repeat (*)
Your daily masquerade
Your wonderful parade
The Carpenters song "Your Wonderful Parade" is a poignant examination of the masks people put on as they navigate through life. The lyrics speak to the idea that everyone has a daily routine, a "parade" that they put on each day. Moving through familiar towns and streets, wearing a mask that hides their true selves. The song suggests that the masks we wear are fragile, and can crumble down upon the foundation we've laid.
The chorus encourages the listener to break free from this cycle, to try and choose a better way to fall. The use of the word "fall" implies a sense of vulnerability and the possibility of failure. The song's central idea is that through wearing a mask and putting on a daily masquerade, we are blind to the deeper truths of our lives.
Overall, "Your Wonderful Parade" is a song about self-discovery and the importance of being true to oneself. The Carpenters' haunting melody combined with Karen Carpenter's powerful vocals makes for a beautiful and introspective listening experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Your wonderful parade
Your life is like a parade, moving through different towns that come and go.
Moving thru the towns that rise and then they fade
You move through different towns that rise and fall with time.
Over streets that pass the houses where you've stayed
You go over streets where you have stayed in different houses in the past.
Your wonderful parade
Repeated the first line to emphasize that your life is like a parade.
Your daily masquerade
Your everyday life is like a masquerade.
Paper masks behind this face that you have made
You hide behind a paper mask, pretending to be someone you're not.
Crumble down upon foundation that you've laid
Your false identity will eventually crumble over the foundation you've built it on.
Your daily masquerade
Repeated the second time to enforce the idea that your everyday life is like a masquerade.
Stand in line try to climb
You follow the crowd, trying to climb up the social ladder.
Meet your wife at cocktail time
You socialize with your wife at cocktail parties to maintain your social status.
Surely you should try and choose a better way to fall
You should try to find a better way to live your life and avoid failure.
Your marvelous charade
Your amazing show of pretending to be someone you're not.
Never could be worth the prices that you've paid
All the things you've done to maintain your false identity are not worth the cost.
Blindness is a part of every game you've played
You've been blind to the consequences of your actions while playing the game of life.
Your marvelous charade
Repeated the third time to remind you of the amazing show you're putting on.
Your daily masquerade
Your everyday life is, once again, like a masquerade.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN BETTIS, RICHARD LYNN CARPENTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind