At 16, Tim signed a contract with Sparrow Records. He recorded 2 albums with them: a self-titled release (1982) and "I Know You Think You Know" (1985). Tim also served as worship leader for Victory Outreach in Santa Ana, CA. under Dr. Sonny Argonzoni at this time.
1985 - Tim was asked to be the Artist in Residence for Church on the Rock in Rockwall, TX under Dr. Larry Lea (author of the #1 best-selling book, "Could You Not Tarry One Hour").
1987-1988 - Tim signed a co-venture deal with Frontline Records and began developing his own artists for that label. Tim also released his third project, "A True Story," with Frontline.
1989 - Tim signed a major distribution deal with Word Records and produced artists such as Kim Boyce and BeBe and CeCe Winans, among many others.
1990 - Stevie Wonder discovered Tim at a Hollywood Showcase. Tim signed a global artist, publishing and production deal with Motown Records, becoming one of the first caucasians to sign with them. Tim moved to Los Angeles, where he led worship and helped evangelist Tim Storey birth a Bible study out of actress Dianne Cannon's home. In under a year the Bible study (starting with only 13 members) moved to Hollywood and grew to over 1,000 members.
1994 - Tim became Pastor of Worship at the West Coast Worship Center in San Diego, CA., founded by Dr. Jerry Barnard. In late 1994, Tim signed a co-venture deal with Quincy Jones.
1999 - Tim became Worship Arts Director at Bishop Clarence McClendon's Church of the Harvest International.
2003-present - Tim attends Time in Destiny Church in Los Angeles, under the pasturage of Gary Zamora.
Most recently Tim signed a worldwide distribution deal with Universal Music Group. Tim continues to score film and television as well as produce and write for some of the biggest recording artists on the planet.
Masquerade
Tim Miner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
they're wiping my heart off of their shoes,
Trying just to please everyone who sees,
listening to their point of view
Took me to the local department store, had a sale on humble pie,
Trying to pay the cost, winning from the loss,
Oh, you know how hard I have tried
When you start to judge somebody else,
oh no, no, you only see reflections of yourself
Masquerade is the game they play,
Never time just to take a look inside,
Masquerade through another day,
Never see if the life they live's a lie
Slowly there's a change in the motive, vision starts to fade from view,
No more black or white, no more right or wrong,
only what's convenient to do
When you start to judge somebody else,
ooh, you only see reflections of yourself
Masquerade is the game they play,
Never time just to take a look inside,
Masquerade through another day,
Never see if the life they live's a lie,
Masquerade is the game they play,
Never time just to take a look inside,
Masquerade through another day,
Never see if the life they live's a lie
Masquerade in the things they talk,
Masquerade in the way the walk,
Masquerade in their attitude and the things that they do
Masquerade is the game they play,
Never time just to take a look inside,
Masquerade through another day,
Never see if the life they live's a lie,
Masquerade
The lyrics of Tim Miner's song "Masquerade" describe the hypocrisy and superficiality often found in society. The first two lines paint a picture of the singer being ostracized and made to feel ashamed of themselves. The following lines suggest that they are trying to please everyone else but themselves, walking in other people's shoes and listening to their views without considering their own desires. The second verse levels criticism at society as a whole, suggesting that people are only motivated by convenience, and that they judge others without realizing that they are projecting their own insecurities.
The chorus highlights the song's main theme of people hiding their true selves behind masks of deceit; they play a game of "masquerade" and never take the time to look within themselves to see if the life they live is authentic. This is emphasized in the repeated line "Never see if the life they live's a lie."
The final verse further emphasizes this theme by highlighting the various ways in which people hide behind a facade- in the way they talk, walk, and in their attitude. Ultimately, the message of the song is that authenticity is important, and living a life that is true to oneself is much better than playing along with society's expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Born out of deep condemnation,
I was judged harshly in the beginning and that judgement shaped my life.
they're wiping my heart off of their shoes,
People hurt me and stepped on me, leaving me feeling broken.
Trying just to please everyone who sees,
I tried to make everyone around me happy and ended up losing myself in the process.
listening to their point of view
I allowed others to influence my decisions and opinions.
Took me to the local department store, had a sale on humble pie,
I was forced to swallow my pride and admit fault even when it wasn't justified.
Trying to pay the cost, winning from the loss,
I thought I could overcome my setbacks by trying to keep a positive attitude.
Oh, you know how hard I have tried
I gave everything I had and still came up short.
When you start to judge somebody else,
Pointing out flaws in others only reveals your own insecurities.
oh no, no, you only see reflections of yourself
Criticizing others highlights your own shortcomings.
Masquerade is the game they play,
People wear masks to hide their true selves from the world.
Never time just to take a look inside,
People are too busy putting on a facade to truly examine their inner selves.
Masquerade through another day,
The act continues day in and day out.
Never see if the life they live's a lie
People never stop to question if their outward appearance matches their inner reality.
Slowly there's a change in the motive, vision starts to fade from view,
Over time, intentions become more self-serving, causing individuals to lose sight of the bigger picture.
No more black or white, no more right or wrong,
Moral lines are blurred and individuals prioritize personal gain over doing what is right.
only what's convenient to do
Decisions are made based on what is easiest or most beneficial for oneself.
Masquerade in the things they talk,
People say things to impress others and gain approval, even if it doesn't align with their true beliefs.
Masquerade in the way the walk,
Appearances are carefully curated to project an image of confidence and success, even if it is a facade.
Masquerade in their attitude and the things that they do
Every action, behavior, and emotion is performed as part of the act, making it difficult to determine what is genuine.
Contributed by Cameron G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.