Uriah Heep were part of the early 1970s rock scene, and have been referred to as pioneers of the hard rock, heavy metal and progressive rock genres. The band has sold over 40 million albums worldwide with over four million sales in the U.S, where its best-known songs include "Gypsy", "Easy Livin'", "The Wizard", "Sweet Lorraine", and "Stealin'". They also maintain a significant following and perform at arena-sized venues in the Balkans, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia, Finland and Scandinavia.
Uriah Heep have released twenty-four studio albums of original material, twenty live albums and forty-one compilation albums (including two greatest hits albums). Twelve of the band's studio albums have made it to the UK Albums Chart (Return to Fantasy reached No. 7 in 1975), while of the fifteen Billboard 200 Uriah Heep albums, Demons and Wizards was the most successful (No. 23, 1972). In the late 1970s the band had massive success in Germany, where the "Lady in Black" single was a big hit.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uriah_Heep_(band)
Studio albums
...Very 'eavy ...Very 'umble (1970)
Salisbury (1971)
Look at Yourself (1971)
Demons and Wizards (1972)
The Magician's Birthday (1972)
Sweet Freedom (1973)
Wonderworld (1974)
Return to Fantasy (1975)
High and Mighty (1976)
Firefly (1977)
Innocent Victim (1977)
Fallen Angel (1978)
Conquest (1980)
Abominog (1982)
Head First (1983)
Equator (1985)
Raging Silence (1989)
Different World (1991)
Sea of Light (1995)
Sonic Origami (1998)
Wake the Sleeper (2008)
Into the Wild (2011)
Outsider (2014)
Living the Dream (2018)
Chaos & Colour (2023)
Masquerade
Uriah Heep Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Appear before me
Through my mystic window
And soon to be seen
I saw presented
Became a vision that
I saw resented
I stood and watched
The unseen hand was rearranging
And all the time I wondered
How did it wind
Slowly, surely it unfolded
Its simple lines just as
A pole wind told it
A temporary revolution
My problems rose and fell
With a lapse of illusion
My mind was telling me, don't fight it
It's just a hazard in the night
Don't do those
Who've lost their way
It's a masquerade
Masquerade, it's a masquerade ...
The opening line "A masquerade of dancing shadows" sets the mood of Uriah Heep's song Masquerade by describing a surreal, dream-like state. The shadows and mystical window in the lyrics evoke the feeling of entering an altered state of mind. The next lines reveal that what appears before the singer is a vision or a dream, which is in constant change, and is beyond their control.
The song then alludes to the idea of a revolution or a political uprising, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for the internal struggle and chaos of the singer's mind. The line, "My problems rose and fell with a lapse of illusion" implies that the singer's problems are only perceptions that can be overcome with a change in perspective.
Finally, the chorus repeats the line "Masquerade, it's a masquerade," indicating that what the singer experienced was just a cover-up, a façade, or a false reality.
The song invites the listener to interpret the lyrics in various ways. It might be a warning to avoid the illusions of life and not be fooled by the false realities that people put up. It could also be about the search for deeper truths beyond the surface.
Line by Line Meaning
A masquerade of dancing shadows
Shadows that cladded themselves in masks with every move, a spectacle to behold.
Appear before me
A vivid vision that dominated my senses.
Through my mystic window
Seen from a supernatural angle that defied explanation.
And soon to be seen
A mysterious premonition of things to come.
I saw presented
A dramatic depiction of events and characters that came to life before my eyes.
Became a vision that
A mental projection that took on a life of its own, morphing into something else.
I saw resented
A version that I didn't want to see, that I couldn't accept as true.
I stood and watched
A passive observer of the unfolding drama.
Its image changing
A fluid reality that kept shifting, taking on new forms.
The unseen hand was rearranging
An unknown force behind the scenes, manipulating the events and characters.
And all the time I wondered
A curious and puzzled state of mind.
How did it wind
An enigma that defied explanation.
Slowly, surely it unfolded
A gradual revealing of the truth, with no room for doubt.
Its simple lines just as
A clear and straightforward reality, with no hidden meanings.
A pole wind told it
A strong and direct message that couldn't be ignored.
A temporary revolution
A short-lived upheaval that would be over soon.
My problems rose and fell
A steady stream of issues that came and went.
With a lapse of illusion
A moment of clarity that dispelled all doubts and fears.
My mind was telling me, don't fight it
A rational voice that urged me to accept reality and move on.
It's just a hazard in the night
An obstacle that would be gone by morning, no need to worry.
Don't do those
Don't follow those who are lost and confused.
Who've lost their way
Who are struggling to find their path in life.
It's a masquerade
It's all a facade, a pretense that hides the truth.
Masquerade, it's a masquerade ...
A repeating refrain that emphasizes the theme of deception and illusion.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KEN HENSLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Graham Ellis
i fully agree,i have loved the heep since Gypsy and the first Lp through all their line up changes they are still great,love this song,drives along,great vocals.what more could you ask,so underrated,better than todays crap !
Лариса Переливская
Феерично!!! ❤️🔥 😍
Kevin Nixon
Love this song !!
Robert Goeddel
Alles was Ken komponiert ist Klasse 😀😀😀😀
Rick Blackers
Beautiful i didn't know the full versio but the coda to ilusion!! Wow wow wow!
Александр Трофимов
aaaaaa!!!!!!!