The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
(A gauze half conceals the tableau of guests at the opera ball. The guests (whom we cannot yet see clearly) are in fancy dress: a peacock, a lion, a dragon, Mephistopheles, a highwayman, a clown, knights, ladies, an executioner. M. ANDRE enters. He is dressed as a skeleton in an opera cape. Almost immediately M. FIRMIN arrives.He is also dressed as a skeleton in an opera cape. The two skeletons see each other and approach nervously)
ANDRE
M'sieur Firmin?
FIRMIN
M'sieur Andre?
(Each raises his mask to the other. They recognise each other.)
FIRMIN
Dear Andre
what a splendid party!
ANDRE
The prologue
to a bright new year!
FIRMIN
Quite a night!
I'm impressed!
FIRMIN
Well, one does
one's best . . .
ANDRE AND FIRMIN (raising their glasses)
Here's to us!
FIRMIN
I must say, all the same, that
it's a shame that 'Phantom'
fellow isn't here!
(The gauze lifts fully to reveal the staircase of the opera house. The opera ball begins. Among the GUESTS are four carrying strange percussion instruments: a monkey with cymbals, a toy soldier with a drum, a triangle, bells. Together they play weirdly throughout)
CHORUS
Masquerade!
Paper faces on parade . . .
Masquerade!
Hide your face,
so the world will
never find you!
Masquerade!
Every face a different shade . . .
Masquerade!
Look around -
there's another
mask behind you!
Flash of mauve . . .
Splash of puce . . .
Fool and king . . .
Ghoul and goose . . .
Green and black . . .
Queen and priest . . .
Trace of rouge . . .
Face of beast . . .
Faces . . .
Take your turn, take a ride
on the merry-go-round . . .
in an inhuman race . . .
Eye of gold . . .
Thigh of blue . . .
True is false . . .
Who is who . . .?
Curl of lip . . .
Swirl of gown . . .
Ace of hearts . . .
Face of clown . . .
Faces . . .
Drink it in, drink it up,
till you've drowned
in the light . . .
in the sound . . .
RAOUL/CHRISTINE
But who can name the face . . .?
ALL
Masquerade!
Grinning yellows,
spinning reds . . .
Masquerade!
Take your fill -
let the spectacle
astound you!
Masquerade!
Burning glances,
turning heads . . .
Masquerade!
Stop and stare
at the sea of smiles
around you!
Masquerade!
Seething shadows
breathing lies . . .
Masquerade!
You can fool
any friend who
ever knew you!
Masquerade!
Leering satyrs,
peering eyes . . .
Masquerade!
Run and hide -
but a face will
still pursue you!
(The ENSEMBLE activity becomes background, as ANDRE, FIRMIN, MEG, GIRY, PIANGI and CARLOTTA come to the fore, glasses in hand)
GIRY
What a night
MEG
What a crowd!
ANDRE
Makes you glad!
FIRMIN
Makes you proud!
All the creme
de la creme!
CARLOTTA
Watching us watching them!
MEG AND GlRY
And all our fears
are in the past!
ANDRE
Six months...
PIANGI
Of relief!
CARLOTTA
Of delight!
ANDRE AND FIRMIN
Of Elysian peace!
MEG AND GIRY
And we can breathe at last!
CARLOTTA
No more notes!
PIANGI
No more ghost!
GIRY
Here's a health!
ANDRE
Here's a toast:
to a prosperous year!
FIRMIN
To the new chandelier!
PIANGI AND CARLOTTA
And may its
splendour never fade!
FIRMIN
Six months!
GIRY
What a joy!
MEG
What a change!
FIRMIN AND ANDRE
What a blessed release!
ANDRE
And what a masquerade!
(They clink glasses and move off RAOUL and CHRISTINE emerge. She is admiring a new acquisition:
an engagement ring from RAOUL, which she has attached to a gold chain around her neck.)
CHRISTINE
Think of it!
A secret engagement!
Look - your future bride!
Just think of it!
RAOUL
But why is it secret?
What have we to hide?
CHRISTINE
Please, let's not fight . . .
RAOUL
Christine, you're free!
CHRISTINE
Wait till the time is right . . .
RAOUL
When will that be?
It's an engagement,
not a crime!
Christine,
What are you
afraid of?
CHRISTINE
Let's not argue . . .
RAOUL
Let's not argue . . .
CHRISTINE
Please pretend . . .
RAOUL
I can only hope I'll . . .
CHRISTINE
You will . . .
BOTH
. . . understand
in time . . .
(Dance section, in which CHRISTINE, almost coquettish almost jittery, goes from man to man. But too many of her partners seem to be replicas of the PHANTOM, and each spins her with increasing force. Eventually RAOUL rescues her and holds her tightly. He whirls her back into the dance, as the music heads towards its climax.)
ALL
Masquerade!
Paper faces on parade!
Masquerade!
Hide your face,
so the world will
never find you!
Masquerade!
Every face a different shade!
Masquerade!
Look around -
There's another
mask behind you!
Masquerade!
Burning glances,
turning heads . . .
Masquerade!
Stop and stare
at the sea of smiles
around you!
Masquerade!
Grinning yellows,
spinning reds . . .
Masquerade!
Take your fill -
let the spectacle
astound you!
(At the height of the activity a grotesque figure suddenly appears at the lop of the staircase. Dressed all in crimson, with a death's head visible inside the hood of his robe, the PHANTOM has come to the party. With dreadful wooden steps he descends the stairs and takes the centre of the stage)
PHANTOM
Why so silent, good messieurs?
Did you think that I had left you for good?
Have you missed me, good messieurs?
I have written you an opera!
(He takes from under his robe an enormous bound manuscript)
Here I bring the finished score -
"Don Juan Triumphant" !
(He throws it to ANDRE)
I advise you
to comply -
my instructions
should be clear -
Remember
there are worse things
than a shattered chandelier . . .
(CHRISTlNE, mesmerized, approaches as the PHANTOM beckons her. He reaches out, grasps the chain that holds the secret engagement ring, and rips it from her throat)
Your chains are still mine -
you will sing for me!
(ALL cower in suspense as the music crescendos, until suddenly, his figure evaporates)
ANDRE
M'sieur Firmin?
FIRMIN
M'sieur Andre?
(Each raises his mask to the other. They recognise each other.)
FIRMIN
Dear Andre
what a splendid party!
ANDRE
The prologue
to a bright new year!
FIRMIN
Quite a night!
I'm impressed!
FIRMIN
Well, one does
one's best . . .
ANDRE AND FIRMIN (raising their glasses)
Here's to us!
FIRMIN
I must say, all the same, that
it's a shame that 'Phantom'
fellow isn't here!
(The gauze lifts fully to reveal the staircase of the opera house. The opera ball begins. Among the GUESTS are four carrying strange percussion instruments: a monkey with cymbals, a toy soldier with a drum, a triangle, bells. Together they play weirdly throughout)
CHORUS
Masquerade!
Paper faces on parade . . .
Masquerade!
Hide your face,
so the world will
never find you!
Masquerade!
Every face a different shade . . .
Masquerade!
Look around -
there's another
mask behind you!
Flash of mauve . . .
Splash of puce . . .
Fool and king . . .
Ghoul and goose . . .
Green and black . . .
Queen and priest . . .
Trace of rouge . . .
Face of beast . . .
Faces . . .
Take your turn, take a ride
on the merry-go-round . . .
in an inhuman race . . .
Eye of gold . . .
Thigh of blue . . .
True is false . . .
Who is who . . .?
Curl of lip . . .
Swirl of gown . . .
Ace of hearts . . .
Face of clown . . .
Faces . . .
Drink it in, drink it up,
till you've drowned
in the light . . .
in the sound . . .
RAOUL/CHRISTINE
But who can name the face . . .?
ALL
Masquerade!
Grinning yellows,
spinning reds . . .
Masquerade!
Take your fill -
let the spectacle
astound you!
Masquerade!
Burning glances,
turning heads . . .
Masquerade!
Stop and stare
at the sea of smiles
around you!
Masquerade!
Seething shadows
breathing lies . . .
Masquerade!
You can fool
any friend who
ever knew you!
Masquerade!
Leering satyrs,
peering eyes . . .
Masquerade!
Run and hide -
but a face will
still pursue you!
(The ENSEMBLE activity becomes background, as ANDRE, FIRMIN, MEG, GIRY, PIANGI and CARLOTTA come to the fore, glasses in hand)
GIRY
What a night
MEG
What a crowd!
ANDRE
Makes you glad!
FIRMIN
Makes you proud!
All the creme
de la creme!
CARLOTTA
Watching us watching them!
MEG AND GlRY
And all our fears
are in the past!
ANDRE
Six months...
PIANGI
Of relief!
CARLOTTA
Of delight!
ANDRE AND FIRMIN
Of Elysian peace!
MEG AND GIRY
And we can breathe at last!
CARLOTTA
No more notes!
PIANGI
No more ghost!
GIRY
Here's a health!
ANDRE
Here's a toast:
to a prosperous year!
FIRMIN
To the new chandelier!
PIANGI AND CARLOTTA
And may its
splendour never fade!
FIRMIN
Six months!
GIRY
What a joy!
MEG
What a change!
FIRMIN AND ANDRE
What a blessed release!
ANDRE
And what a masquerade!
(They clink glasses and move off RAOUL and CHRISTINE emerge. She is admiring a new acquisition:
an engagement ring from RAOUL, which she has attached to a gold chain around her neck.)
CHRISTINE
Think of it!
A secret engagement!
Look - your future bride!
Just think of it!
RAOUL
But why is it secret?
What have we to hide?
CHRISTINE
Please, let's not fight . . .
RAOUL
Christine, you're free!
CHRISTINE
Wait till the time is right . . .
RAOUL
When will that be?
It's an engagement,
not a crime!
Christine,
What are you
afraid of?
CHRISTINE
Let's not argue . . .
RAOUL
Let's not argue . . .
CHRISTINE
Please pretend . . .
RAOUL
I can only hope I'll . . .
CHRISTINE
You will . . .
BOTH
. . . understand
in time . . .
(Dance section, in which CHRISTINE, almost coquettish almost jittery, goes from man to man. But too many of her partners seem to be replicas of the PHANTOM, and each spins her with increasing force. Eventually RAOUL rescues her and holds her tightly. He whirls her back into the dance, as the music heads towards its climax.)
ALL
Masquerade!
Paper faces on parade!
Masquerade!
Hide your face,
so the world will
never find you!
Masquerade!
Every face a different shade!
Masquerade!
Look around -
There's another
mask behind you!
Masquerade!
Burning glances,
turning heads . . .
Masquerade!
Stop and stare
at the sea of smiles
around you!
Masquerade!
Grinning yellows,
spinning reds . . .
Masquerade!
Take your fill -
let the spectacle
astound you!
(At the height of the activity a grotesque figure suddenly appears at the lop of the staircase. Dressed all in crimson, with a death's head visible inside the hood of his robe, the PHANTOM has come to the party. With dreadful wooden steps he descends the stairs and takes the centre of the stage)
PHANTOM
Why so silent, good messieurs?
Did you think that I had left you for good?
Have you missed me, good messieurs?
I have written you an opera!
(He takes from under his robe an enormous bound manuscript)
Here I bring the finished score -
"Don Juan Triumphant" !
(He throws it to ANDRE)
I advise you
to comply -
my instructions
should be clear -
Remember
there are worse things
than a shattered chandelier . . .
(CHRISTlNE, mesmerized, approaches as the PHANTOM beckons her. He reaches out, grasps the chain that holds the secret engagement ring, and rips it from her throat)
Your chains are still mine -
you will sing for me!
(ALL cower in suspense as the music crescendos, until suddenly, his figure evaporates)
Lyrics submitted by fallacies
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