Masquerade

Dear Andre, what a splendid party

The prologue to a bright new year

Quite a night, I'm impressed

Well, one does one's best

Here's to us

The toast for all the city

What a pity that the Phantom can't be here

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

But who can name the face?

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

What a night, what a crowd

Makes you glad, makes you proud

All the crème de la crème

Watching us, watching them (And all our fears are in the past)

Three months of relief, of delight

Of Elysian peace

And we can breathe at last

No more notes, no more ghost

Here's a health, here's a toast

To a prosperous year

To our friends who are here

And may the splendor never fade (What a joy, what a change)

What a blessed release

And what a masquerade

Think of it, a secret engagement

Look, your future bride

Just think of it

But, why is it secret?

What have we to hide?

You promised me

No, Raoul, please don't, they'll see

Well then, let them see, it's an engagement, not a crime

Christine, what are you afraid of?

Let's not argue (Let's not argue)

Please pretend (I can only hope-)

You will understand in time (I'll understand in time)

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