Masquerade

The painted faces on the street Caricatures of long ago Oh they were young and oh-so sweet Down beyond the boulevard Knock on doors and empty halls And still sometimes remember The masquerade's forever When you see the price they paid I'm sure you'll come and join the masquerade The reeling figures pass on by Like ghosts in some forgotten play Beneath the black and empty sky Music plays and figures dance With partners chosen by chance And still sometimes remember The masquerade's forever They reached for tomorrow But tomorrows, more of the same So they reached for tomorrow But tomorrow never came When you hear the price they paid I'm sure you'll come and join the masquerade One by one and two by two Past eight by tens in shattered frames The players try to leave the room Frantic puppets on a string And all the while the music sings And still sometimes remember The masquerade's forever