(Intro) Yeah... hear dis... [Verse 1] We wear the mask that grins and lies, It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes, This debt we pay to human guile; With torn and bleeding hearts we smile, And mouth with myriad subtleties. [Chorus] Why should the world be over-wise, In counting all our tears and sighs? Nay, let them only see us, while We wear the mask. [Verse 2] We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries To thee from tortured souls arise. We sing, but oh the clay is vile Beneath our feet, and long the mile; But let the world dream otherwise, [Chorus] Why should the world be over-wise, In counting all our tears and sighs? Nay, let them only see us, while We wear the mask. [Bridge] We wear the mask... (echo: mask... mask...) Torn and bleeding... but we rise... Long the mile... but we walk on... Jah see the truth... behind the eyes... [Chorus] (build back in, harmonies enter) Why should the world be over-wise, In counting all our tears and sighs? Nay, let them only see us, while We wear the mask. [Outro] We wear the mask... Just a mask... But the soul... remains...
