[Intro — Theatrical, distorted] Ladies and gentlemen... The show is about to begin. Please take your seats. And whatever you do... Don't look behind the mask. [Verse 1] I used to hear the crowd applaud I used to own the stage Every face inside the theater Knew the name upon the page I was the hero I was the king I could become anybody I could become anything Then the lights went out The audience disappeared And the face inside the mirror Became something I feared [Pre-Chorus] So tell me... Who am I? The man beneath the makeup? Or the monster underneath? [Chorus] THIS IS THE MASK I WEAR! Tell me what you see! THIS IS THE MASK I WEAR! Is there still a man in me? I can be your hero I can be your friend I can be your nightmare I can be your end THIS IS THE MASK I WEAR! And I don't know Where the character ends... And I begin. [Verse 2] Give me your face I'll give you mine Give me a name I'll cross the line Your voice Your smile Your memories too I'll become anyone I need to become you They wanted an actor So I gave them a show They wanted a monster So I learned how to grow Every role that I played Left a piece behind Now there are too many faces And I can't find mine [Pre-Chorus] Curtain rising Lights go down Everybody's watching But nobody knows who I am now [Chorus] THIS IS THE MASK I WEAR! Tell me what you see! THIS IS THE MASK I WEAR! Is there still a man in me? I can be your hero I can be your friend I can be your nightmare I can be your end THIS IS THE MASK I WEAR! And I don't know Where the character ends... And I begin. [Bridge — Quiet] Take away the face... Take away the voice... Take away the costume... What's left? [Distorted Voice] Nothing. [Normal Voice] No... Someone. [Distorted Voice] Nothing! [Normal Voice] I'M STILL HERE! [Build] I WAS AN ACTOR! I WAS A MAN! I HAD A NAME! BASIL KARLO! [Breakdown] BUT YOU TOOK MY FACE! SO I'LL TAKE YOURS! [Instrumental — Shifting guitars] [Final Chorus] THIS IS THE MASK I WEAR! Now you finally see! THIS IS THE MASK I WEAR! There's still something left of me! I have worn a thousand faces I have played a thousand roles But somewhere underneath the madness There's a man who lost his soul THIS IS THE MASK I WEAR! The curtain's coming down! No more characters! No more pretending! No more hiding from myself! [Outro — Fading theater ambience] The audience is gone... The lights are out... The stage is empty... And for the first time... I don't know what role to play. [Whisper] Basil Karlo.
