I walked in late to the masquerade
Lights too bright, everyone rehearsed
Painted smiles, borrowed names
Every mirror felt well-versed
They wore armor made of laughter
Sequins stitched with clever lies
I was shaking in the doorway
Wearing no disguise
Pre-Chorus
I thought I missed the invitation
Thought I misunderstood the game
But the longer that I stood there
The more familiar felt the shame
Chorus
I was ashamed of myself
When I finally saw the truth
Life’s a costume party, darling
And I came in as my youth
No disguise, no safety net
No script, no borrowed grace
Everyone hid behind their masks
And I showed up with my own face
Verse 2
They called it brave, they called it stupid
Couldn’t tell the two apart
Every honest breath I took
Felt like handing out my heart
I tried on crowns, I tried on silence
Tried to blend into the room
But nothing fit the way it should
So I stood there, out of tune
Pre-Chorus
Funny how the bare truth
Feels louder than a lie
And the thing I tried to cover
Was the only thing alive
Chorus
I was ashamed of myself
When I realized too late
Life’s a costume party, love
And I missed the dress-up date
No disguise, no exit plan
No one else to blame
Everyone played pretend
And I answered to my name
Bridge
But maybe this was never failure
Maybe this was the point
To bleed a little in the open
Where the real ones get anointed
If honesty is lonely
I’ll learn to stand the cold
I’d rather crack in daylight
Than glitter wrapped in gold
Chorus
I was ashamed of myself
Now I’m learning not to be
If life’s a costume party
Then authenticity’s my plea
Let them keep their velvet lies
Their perfectly painted grace
I didn’t come to hide tonight
I came with my own face
Outro
When the masks fall to the floor
And the lights all fade to black
I’ll be the one still standing
With nothing to take back
