Michael Jackson: "The Behind The Mask Project" (2011)

Music video by Michael Jackson performing The Behind The Mask Project. (C) 2011 Optimum Productions.

"Behind the Mask" is a synthpop song by electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra, written by member Ryuichi Sakamoto and first produced in 1978 for a Seiko commercial. It was later released in 1979 as part of the band's Solid State Survivor album with English lyrics added by Chris Mosdell. The song has been performed by many artists since its original release. In the early 1980s, Michael Jackson wrote additional lyrics for the song with an accompanying melody, which has been recorded by himself, Greg Phillinganes, Eric Clapton, and Ryuichi Sakamoto (as a solo artist), among others.


- Lyrics:

All along I had to talk
About it
Like a two edged sword,
He touched you and it stabs (me)

Chorus:
All along I knew you were
A phony girl
You sit behind the mask
And you control your world

Yesterday he held you in his arms
But when I’m holdin’ you
Feel it’s bitter charms
I can’t judge what you’re doin’ to me
You camouflage the truth,
Indulge your fantasy

(chorus)

(chorus)

Who do you love?
Is it me?
Is it him?
I don’t know!

There is nothing in your eyes
(there is nothing in your eyes)
But that’s the way you cry
(but that’s the way you cry, girl)
All is grand, all is bright
(all is grand, all is bright)
You’re just srudyng my mind
(you’re just srudyng my mind)

Was I invited to your masquerade?
Well, the party’s over so
Now take off the face
You say you love, but it’s hard to see
’cause when you’re in his arms
You’re throwing rocks at me

(chorus)

(chorus)

There is nothing in your eyes
(there is nothing in your eyes)
But that’s the way you cry
(but that’s the way you cry, girl)
All is grand, all is bright
(all is grand, all is bright)
You’re just srudyng my mind
Eh, eh, eh

I walk around I’m sufferein’
In my doom
When I come to you,
You’re sittin’ in our room
The truth in you I have
Long to trace
So take off the mask so
I can see your face

(chorus)

(chorus)

(chorus)

(chorus)

What talk about?
What talk about?
Yeah, yeah, yeah