Cherise was brushing her long hair gently down

It was the afternoon of carnival as she brushes it gently down

Rubin was strumming his painted mandolin

It was inlaid with a pretty face in jade played in the carnival parade



Cherise was dressing as Pirouette in white

When a fatal vision gripped her tight Cherise beware tonight

Rubin, Rubin tell me truly true

I feel afraid and I don't know why I do, Is there another girl for you?



If you could see my heart you would know it's true

There's none Cherise, except for you, except for you

I'd swear to it on my very soul, If I lie, say I fall down cold



When Rubin played on his painted mandolin

The breeze would pause to listen in before going on its way again

Masquerade began when nightfall finally woke

Like waves against the bandstand, dancers broke to the painted mandolin



Looking out to the crowd who is standing there

Sweet Ruby Claire at Rubin stared, at Rubin stared

She was dressed as Pirouette in red

And her hair hung gently down



The crowd pressed round, Ruby stood as though alone

Rubin's song took on a different tone and he played it just for her

The song he played was the carnival parade

Each note cut a thread of Cherise's fate it cut through like a blade



Rubin was playing his painted mandolin

When Ruby froze and turned to stone for the strings played all alone

The voice of Cherise from the face of the mandolin

Singing Rubin, Rubin tell me true for I have no one but you



If you could see my heart you would know it true

There's none Cherise, except for you, except for you

I'd swear to it on my very soul, If I lie, say I fall down cold



The truth of love an unsung song must tell

The course of love must follow blind without a look behind

Rubin walked the streets of New Orleans till dawn

Cherise so lightly in his arms and her hair hung gently down