Uploaded November 2020 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago

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An acoustic version of our song, written by Meany Vizzini and originally performed by Vizzini, Ginny Di, Critical Bard, and Rochelle Ibarra. In a world where I wasn't in charge of the Critical Concert, this is what I might have submitted!

This version is now available on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, and all other streaming services!
open.spotify.com/track/5YZIyhV7oceTZopmKZDtxd?si=U7ocI3nIT0SU0PYsTpIG3A
music.apple.com/us/album/i-wear-the-mask-acoustic-single/1540039493
thecantata.bandcamp.com/track/i-wear-the-mask-acoustic



Thank you to all our generous donors for helping us raise so much money for Amnesty International last month. We love you.




Lyrics:

Tough guys

Grinning through their snake eyes

Wanting to be sure I

Know I’m not welcome here

Follow

Work to blend into the shadows

Emulate the ones who don’t show

The extent of their fear


Crippled by the fetters of a foreign race

Shackled by the terror of a horrid face

Summed up as a symbol of malignancy

The source and aim of bigotry

The Nott-becoming part of me

Sheltered by the darkness sneaking out of sight

Haunted by reflections of the dawning light

Comfort finding only when I’m spirited

Encouraged by escape to move ahead


So hide it away

Don’t show your weakness

You cannot stay

If you are honest

Sure, they’ll pretend to be your friend

Until they find your secret and

They figure out exactly where to strike

So I wear a mask

Hidden in plain view

What you don’t ask

Ain’t gonna hurt you

So I wear the mask

Of who I’d rather be


Lonely

I am always feeling lonely

Oh, I have to be the only one

Who’s stuck in this hell

Happy

I just want them to be happy

Keep pretending and they won’t see

The sadness that you hide so well


Hide it away

Don’t show your weakness

No one will stay

If you are honest

Oh sure, they’ll pretend to be your friend

Until they see your sadness and

They figure out it isn’t worth their time

So I wear a mask

Hidden in plain view

What you don’t ask

Ain’t gonna hurt you

So I wear the mask

Of what you want to believe

Of who I’d rather be


Heckled by the promise of a brighter past

Ruined by the knowledge singeing it to ash

Caught up in a wave of nationality

Of losing my humanity

The guillotine was pulled by me

Set on a track

Can’t take it back

One thing defining my life as it’s starting to crack

Where to begin?

Hatin' within

Too much to swallow, I’m hollow and wallowing in all my sin

Finding my mind is gone crawlin'

So spineless and bawlin'

And joinin' the Nein is appallin',

Pretendin' it’s fine, oh the gall when

My kin who have fallen are callin' my name



Hide it away

Don’t show your weakness

No one can stay

Let’s just be honest

Oh ja, you’ll pretend to be their friend

Until they find your story and

They figure out exactly who you are

So I wear a mask

Hidden in plain view

What they don’t ask

Ain’t gonna hurt you

So I wear the mask

Of what I want to believe


#criticalconcert #criticalrole #acoustic