Rubin and Cherise

Cherise was brushing her long hair gently down
 It was the afternoon of carnival
 As she brushes it gently down
 And 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
 Well, I swear to it on my very soul
 If I lie may 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, the dancers broke
 To the painted mandolin
 And looking out all 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 that 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
 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
 Oh, 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 may 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 'til dawn
 Cherise so lightly in his arms
 And her hair hung gently down