Laughing On The Outside

Bernadette Carroll's song "Laughing On The Outside" delves into the complex emotions of someone who is heartbroken yet tries to maintain a facade of happiness. The lyrics poignantly capture the duality of outward appearances versus inner feelings. The protagonist is deeply in love but is forced to hide her true emotions from the world. This contrast between external joy and internal sorrow is a powerful theme that resonates with anyone who has ever had to put on a brave face while dealing with emotional turmoil.

The song's repetitive chorus, "I'm laughing on the outside, crying on the inside," emphasizes the ongoing struggle of maintaining this facade. The protagonist's friends and acquaintances see her as happy and carefree, unaware of the emotional pain she is enduring. This duality is further highlighted by the line, "No one knows it's just a pose, pretending I'm glad we're apart," which reveals the depth of her sorrow and the effort she puts into hiding it.

The lyrics also touch on the theme of unrequited love and the hope for reconciliation. The protagonist's plea, "My darling, can't we make up? Ever since our breakup, make believe is all I do," shows her longing for a reunion and the difficulty of moving on. The song captures the essence of heartache and the lengths to which people go to mask their true feelings, making it a timeless piece that speaks to the universal experience of love and loss.