Read the full lyrics to Cardinals’ new song Barbed Wire. Explore the context and themes behind the words from the Masquerade project for your singalong and karaoke sessions.
Cardinals releases the lyrics for their charged new single, Barbed Wire, offering fans a closer look at the narrative core of the upcoming Masquerade project. The Australian rock band has always treated lyrics as a central pillar of their art, and this track presents a compelling, conflict-ridden dialogue. The words paint a picture of a fraught relationship framed by imagery of confinement, heat, and desperate performance. Phrases like “the jail I took you from” and “south gate with the barbed wire fences” construct a physical and psychological landscape of barriers and controlled entry. This thematic focus on volatile commitment and the shame of desire fits within the broader scope of Masquerade, a project anticipated to examine the roles people play and the truths they hide. The lyrical flow shifts between intimate confession and a chant-like intensity, particularly in the repeated pre-chorus build, making it a potent piece for audience participation during live performances and karaoke.
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The band’s lyrical approach has matured significantly from their earlier, more impressionistic work. Past albums saw them exploring external landscapes and societal observations, but recent material turns inward, examining complex personal dynamics with unflinching directness. The mention of specific locales, such as “city hall to George’s Quay,” grounds the song’s turmoil in a tangible, almost familiar geography, a technique the group has developed to add authenticity to their storytelling. The lyrics avoid simple resolution, instead dwelling in the tension between love and control, freedom and restraint. This refusal to offer easy answers is a hallmark of Cardinals’ songwriting, inviting listeners to engage with the material on a deeper level. For those preparing to sing along, the lyrics provide a raw emotional roadmap, charting a course through obsession, chemical escapism, and a distorted sense of duty. The release of these words separate from the music allows for a focused appreciation of the band’s literary craft, building anticipation for how this piece connects to the full Masquerade story next February.
Produced by Shrink
November 24, 2026
1 song, 3 minutes
℗ 2026 Cardinals under exclusive license to So Young Records
Lyrics
So hard
To keep me safe
I wrote her sixteen times to say
“You pluck the night out from the day”
And it’s so hot, I swear
This is the jail I took you from
You’ll call it hell before we’re done
It’s over there
The countless things I do
Make me more attractive to you
I can hardly bear
The shame that comes with that
Won’t be gone before its back
Once more like you really meant it
All fours and all six senses
Once more for the great big entrance
South gate with the barbed wire fences
And I can hardly breathe
Alcohol and ecstasy
And I’m so high above
You don’t let doubt
Seep through the cracks
You got this far
Just don’t go back
Cause it’s you
I love
And love I deem as good
In all the ways I wish you would
Once more like you really meant it
All fours and all six senses
Once more for the great big entrance
South gate with the barbed wire fences
And I can hardly breathe
Alcohol and ecstasy
And aperol and THC
From city hall
To George’s Quay
Once more like you really meant it
All fours and all six senses
Once more for the great big entrance
South gate with the barbed wire fences
And I can hardly breathe
Alcohol and ecstasy
And I can hardly breathe
Aperol and THC
