Under a Paper Moon
All Time Low Lyrics
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You're tearing a hole right through the walls
Of everything we used to know
I'm building a place, something amazing
Just for the sake of saving us
From under the sun
Two plastic hearts with nowhere to run
We're rolling the dice on whatever's left
Me and you, living under a paper moon
'Cause real life just isn't right
Let's fabricate
Me and you, living under a paper moon
This real life just isn't right
Let's get away
Let's fabricate
Baby, don't fret
At least we're alive with just enough breath
To truly despise the hills in the carpet
Knots in the ties that bind us
So tightly to our waking lives
I'll build up a house, I'll build up an army
Of cellophane soldiers, cheap origami
To take back a piece of whatever's left
Of that little box that beats in your chest
Me and you, living under a paper moon
'Cause real life just isn't right
Let's fabricate
Me and you, living under a paper moon
This real life just isn't right
Let's get away
Let's fabricate
I'm building a place
Something amazing just for the sake of saving us
And whatever's left of that little box
That beats in your chest
Me and you, living under a paper moon
'Cause real life just isn't right
Let's fabricate
Me and you, living under a paper moon
This real life just isn't right
Let's get away
This real life just isn't right
Let's fabricate
The overall tone of the song is one of desperation, as the two people in the relationship are struggling to hold onto something that is slipping away. The metaphor of living "under a paper moon" suggests that the happiness they are striving for isn't real, but rather something they've fabricated to escape their harsh reality. The opening verse "Baby, don't yell / You're tearing a hole right through the walls / Of everything we used to know" sets the stage for the song's push and pull between wanting to hold onto the past and wanting to create something new.
The chorus provides the central idea, as the two people acknowledge the current reality of their situation: "Me and you, living under a paper moon / 'Cause real life just isn't right / Let's fabricate." They are seeking to create something new, something that isn't grounded in the pain and disappointment of the past. The lines "I'll build up a house, I'll build up an army / Of cellophane soldiers, cheap origami" suggests that the construction of this new world is fragile, and built on something that doesn't have true substance.
The final verse emphasizes the importance of holding onto the small remnants of hope that remain - "And whatever's left of that little box / That beats in your chest." The idea that there is still something worth building towards is what keeps the relationship afloat, even though they are "living under a paper moon."
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, don't yell
Please don't shout, your anger and frustration is causing damage.
You're tearing a hole right through the walls
Your yelling is so intense that it is causing visible damage to our surroundings.
Of everything we used to know
Your anger is so strong that it is destroying all the good memories we have created.
I'm building a place, something amazing
I am creating a new and special environment for us that will help us overcome our issues.
Just for the sake of saving us
I am doing this to save our relationship because it is important to me.
From under the sun
I want to move away from the real world and its problems.
Two plastic hearts with nowhere to run
We are trapped in our relationship, unable to escape our situation.
We're rolling the dice on whatever's left
We're taking a chance with whatever little hope we have left.
'Cause God only knows that we could use the rest
We need help and are praying for some sort of positive outcome.
Me and you, living under a paper moon
We are living in a fake world that we have created, where real life problems don't exist.
'Cause real life just isn't right
Our real life is broken and imperfect.
Let's fabricate
We can create a new reality, free from the problems that plague us in the real world.
Baby, don't fret
Please don't worry or stress out, we have enough to deal with already.
At least we're alive with just enough breath
We are fortunate to be alive and still have hope to fix our situation.
To truly despise the hills in the carpet
Our problems are so great, that even small imperfections in our surroundings bother us.
Knots in the ties that bind us
We are stuck together, even though our problems are causing us to pull apart.
So tightly to our waking lives
Our problems are impacting our everyday lives.
I'll build up a house, I'll build up an army
I am willing to do anything to fix our relationship.
Of cellophane soldiers, cheap origami
I am using cheap and flimsy materials to build my army because I am starting from scratch.
To take back a piece of whatever's left
I am going to fight to regain whatever small pieces of our relationship remain.
Of that little box that beats in your chest
I am fighting to rekindle the love that we still have for each other.
This real life just isn't right
Our real life problems are too great to overcome easily.
Let's get away
Let's escape the real world and start anew.
Let's fabricate
We can create a new reality that is free from the problems of the real world.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALEXANDER WILLIAM GASKARTH, MICHAEL JOSEPH GREEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind