* Died 3 March 1991, Ho… Read Full Bio ↴* Born 4 April 1895, New York City, New York
* Died 3 March 1991, Honolulu, Hawaii
Arthur Murray may never have played a note in his life, but as America's premier dance teacher for over 3 decades, he was featured on two series of albums--one on Capitol in the early 1950s, one on RCA in the late 1950s and early 1960s--both of which hold a few hidden delights.
Arthur Murray's Latin Dance SetMurray contributed the footprint map to the art of teaching popular dance steps. Starting out as a dance instructor in the pre-World War I dance craze started by Irene and Vernon Castle, he started a mail order business n the early 1920s that offered correspondence courses on how to dance. Subscribers received booklets that proposed to teach readers how to master just about any kind of ballroom dance step just by following a diagram showing a sequence of left and right footprints linked by arrows. He followed in 1938 with a best-selling book, How to Become a Good Dancer. It was actually a pretty crafty marketing technique, though, because the would-be Fred Astaires eventually gave up in frustration and clomped down to the nearest Arthur Murray franchise to learn in person with a professional instructor, the good old-fashioned expensive way.
Capitol's series of "Arthur Murray Favorites" first came out on 10-inch EPs and were later reissued on 12-inch LPs. Each included a certificate for a free dance lesson, redeemable at any Arthur Murray Dance Studio. Les Baxter contributed the Modern Waltzes and Tangos albums, but both are quite forgettable. Billy May got his first chance to record as a bandleader on the Mambos and Foxtrots albums, but unfortunately, for some reason Capitol decided to credit the "Rico Mambo Orchestra." Ray Anthony recorded the Swing Fox Trot album, and Latin bandleaders Chuy Reyes and Enric Madriguera did the Rhumbas and Sambas albums, respectively.
Fred Astaire himself followed Murray's example with a series for RCA Victor, titled "Perfect for Dancing," in the mid-1950s. Each was a compilation of a particular dance rhythm--fox trots, rhumbas, mambos, etc.--featuring a variety of artists, rather than just one group.
Astaire's are harder to find these days, but they must have done OK by RCA, because the label teamed up with Murray a few years later. For the most part, these albums are less noteworthy than the livelier ones on Capitol. This time, the bands are lead by RCA house arrangers such as Johnnie Camacho, Bill Stegmeyer, and Ray Carter. Murray was still going strong into the 1960s, though, releasing a twist album featuring the King Curtis combo, and last but not least, a Discotheque album. Soon after, though, dancing became the mindless hip-wiggling arm-wagging gyrations even klutzes like me can master without a thousand bucks worth of dance lessons, and Mr. Murray waltzed off to spend his sunset years in Hawaii.
It's Only A Paper Moon
Arthur Murray Lyrics
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Sailing over a cardboard sea
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me
Yes, it's only a canvas sky
Hanging over a muslin tree
But it wouldn't be make-believe
Without your love
It's a honky tonk parade
Without your love
It's a melody played in a penny arcade
It's a Barnum and Bailey world
Just as phony as it can be
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me
Say, it's only a paper moon
Sailing over a cardboard sea
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me
Yes, it's only a canvas sky
Hanging over a muslin tree
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me
Without your love
It's a honky-tonk parade
Without your love
It's a melody played in a penny arcade
It's a Barnum and Bailey world
Just as phony as it can be
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me
It's phony it's plain to see
How happy I would be
If you believed in me
The lyrics to Arthur Murray's "It's Only a Paper Moon" speak to the power of belief and love. The song starts with the singer acknowledging that the things they see around them are only illusions; the paper moon and cardboard sea, the canvas sky and muslin tree. But, these illusions can become real if there is belief behind them. The singer then compares life without love to a "honky-tonk parade", lacking in substance and meaning. The world is described as being phony, but that doesn't mean love and belief can't make it real. The final line speaks directly to the listener, asking them to believe in the singer, and to make the illusions of life become real.
The lyrics of "It's Only a Paper Moon" represent a common theme in music and art, the idea of love and faith making the world a better, more meaningful place. It also connects to the idea of using one's imagination to see past the surface of things and find deeper meaning. The lyrics are simple and straightforward, but they convey a powerful message.
Line by Line Meaning
Say, it's only a paper moon
Let me tell you, this thing we're talking about is just a representation made of paper
Sailing over a cardboard sea
This object we're talking about is just moving over a sea made out of cardboard.
But it wouldn't be make-believe
The thing is, if you really believe in something, it doesn't have to be imaginary - it can be real.
If you believed in me
It would be so great if you could believe in me and see things the way I see them.
Yes, it's only a canvas sky
I want you to understand that this isn't a real sky made out of clouds, it's just a canvas representation of one.
Hanging over a muslin tree
The tree we're depicting is just made out of muslin, and the sky is hanging above it.
Without your love
If I don't have your love, then everything is a mess and not enjoyable.
It's a honky tonk parade
The world seems like a cheap carnival parade.
It's a melody played in a penny arcade
Life seems like a song that's being played on repeat in some cheap penny arcade.
It's a Barnum and Bailey world
The world is like the circus of Barnum and Bailey - just a scam, a sham, and a lie.
Just as phony as it can be
Everything is fake, fake, fake - as fake as it could possibly be.
It's phony it's plain to see
It's clear that everything is fake and false.
How happy I would be
If only you could see things the way I see them and believe in me, I would be so happy.
If you believed in me
It would be such a joy if you could believe in me and help me see things differently.
Lyrics © S.A. MUSIC, SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: BILLY ROSE, E.Y. HARBURG, HAROLD ARLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind