It's Only a Paper Moon
Benny Goodman Lyrics


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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

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

Overall Meaning

Benny Goodman's song "It's Only a Paper Moon" incorporates images of the surreal and the fantastical to explore themes of love and the power of belief. The song opens with the refrain "Say, it's only a paper moon, sailing over a cardboard sea / But it wouldn't be make-believe if you believed in me." These lines establish the central metaphor of the song: the idea that the world can be transformed into a more magical and meaningful place through the power of belief. The song goes on to describe other fantastical elements, such as a "canvas sky" and a "muslin tree," and suggests that these elements would be real if one simply believed in their existence.


The remainder of the song describes a world that is essentially empty and meaningless without love. The lines "Without your love, it's a honky-tonk parade / Without your love, it's a melody played in a penny arcade" suggest that the world is nothing more than a cheap performance or a shallow source of entertainment without the presence of love. In this way, the song suggests that belief and love are two important components of a fulfilling life - and that they are intimately connected.


Overall, "It's Only a Paper Moon" is a song about the transformative power of belief, and the way that love makes the world a more meaningful and magical place.


Line by Line Meaning

Say, it's only a paper moon
Let me be clear, what you're seeing is only a representation of reality


Sailing over a cardboard sea
This paper moon is moving along an artificial ocean made of cardboard


But it wouldn't be make-believe
However, this fantasy wouldn't be an illusion


If you believed in me
If you have trust in me as a person, this paper moon could be much more than just a decoration


Yes, it's only a canvas sky
Similarly, what you're seeing up there is simply a representation of the sky


Hanging over a muslin tree
This canvas sky is hanging over a tree made of muslin


Without your love
In the absence of your affection


It's a honky-tonk parade
Everything around me seems like a dishonest, frivolous celebration


It's a melody played in a penny arcade
It's like the background music of a cheap, commercial amusement park


It's a Barnum and Bailey world
In fact, everything is a metaphor for a circus, a spectacle made of trickery and illusion


Just as phony as it can be
Everything is as fake as possible


But it wouldn't be make-believe
However, there's a chance that all of these illusions could turn into truth


If you believed in me
If you trusted me and believed in me, all of this could become genuine


It's phony it's plain to see
It's undoubtedly evident that things aren't genuine


How happy I would be
Considering how things are, I'd be extremely happy


If you believed in me
If only you had faith in me




Lyrics © S.A. MUSIC, SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: BILLY ROSE, E.Y. HARBURG, HAROLD ARLEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Hungry Dragon Vs Frightend Hobbit

I've got this original record in glorious 78 rpm shellac. It's fantastic.

Asko Varjorinne

Good old Benny thank´s to memories!!!🎶🎶💫💫

K Hussein

Awesome!

Rube Waddell

My son used to hate it when he was a little tacker and we were out in public and I would randomly start singing this song.

Mario Malnati

Thank god you made another channel!

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