It's Only A Paper Moon
Bill Allred 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
In the song "It's Only a Paper Moon", Bill Allred is singing about the power of love and belief. He uses imagery of a paper moon sailing over a cardboard sea and a canvas sky hanging over a muslin tree to convey the idea that life can be phony and make-believe, but with love and belief, it can become real. The lyrics suggest that without love and belief, life is like a honky-tonk parade with a melody played in a penny arcade. However, if someone believed in him, then the phony Barnum and Bailey world can become real. The last line of the song highlights the singer's sense of the unrealized potential of his life, and how happy he would be if someone believed in him.
The song has a playful and joyful tone, and the music adds to the feeling of whimsy. The use of horns and the swinging rhythm create a sense of fun and light-heartedness. The repetition of the phrase "If you believed in me" creates a sense of longing and desire for validation and acceptance.
Line by Line Meaning
Say, it's only a paper moon
Let's be clear, this is all an illusion
Sailing over a cardboard sea
A fake world, built on flimsy supports
But it wouldn't be make-believe
Despite all that, it's still real
If you believed in me
But you have to have faith
Yes, it's only a canvas sky
The sky is part of the illusion too
Hanging over a muslin tree
Supported by the same weak frame
Without your love
Without your belief
It's a honky tonk parade
This whole world is just a cheap spectacle
It's a melody played in a penny arcade
The music is all canned and phony
It's a Barnum and Bailey world
Everything is an act
Just as phony as it can be
As fake as it gets
But it wouldn't be make-believe
But still, it's real to me
If you believed in me
And if you could only see it too
It's phony it's plain to see
Yes, it's all a lie
How happy I would be
But I could be happy anyway
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