It's Only A Paper Moon
Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney 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

The lyrics to Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney's song "It's Only A Paper Moon" display a hopeful sentiment that believing in someone or something can make the impossible a reality. The use of imagery throughout the song reinforces this message. The first verse describes a paper moon sailing over a cardboard sea, and a canvas sky hanging over a muslin tree. These objects are clearly not real, but the singer implores the listener to believe in them anyway. The chorus reinforces this message, lamenting that without love, the world is a phony place, filled with honky-tonk parades and penny arcades. However, if the listener believes in the singer, the world can become a place where paper moons and canvas skies can come to life.

The song invokes the idea of make-believe and imagination as the keys to unlocking a world of endless possibilities. The lyrics suggest that the listener can choose to accept the world as it is or believe in something greater, something that can make the impossible a reality. The chorus reinforces this idea, stating that the world is a Barnum and Bailey world, just as phony as it can be. Yet, if the listener believes in the singer, it can be something more.

Line by Line Meaning

Say, it's only a paper moon
Let me tell you, this moon you see is not real but just a paper creation

Sailing over a cardboard sea
It's floating over a fake sea made of cardboard

But it wouldn't be make-believe
It doesn't have to be a lie or illusion

If you believed in me
If only you had faith in me and my abilities

Yes, it's only a canvas sky
That sky above us is not real but just a painted canvas

Hanging over a muslin tree
It's hanging over a tree made out of muslin fabric

Without your love
In the absence of your love

It's a honky-tonk parade
Life becomes just a noisy and chaotic party

It's a melody played in a penny arcade
It's like a monotonous tune played in those cheap and ubiquitous game arcades

It's a Barnum and Bailey world
This world is full of fraud and trickery like in the Barnum and Bailey circus

Just as phony as it can be
The fakeness of this world can't be more obvious