Singing at many different events, concerts and venues every year, Doug sends his songs out to his listeners with his 12 piece swing band and well orchestrated arrangements.
Doug has also produced and performed in Concerts with many recording stars including Al Martino, Jimmy Sturr Orchestra, Dena DeRose, Joey Adams, Martha & The Vandellas and Comedian Joseph Anthony.
Doug has recorded 5 CD's that can be found at CD Baby, Amazon, iTunes and his web site.
He has appeared in many big hit films such as GoodFellas, Back to School, Spiderman II, Deeds, The Brave One, along with TV's Law & Order and The Sopranos.
Some of Doug's performances include runs at the Chestnut Room of New York City's Tavern On the Green, The Supper Club, (on West 47th St,. between Broadway & 8th Ave.), the World Trade Center's Marriot Hotel, the C-Note Jazz Club, The Arthur Ashe US Open, and on the Las Vegas Strip at the Monte Carlo Hotel and Casino.
Paper Moon
Doug Ferony Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
Doug Ferony's song "Paper Moon" is a romantic ballad that talks about how love can make a phony world seem real. The song makes references to the paper moon, canvas sky, and muslin tree, which are all objects that are viewed as fake. The lyrics suggest that even though the world might be phony, love can make it appear real. The song highlights the importance of believing in love and how it can make a difference in one's life.
In the first verse, the phrase "it wouldn't be make-believe if you believed in me" emphasizes the idea that love can turn a fantasy or a fabricated world into reality. The second verse talks about how without love, life would be a honky-tonk parade or a melody played in a penny arcade, which suggests that life would be meaningless without love. The bridge further emphasizes the idea of a phony world, calling it a Barnum and Bailey world, but even in this world, love can make it meaningful. The final verse ends with the singer expressing happiness if their love interest believed in them.
Line by Line Meaning
Say, it's only a paper moon
The singer believes that the world they live in is fake and constructed, just like a paper moon.
Sailing over a cardboard sea
This line is a continuation of the idea that the world is fake and constructed, with a cardboard sea being no more real than a paper moon.
But it wouldn't be make-believe
Despite this, the singer asserts that the things they experience wouldn't be fake, as long as the person they love believed in them.
If you believed in me
The artist is saying that the love of the person they care for would be enough to make their world feel more real and less constructed.
Without your love
This line sets up the idea that love is essential in making the world feel real.
It's a honky-tonk parade
The image of a honky-tonk parade is used to express the idea that without love, life is chaotic and disorganized.
It's a melody played in a penny arcade
This metaphor further emphasizes the idea that life without love is shallow and meaningless, like a tune played out by a mechanical instrument in a penny arcade.
It's a Barnum and Bailey world
This line references the famous circus show and serves as another metaphor for the conceptualization of life as artificial and created.
Just as phony as it can be
The artist believes that life is intrinsically fake and insincere.
But it wouldn't be make-believe
Despite this, the artist believes that if the person they love were there with them, the world wouldn't feel so fake and constructed.
If you believed in me
The singer repeats the idea that the love and support of another person is necessary for life to feel meaningful.
It's phony it's plain to see
The artist reiterates the idea that the world is fake and constructed, and expresses frustration that this isn't more widely acknowledged.
How happy I would be
The singer expresses how much happier they would be if the world were more real and genuine.
If you believed in me
The song concludes with the repetition of the idea that love is the key to making life feel real and less fake.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, S.A. MUSIC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Billy Rose, E. Y. Harburg, Harold Arlen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind