It's Only A Paper Moon
Douglas Gamley Lyrics

Say, it's only a paper moon
I am acknowledging that what I am about to describe to you is not real, but just a mere illusion.

Sailing over a cardboard sea
This fabrication exists within an artificial world, made up of fake materials such as cardboard and muslin.

But it wouldn't be make-believe
Although it is not real, it could become a reality if you only believed in it with all your heart.

If you believed in me
I cannot make this happen on my own, I need you to trust in me and believe that together we can create something magical.

Yes, it's only a canvas sky
The sky that hovers above us is nothing more than a prop and a painting, lacking the true depth and beauty of the real thing.

Hanging over a muslin tree
Similarly, the tree beneath the canvas sky is but a mere fabrication, constructed from fake materials.

Without your love
Lacking the support and affection that you provide, this artificial creation is meaningless and empty.

It's a honky-tonk parade
Without you, this scene is reduced to being nothing more than a cheap and tacky imitation of a parade found in a honky-tonk bar.

It's a melody played in a penny arcade
In the absence of your love, the accompanying music is reduced to being nothing more than a simple tune heard in a penny arcade game.

It's a Barnum and Bailey world
The world we live in can be compared to a phony, over-the-top circus created by the great Barnum and Bailey, full of illusions and artificial creations.

Just as phony as it can be
Everything around us is fake and illusory, lacking the deeper meaning and authenticity found in genuine human connection.

But it wouldn't be make-believe
However, despite this, it is still possible to find true meaning and happiness within this fabricated world if one simply has faith and believes in the power of love and connection.

If you believed in me
Together, we can create something beautiful and real within this make-believe world, but it all starts with you taking the first step, believing in me and my vision.

It's phony it's plain to see
This artificial world we inhabit is plain to see and easy to recognize as being phony and lacking in depth or authenticity.

How happy I would be
Despite this, the singer knows that they can find true happiness and fulfillment if only they can find someone who believes in them and in the power of love to overcome the illusions of this world.

If you believed in me
The artist repeats the crucial importance of having someone to believe in them, knowing that with that support they can create something real and meaningful within this otherwise fake and phony world.