It's Only A Paper Moon
Grappelli Kessel Lyrics

In "It's Only A Paper Moon," Grappelli Kessel sings about the power of belief, specifically the belief in love. The lyrics suggest that even though the world is phony and full of pretenses, it can still be meaningful and real if you have someone to share it with. The song opens with the lines "Say, it's only a paper moon/Sailing over a cardboard sea," creating a vivid image of a world that is clearly fake and constructed. The paper moon and cardboard sea are images that represent the artificiality we experience in our lives. Despite this artificiality, Grappelli Kessel understands that the world can be genuine through our relationships with one another. In the song's bridge, Grappelli Kessel suggests that life without love is like a honky-tonk parade, or a melody played in a penny arcade, which is a clear representation of the emptiness that we experience without love.

Furthermore, the song hints at the importance of faith, both in oneself and in others. The repeated use of the phrase "if you believe in me" throughout the song suggests that the singer needs someone else's belief to make his own belief in life's reality stronger. The song's chorus reinforces the idea that despite the world’s pretenses, it can still be real and meaningful. Here, Grappelli Kessel sings "But it wouldn't be make-believe/If you believed in me," reinforcing the belief in love and the way it can make the artificiality of life real and genuine.