It's Only A Paper Moon
Jess Stacy And His Orchestra Lyrics
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When I'm away from you
Out of your embrace
The world's a temporary parking place
Mmm, mm, mm, mm
A bubble for a minute
Mmm, mm, mm, mm
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
The lyrics of Jess Stacy And His Orchestra's song "It's Only a Paper Moon" express the feeling of loneliness and emptiness that one feels when away from their significant other. The singer feels disconnected from the world and sees it as a temporary place without their loved one. The world seems like a bubble that only lasts for a few minutes, and the only thing that can add some color and joy to this temporary and unreal life is the smile of their beloved. It's like the world is nothing but an illusion, without any meaning or substance unless the person they love is around them.
The chorus of the song, "Say, it's only a paper moon, Sailing over a cardboard sea, But it wouldn't be make-believe if you believed in me," signifies the power of one's belief in someone. The moon may be made of paper, the sea of cardboard, the sky of canvas, and the world may feel like a fake Barnum and Bailey circus. It’s all phony, and it's only make-believe. However, if the person they love truly believes in them, then everything can become real, and this world of illusion can transform into reality.
Overall, the song is a tribute to the power of love and the transformative effects of one's faith and trust in their loved one, even when it seems like everything else is nothing but an illusion.
Line by Line Meaning
I never feel a thing is real
When I am away from you, I feel as if nothing is tangible or meaningful.
When I'm away from you
My feelings and emotions depend on my proximity to you.
Out of your embrace
When I am not physically in your arms, I feel lost and disconnected.
The world's a temporary parking place
When I am not with you, the world seems like a waiting area for our eventual reunion.
A bubble for a minute
My happiness is fragile and fleeting, like a soap bubble that may burst at any moment.
You smile, the bubble has a rainbow in it
Your presence and affection bring color and vibrancy to my otherwise dull life. Your smile is like a rainbow that brightens up my world.
Say, it's only a paper moon
Admitting that what we have may not be permanent or real, but simply an illusion like a paper moon.
Sailing over a cardboard sea
Our love is symbolic of a ship sailing over a flimsy sea because it could sink at any moment, just like our relationship.
But it wouldn't be make-believe
Despite our love being precarious, it could be real if you believed in me.
If you believed in me
Our love could stand a chance if you have trust and faith in our relationship.
Yes, it's only a canvas sky
The sky is just a painted canvas, and like our relationship, it is an illusion that could fade or disappear at any moment.
Hanging over a muslin tree
Our love is like a tree, standing alone while the canvas sky hangs over it, making it appear artificial.
Without your love
When I am not with you, my life feels empty and meaningless.
It's a honky-tonk parade
The world around me is chaotic and noisy when you are not there to bring order and love into my life.
It's a melody played in a penny arcade
My life feels like a cheap and insignificant tune when compared to the richness and depth of our relationship.
It's a Barnum and Bailey world
The world around me is full of illusions, just like a circus where nothing is as it seems.
Just as phony as it can be
The world is superficial and fake, compared to the reality of our love.
But it wouldn't be make-believe
Despite the illusions and fakeness in the world, our love could be real and honest.
If you believed in me
The foundation of our love depends on your faith and trust in our relationship.
Lyrics © S.A. MUSIC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Billy Rose, E. Y. Harburg, Harold Arlen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind