It's Only A Paper Moon
Johnny Miller/Nat King Cole/Oscar Moore Lyrics
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Hanging over a cardboard sea
But it wouldn't be make believe
If you believe in me
It is only a canvas sky
Sailing 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
On 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 believe in me
Without your love
It's a honky tonk parade
Without your love
It's a melody played
On 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 believe in me
The lyrics to "It's Only a Paper Moon" describe a world that is nothing more than an illusion. The moon is made of paper, the sea is made of cardboard, and the sky is made of canvas. However, despite their lack of substance, these things can become real if one believes in them. The song suggests that the imaginary world can become real if someone believes in it or someone else. The song’s message is somewhat paradoxical; it suggests that with enough belief or imagination you can make something real that is artificial.
The chorus reinforces this idea, singing, “But it wouldn't be make-believe if you believed in me,” while acknowledging that in reality, it’s all just pretend. The song's use of metaphors is significant as it relates to the idea of fantasy versus reality. The lyrics explore the concept of the power of belief and how it can shape the perception of the world. Believing in something can make it real, even if it is only an illusion in the eyes of others.
Line by Line Meaning
It is only a paper moon
The moon is made of paper, but it can still be real if you believe in it.
Hanging over a cardboard sea
The moon is hanging over a sea made of cardboard, which is a symbol of something that may seem fragile.
But it wouldn't be make believe
The things we see aren't just make-believe, and can be real if we believe in them.
If you believe in me
Belief in someone can change the person's reality and make it genuine.
It is only a canvas sky
The sky is just painted on a canvas, but it can be real to those who believe in it.
Sailing over a muslin tree
The sky is floating over a tree made of muslin, which symbolizes something temporary or fleeting.
Without your love
It's a honky tonk parade
Without love, life is just an ordinary, unremarkable procession like those seen in a honky-tonk parade.
It's a melody played
On a penny arcade
Life without love is like a tune played on a penny arcade, something ordinary and commonplace.
It's a Barnum and Bailey world
The world is like a circus, full of spectacle and wonder.
Just as phony as it can be
The world is often full of false pretense, and people should not always believe what they see.
If you believe in me
Belief in someone can create a real bond between people, and make the world seem much more genuine.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., S.A. MUSIC, SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: BILLY ROSE, E. Y. HARBURG, HAROLD ARLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind