His highest charting album might be 1998's Awakening, for Columbia Records, which made it to 20th at Billboard (magazine)'s "Top Jazz albums."
It's Only A Paper Moon
Leon Parker 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
Leon Parker's song It's Only A Paper Moon is a beautiful melody written by Harold Arlen, E. Y. Harburg, and Billy Rose. The song is a metaphor about a world that is not real and about a relationship that can only exist in make-believe. The lyrics convey the idea that the world and the love relationship are not real, but they are still meaningful if you believe in them.
The first two lines "Say, it's only a paper moon, Sailing over a cardboard sea" evoke an image of a moon and sea that are not real, but they still have a magical and mysterious quality to them. The following lines "But it wouldn't be make-believe, If you believed in me" suggest that the moon and sea can become real if the person you love believes in you.
The phrase "Without your love, it's a honky-tonk parade" implies that the world is empty and meaningless without the love of the person you care about. The chorus repeats the idea that the world is phony but still significant if the person you love believes in you.
Overall, It's Only A Paper Moon is a touching and romantic song, which explores the theme of love and belief in an imaginative and fanciful way.
Line by Line Meaning
Say, it's only a paper moon
I am acknowledging that what we see may not be real, but we can still appreciate it for what it is.
Sailing over a cardboard sea
The world we see is not necessarily the same as the world we know.
But it wouldn't be make-believe
Just because things aren't real, doesn't mean they don't matter.
If you believed in me
It's important to have faith in someone and their abilities.
Yes, it's only a canvas sky
Our perception of the sky may not be the most accurate portrayal of what it actually is.
Hanging over a muslin tree
Our world is made up of many different materials that come together to form something greater.
Without your love
Being without someone you love can make life feel empty and meaningless.
It's a honky tonk parade
Life can feel like an endless, repetitive cycle when we lack love and purpose.
It's a melody played in a penny arcade
Life without love can be like a kitschy, unfulfilling experience.
It's a Barnum and Bailey world
Our world can feel like a giant spectacle, with little substance or meaning.
Just as phony as it can be
The facade of our world can be overwhelming and feel unauthentic.
But it wouldn't be make-believe
Just because things aren't real, doesn't mean they can't bring us joy or fulfillment.
If you believed in me
Having someone who believes in us can make all the difference in how we view the world.
It's phony it's plain to see
The artifice of our world can be painfully obvious to those who see through it.
How happy I would be
The realization of true love and purpose can bring immense happiness and fulfillment.
If you believed in me
Having someone who believes in us can help us achieve our true potential.
Lyrics © S.A. MUSIC, BMG Rights Management, 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