It's Only a Paper Moon
Lester Young Lyrics


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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

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

Overall Meaning

The song "It's Only A Paper Moon" by Lester Young and His Band has a nostalgic and romantic feel to it, with its metaphorical lyrics and tender delivery. The song takes the listener through a world of make-believe and fantasies, where a paper moon can sail over a cardboard sea and a canvas sky can hang over a muslin tree. The lyrics suggest that life can be just like a Barnum and Bailey world, phony and artificial, but it wouldn't be make-believe if the person you love believed in you. The chorus repeats these lines, emphasizing that belief in each other can make their world of make-believe a reality.


The song also describes what life would be like without love - a honky-tonk parade or a melody played in a penny arcade. The verses suggest that life can be ordinary and mundane without love, but love has the power to create a magical world that the two lovers can share. The song's imagery is vivid and imaginative, painting a picture of a whimsical world that can be created just by believing in each other.


Overall, "It's Only A Paper Moon" is a heartfelt song about the power of love and belief. It reminds listeners that life can be full of wonders and magic, even in the most ordinary moments, as long as they have someone to share it with.


Line by Line Meaning

Say, it's only a paper moon
Just something that appears to be true but isn't really


Sailing over a cardboard sea
Fictitious objects being used to mimic real-life


But it wouldn't be make-believe
This thing may seem fake or unimportant, but there could be more to it


If you believed in me
But, with love and warmth, it could turn into something more


Yes, it's only a canvas sky
The backdrop, even though fake, is still there along with the things that appear to be fake


Hanging over a muslin tree
It's hanging over something that is just an imitation of what a real one should look like


Without your love
Life without you is unpleasant and boring


It's a honky tonk parade
Everything feels off and a bit tacky without true affection


It's a melody played in a penny arcade
Life feels monotonous and ordinary without love


It's a Barnum and Bailey world
The fake world, like the circus has the same elements that seem illusory


Just as phony as it can be
But this world could be transformed into something magical with love


But it wouldn't be make-believe
The transformation and the good things that come along with it would be perfectly real


If you believed in me
If you loved me like I love you


It's phony it's plain to see
The world without love looks and feels dishonest


How happy I would be
I could be happy if you loved me back


If you believed in me
If you let yourself love me, this world could light up like a starry night sky




Lyrics © S.A. MUSIC, SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: BILLY ROSE, E.Y. HARBURG, HAROLD ARLEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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