It's Only A Paper Moon
Monday Off Lyrics
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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
The song "It's Only a Paper Moon" by Monday Off is a classic tune with timeless lyrics about the power of belief and love. The songwriter uses metaphors and similes to describe a whimsical world that is only made real through the belief of others. The paper moon sailing over a cardboard sea and canvas sky hanging over a muslin tree symbolize the imaginary world that can come to life if someone believes in it. The honky-tonk parade and melody played in a penny arcade without the singer's love represent a life that is void of joy and happiness.
The chorus emphasizes the point that the world may seem phony and artificial but with belief and love, it can come to life. The mention of Barnum and Bailey world in the lyrics refers to the famous circus that was known for its elaborate performances and fantastical acts. The songwriter likens the circuses' make-believe world to the imaginary world that the singer describes.
The last stanza of the song is a plea to the love interest to believe in the singer so that they can have happiness together. The singer seems aware that the world that they describe may be phony, but it's the only world that they have, and their happiness is dependent on their love interest believing in it too. In conclusion, the song It's Only a Paper Moon by Monday Off is a beautiful reflection on the transformative power of belief, and how it can bring to life an imaginary world.
Line by Line Meaning
Say, it's only a paper moon
Let me tell you, it may look like a real moon, but it's nothing more than a piece of paper hanging there
Sailing over a cardboard sea
That fake moon is even sailing above a sea made of cardboard
But it wouldn't be make-believe
However, this could all actually become real
If you believed in me
If you had faith in me, these illusions would turn authentic
Yes, it's only a canvas sky
Similarly, the sky above us is merely an artificially painted piece of fabric
Hanging over a muslin tree
It is stretched above a tree made of muslin, which is also a type of cloth
Without your love
In your absence, the world feels incomplete
It's a honky tonk parade
Life without you feels like a meaningless parade
It's a melody played in a penny arcade
It's similar to a tune played in a cheap arcade, without depth or meaning
It's a Barnum and Bailey world
The world we live in is just as fake and constructed as a circus
Just as phony as it can be
It's as fake it can get, plain and simple
But it wouldn't be make-believe
However, all the sham and facade would disappear if you had faith in me
If you believed in me
Your trust and faith would make life and reality more meaningful and genuine
It's phony it's plain to see
The superficiality of everything is apparent
How happy I would be
But if you were here with me and believed in me, I would be immensely happy
If you believed in me
Again, the ultimate key to being content is trust and faith in one another
Lyrics © S.A. MUSIC, SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: BILLY ROSE, E.Y. HARBURG, HAROLD ARLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind