1) Mystics are a four pi… Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one artist by this name.
1) Mystics are a four piece garage punk, rock'n'roll band from Hamilton, Ontario.
It's Only A Paper Moon
Mystics 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” was written by Harold Arlen, E. Y. Harburg, and Billy Rose in 1932. The lyrics vividly describe how the world is full of illusions or fakes, and that the world is not real as it seems to be. The concept of the song is to persuade someone to believe in oneself and their love to make the concept of the world genuine. The lyrics narrate the imagery of seemingly insignificant objects such as a paper moon, a cardboard sea, a canvas sky, and a muslin tree, but they quickly stress that belief is the only thing that is constant in their world. Without love, the world is a "phony” cardboard parade, and the melody played is just in a penny arcade, and they long for someone's belief to give substance to their world.
The lyrics of “It’s Only A Paper Moon” have an emotional depth that makes them so relatable to the listeners. The song implies that the world can be commonly perceived as artificial, but it's only waiting for a sparkling change, and it all depends on one's belief. The song's message is clear that beneath the phony world, there's a genuine hope if they can find someone with faith in them. The lyrics of the song have appeared in various popular movies and have been covered by many famous singers, including Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, and Frank Sinatra, to name a few.
Line by Line Meaning
Say, it's only a paper moon
I am telling you that this moon is not real, it's just made of paper.
Sailing over a cardboard sea
The sea underneath this paper moon is not even real either, just made of cardboard.
But it wouldn't be make-believe
But if you believe in me, it becomes real and doesn't feel like you're pretending anymore.
If you believed in me
It only takes your trust in me to make this imaginary world real.
Yes, it's only a canvas sky
This sky is not made of the real thing; it's just a painting on a piece of canvas.
Hanging over a muslin tree
The tree underneath this painted sky is not even real either, just made of muslin, a type of fabric.
Without your love
If I didn't have your love or support, then...
It's a honky-tonk parade
...this world would feel like a cheap, tacky parade.
It's a melody played in a penny arcade
...or like a song played on a low-quality speaker in a cheap arcade.
It's a Barnum and Bailey world
This world is full of illusions and tricks, much like a Barnum and Bailey circus show.
Just as phony as it can be
These illusions are so fake that it's hard to take them seriously.
It's phony it's plain to see
It's clear to anyone that this world is not real.
How happy I would be
But if you believed in me, I would be so happy.
If you believed in me
Again, it only takes your trust in me to make this imaginary world real.
Lyrics © S.A. MUSIC, SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: BILLY ROSE, E.Y. HARBURG, HAROLD ARLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@matthewzuckerman6900
Awesome!!
@bluenote824jones7
Great
@kennethreed2186
😎📀👍😊🥰
@ausfan100
Not a bad version, although I still prefer Dion & The Belmonts' record. Same backing track used on both recordings.
@TbirdsOf1965
I agree, but the Mystics did it in '59, a year earlier.
@mattcollier5957
Where did the footage come from?
@TbirdsOf1965
An Orson Welles movie, cut and set to rhythm.
@mattcollier5957
@TbirdsOf1965 Thank You
@mattcollier5957
This is how music should sound, looking at the video, we have lost those lines of cars , gents dressed like gents, women dressed feminine, now they wear un sexy jogging bottoms and ugg boots, aweful. Look how these in this vieo are presented, we can tell the guys from the girls, not today im afraid
@TbirdsOf1965
Thanks for checking out a single one of my video! If you liked this one, you might like a bunch on my other Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/mutleybird