It's Only A Paper Moon
Nat "King" Cole and His Trio 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
In "It's Only A Paper Moon," Nat "King" Cole and His Trio express the idea that the world around them may seem like a facade or a mere imitation, but it becomes real when they have love in their lives. They describe a paper moon hanging over a cardboard sea, a canvas sky sailing over a muslin tree - all objects that are man-made and artificial. However, they suggest that if they believe in each other, these paper-thin objects become flesh and blood. Without the love of the person they are singing to, the world would only be a "honky tonk parade" - a parade of cheap and gaudy things, lacking true substance. But when they are together, even in the midst of the phony world they are living in, everything becomes real and nothing is make-believe.
The entire song is a metaphor for love and the power it has to transform the world around us. The "Paper Moon" and the "canvas sky" can be seen as symbols for the things in life that we often take for granted, or the parts of life that seem superficial. The song suggests that love can give meaning to even the most mundane and artificial aspects of life, and that it has the power to elevate and transform our experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
It is only a paper moon
Life may appear to be flimsy and fragile, with a lack of substantiality
Hanging over a cardboard sea
A false reality looms, made of weak and insubstantial materials
But it wouldn't be make believe
Despite its apparent artificiality, there is still hope for genuine experiences
If you believe in me
Trust and faith in companionship can turn a paper-thin world into a vibrant and meaningful existence
It is only a canvas sky
The sky above may seem to be just a simple prop, with nothing real beyond it
Sailing over a muslin tree
A mere backdrop blowing in the wind which adds to the illusion of reality
Without your love
In the absence of true and genuine affection
It's a honky tonk parade
Life is a noisy, insignificant spectacle
It's a melody played
A tune offers nothing more than passive entertainment with no real substance
On a penny arcade
Just a cheap attraction for people's amusement
It's a Barnum and Bailey world
Everything in life may just be a big show, a charade
Just as phony as it can be
Nothing seems to be authentic, every part of life seems superficial and fake
But it wouldn't be make believe
Despite the existence of a world full of smoke and mirrors, there is still a chance for genuine relationships and experiences
If you believe in me
By placing trust and faith in love and friendship, we can create meaning in a world that appears to lack substance
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
@gloomymilk7636
Say, its 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
@lemonlebowski1397
What a lovely song, one of my favorites! Why does everyone look like Nat King Cole?
@gloomymilk7636
Say, its 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
@fishussugon3215
What a nice song to fold origami to
@giojojodio
This is a JOJO referece?
@moderndayentertainer.9516
@@giojojodioMust be. And ironically, it's true.
@wackaircaftmechanic2312
I found this song on a cassette I found somewhere and just now played in my first car that's broken. Thank you whoever left this cassette tape to me.
@carolinemitchell5241
Such a great feel-good sound, musicianship, trio & inimitable vocal- & super song.
@joaoalfredo2848
O Nat King Cole Trio foi um dos inspiradores do movimento da Bossa Nova no Brasil no final dos anos sessenta. Música inovadora, de grande qualidade. 15.1.2021.
@bills2909
Loved this guy. Great talent
@nesswhopees
When your dad loves his beetles more than you.