It's Only A Paper Moon
Nat 'King' Cole Trio 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
At its core, “It’s Only a Paper Moon” is a song about the power of belief. While the world may seem like a cheap imitation of reality, it can be transformed into something magical if you only believe. To convey this message, the lyrics use the metaphor of a paper moon sailing over a cardboard sea in a canvas sky. These images represent a world that is fake, but can be turned into something real if the singer’s love interest believes in him.
The song’s chorus emphasizes this point by declaring that without the love interest’s belief, the world is nothing more than a honky tonk parade or a melody played in a penny arcade – both of which are cheap and insincere. However, if she were to believe in the singer, the phony world would become real and he would be truly happy.
Overall, “It’s Only a Paper Moon” is a song about the power of positive thinking and how belief in oneself and one’s abilities can turn even the most fake and phony world into something genuine and true.
Line by Line Meaning
Say, it's only a paper moon
Let me explain that what's above us is not the real moon, rather it's just a paper moon.
Sailing over a cardboard sea
Although it's not real, it's still sailing over a sea that is made up of cardboard.
But it wouldn't be make-believe
This may all seem like a fabrication, but it's not make-believe.
If you believed in me
If you put your faith in me, this can all feel a little bit more real.
Yes, it's only a canvas sky
Just like the moon, this sky is also painted on canvas.
Hanging over a muslin tree
The trees are made up of muslin fabrics, but they're still trees.
Without your love
Life would be incomplete without your love.
It's a honky-tonk parade
Life would be nothing but chaos and noise without your love.
It's a melody played in a penny arcade
Life without your love would be like a sad song played in a cheap arcade.
It's a Barnum and Bailey world
The world is a circus, like Barnum and Bailey's, an extravaganza full of showmanship and hype.
Just as phony as it can be
It's all fake though, with a false sense of excitement and promise.
But it wouldn't be make-believe
Despite it all being fake, it would still be real if you were with me.
If you believed in me
If you trust in me, life would feel more authentic and real.
It's phony it's plain to see
It's pretty evident that everything is fake and staged in this world.
How happy I would be
Despite all that, I know I would be happy if you believed in me and were by my side.
If you believed in me
Once again, I reiterate how much difference it would make if you trust and believe in me.
Lyrics © S.A. MUSIC, Warner Chappell Music, 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.