It's Only A Paper Moon
Nat King Cole Oscar Moore Johnny Miller 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
The song "It's Only a Paper Moon" by Nat King Cole, Oscar Moore, and Johnny Miller is a classic song that is about the power of belief and love. The song starts by talking about a paper moon that is hanging over a cardboard sea. The idea here is that the moon and the sea are not real, they are simply creations made out of paper and cardboard. But the moon and the sea become real if you believe in them. The song suggests that love works in a similar way. Love may not always be tangible, but if you believe in it, it can become real.
The second verse of the song talks about a canvas sky sailing over a muslin tree. Again, the sky and the tree are not real, they are simply creations. But they become real if you believe in them. The song then talks about how without love, life is like a "honky tonk parade," or a melody played on a penny arcade. This is a metaphor for a life that is chaotic and meaningless without love.
The final verse compares the world to a Barnum and Bailey world, which is just as phony as it can be. However, again, the world can become real if you believe in it. The song ends with the repetition of the phrase "It wouldn't be make-believe if you believe in me," which reinforces the idea that the power of belief and love can make anything real.
Line by Line Meaning
It is only a paper moon
The moon is nothing but a mere piece of paper
Hanging over a cardboard sea
Hovering over make-believe sea made out of cardboard
But it wouldn't be make believe
However, it can become an actual reality
If you believe in me
If you have faith in our love
It is only a canvas sky
The sky is just a painted canvas
Sailing over a muslin tree
Drifting above a fake tree made out of cloth
Without your love
If you aren't with me
It's a honky tonk parade
Everything seems chaotic and out of order
It's a melody played
Just a tune being played
On a penny arcade
On a cheap and artificial music machine
It's a Barnum and Bailey world
A world of deception and illusion
Just as phony as it can be
As fake as it can possibly be
But it wouldn't be make believe
However, it can be turned into the truth
If you believe in me
If you have faith in our love
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