The New York Trio is a studio-only group consisting of Bill Charlap, Jay Le… Read Full Bio ↴The New York Trio is a studio-only group consisting of Bill Charlap, Jay Leonhart and Bill Stewart that records for the Japanese market. This trio is essentially a side project for Charlap, who leads his own trio with Peter Washington on bass and Kenny Washington on drums.

It's Only A Paper Moon
New York Trio Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

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

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

Overall Meaning

The New York Trio's "It's Only A Paper Moon" is a song of hope and longing for the one who makes everything real. The song's opening lines "Say, it's only a paper moon, sailing over a cardboard sea" compare life to a stage, where everything seems unreal or make-believe, like a circus or a carnival. The lyrics mean that without love, life can seem like a parade of phony characters and hollow melodies played in penny arcades. The song's message is both playful and sincere, as it shows that life can be transformed if someone believes in you.

The song's joyful melody and upbeat tempo provide a lively and optimistic tone, but the lyrics suggest a deep yearning for someone's love, which is what makes life authentic. The verses about the canvas sky and muslin tree emphasize how fake everything seems without love, and it's only when one has someone who believes in them that everything becomes real.

In conclusion, "It's Only A Paper Moon" by the New York Trio is a song about love and belief that life is better with someone who sees the real you beyond the phony world. The song captures the essence of hopefulness and longing, and its message resonates and inspires.

Line by Line Meaning

Say, it's only a paper moon
It's like a paper moon, an illusionary object, that is just sailing over a cardboard sea.

But it wouldn't be make-believe
It may seem unreal, but it can be actual if you put your trust in me.

If you believed in me
My dear, I need you to have faith in me.

Yes, it's only a canvas sky
The sky is just made of canvas, an artificial material, and it's hanging over a muslin tree.

Without your love
If I don't have your love,

It's a honky-tonk parade
My life is like a loud, rowdy street party.

It's a melody played in a penny arcade
My life is like a tune played endlessly in a cheap and vulgar amusement arcade.

It's a Barnum and Bailey world
The world is like a circus show, full of surreal creatures and bizarre events.

Just as phony as it can be
It's all fake, and it cannot be more counterfeit.

It's phony it's plain to see
It's evident that everything is fake.

How happy I would be
I dream of being extremely happy.

If you believed in me
If you would only trust and believe in me.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, S.A. MUSIC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Billy Rose, E. Y. Harburg, Harold Arlen

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS