Leader of the most popular dance bands in the United States during the 1920s, Whiteman's recordings were immensely successful, and press notices often referred to him as the "King of Jazz". Using a large ensemble and exploring many styles of music, Whiteman is perhaps best known for his blending of symphonic music and jazz, as typified by his 1924 commissioning and debut of George Gershwin's jazz-influenced "Rhapsody In Blue". Whiteman recorded many jazz and pop standards during his career, including "Wang Wang Blues", "Mississippi Mud", "Rhapsody in Blue", "Wonderful One", "Hot Lips", "Mississippi Suite", and "Grand Canyon Suite". His popularity faded in the swing music era of the 1930s, and by the 1940s Whiteman was semi-retired from music.
Whiteman's place in the history of early jazz is somewhat controversial.[1] Detractors suggest that Whiteman's ornately-orchestrated music was jazz in name only (lacking the genre's improvisational and emotional depth), and co-opted the innovations of black musicians.[1] Defenders note that Whiteman's fondness for jazz was genuine (he worked with black musicians as much as was feasible during an era of racial segregation),[1] that his bands included many of the era's most esteemed white jazz musicians, and argue that Whiteman's groups handled jazz admirably as part of a larger repertoire.[2] In his autobiography, Duke Ellington[3] declared, "Paul Whiteman was known as the King of Jazz, and no one as yet has come near carrying that title with more certainty and dignity."
It's Only A Paper Moon
Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra 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
Paul Whiteman's "It's Only A Paper Moon" is a classic tune that expresses the power of believing in someone or something. In the first verse, the singer acknowledges that the world is often just an illusion, like a "paper moon" sailing over a cardboard sea. However, he asserts that it is not make-believe if someone truly believes in him. He is encouraging the listener to trust in him and his promises, to have faith, and believe that what may appear to be fake or unreal can become real if they share his beliefs.
The chorus emphasizes the same message, that without love and support, life can be a meaningless parade or a cheap penny arcade. However, if the listener believes in the singer and his promises, they can transcend the fake world around them, and it wouldn't be make-believe anymore. The final verse brings the same idea to its conclusion, by stressing how much happier the singer would be if he had the listener's belief and trust.
Line by Line Meaning
Say, it's only a paper moon
Acknowledging that what we see is not real
Sailing over a cardboard sea
The reality we know is artificial
But it wouldn't be make-believe
Although it seems unreal, it can be made real
If you believed in me
With faith and trust, the impossible can be overcome
Yes, it's only a canvas sky
The world we see is a mere fabrication
Hanging over a muslin tree
Even nature has been made up
Without your love
Without a connection, life loses its meaning
It's a honky tonk parade
Life is filled with noise and chaos
It's a melody played in a penny arcade
Life can be repetitive and dull
It's a Barnum and Bailey world
Life is like a circus, full of spectacle
Just as phony as it can be
Everything around us is fake
But it wouldn't be make-believe
Through the power of belief, the unreal can become real
If you believed in me
Believing in someone can make all the difference
It's phony it's plain to see
This falseness is obvious to us
How happy I would be
The singer wishes for something more genuine and fulfilling
If you believed in me
Finding happiness and meaning through the belief of others
Lyrics © S.A. MUSIC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Billy Rose, E. Y. Harburg, Harold Arlen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mikekennedy4572
Love this song from the movie. Paper Moon with Tatum and Ryan O'Neal is one of my favorites.
@debbiewhite8770
So clean and clear, 78prof ! Like others here, it is my favorite rendition of this song, not least because it is part of the Paper Moon soundtrack - my favorite film of ALL TIME. It really does sound wonderful. Thanks so much for making it available to us !
@the78prof72
Glad that you like it, Debbie.
@Imforthewhales
I love that movie too .
@JulianCinefilo12
Hermosa película, lastima que en la actualidad no tenga tanto reconocimiento
@johnnypastrana6727
I keep coming back to 'Paper Moon' also Debbie...Ryan O'Neal coached up his daughter in that movie and she won an Oscar and had a big payday.
"Paper Moon" will always be a classic and stand the test of time for those people who walk the earth with a heart. ♥
@denisemarie6029
The 1973 movie got me digging all of these tunes. I’m old at 59 but we need to get our grandkids to appreciate this stuff! Love you, always Tatum! Please stay well! 💝
@aylamiller5752
59 isn't old at all! My mommas 58 and had me at 40!
@darylkik6204
Best version of the song. I lived in Hays Kansas for a while and the residents spoke of where they filmed Paper Moon and most of them played background extras. Great movie and Song. I was 19 when I first saw the movie and heard the song.
@johnnypastrana6727
Those folks did a great job...an over the top classic...as rare as blue roses.