Paper Moon
Peggy healy Lyrics
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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
Peggy Healy's song "It's Only a Paper Moon" is a classic tune that was featured in the 1933 musical, "Take a Chance." This song has been covered numerous times by various artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, and Paul McCartney. The song's lyrics paint a seemingly whimsical picture of a world of make-believe, yet they also express a more profound and personal message of the power of belief and love.
The first verse of the song talks about a paper moon sailing over a cardboard sea, and a canvas sky hanging over a muslin tree, which are all illusions. However, the singer argues that they would not be make-believe if the person they are singing to believed in them. This idea is central to the entire song and is repeated throughout the rest of its verses. Without the belief of the person being sung to, the world in which they reside is nothing but a phony Barnum and Bailey's world, but with love and belief, it becomes real to them.
The song's chorus stresses the importance of the love and belief the singer has for their significant other. Without it, their world is just a honky-tonk parade and a melody played in a penny arcade. In contrast, if their beloved believed in them, everything would be real and make-believe.
Overall, "It's Only a Paper Moon" is a song that speaks to the fluidity of reality and how subjective it is. It stresses that the power of love and belief can make a world of difference, even if it's just a world made of paper and cardboard.
Line by Line Meaning
Say, it's only a paper moon
Let's admit it, what we are looking at is just an illusion
Sailing over a cardboard sea
A flimsy setup, that can't stand the test of time
But it wouldn't be make-believe
But this illusion can be true
If you believed in me
If only you had faith in me
Yes, it's only a canvas sky
This sky you see is nothing more than a painting on a fabric
Hanging over a muslin tree
A flimsy tree, that won't last long
Without your love
Without you by my side
It's a honky tonk parade
Life becomes just like any other day
It's a melody played in a penny arcade
Everything will become routine and mundane
It's a Barnum and Bailey world
The world is filled with tricks and deceptions
Just as phony as it can be
It's all fake and staged for show
But it wouldn't be make-believe
But all of this can be true
If you believed in me
If only you trust me
It's phony it's plain to see
We can clearly see that it's all a facade
How happy I would be
But if only you would believe in me, I would be elated
If you believed in me
If only you had faith in me
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.