It's Only A Paper Moon
Pizzarelli John 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
The song "It's Only a Paper Moon" by Pizzarelli John is a classic example of a love song where the singer is urging their love interest to believe in them. The song uses imagery of a paper moon, a cardboard sea, a canvas sky, and a muslin tree to convey the idea that the world can be whatever we want it to be if we believe in ourselves and in love. The singer acknowledges that without their love interest, the world is a phony place, but with them, it becomes a place of make-believe and magic.
The first two stanzas of the song set the scene by singing about a paper moon sailing over a cardboard sea and a canvas sky hanging over a muslin tree. These lines are symbolic of life being transient and ever-changing, akin to the way the moon sails across the sky, and the imagery of a canvas or muslin sky highlights the idea that life is like a movie set, where things can be changed or improved upon. But it's the lines that follow that are the true essence of the song - that life becomes less of a phony place if one believes in love and the person singing to.
The chorus suggests that life without the love of the other person would be a sad, honky-tonk-like parade, with nothing but empty music reverberating in the air. It's only through the magic of love that life becomes a melody, a tune worth listening to. The Barnum and Bailey line in the last stanza is a reference to the famous circus, suggesting that life is just like a circus, with performers doing their thing, but the world become less phony when there is love involved.
Overall, the song's message is that life can be mundane and phony, but love has the power to transform it into a magical place where anything is possible.
Line by Line Meaning
Say, it's only a paper moon
This situation may seem fragile and artificial, but it has a certain charm to it.
Sailing over a cardboard sea
This paper moon seems to be floating over an imaginary sea made of cardboard.
But it wouldn't be make-believe
Although things may appear to be imaginary, they can still be genuine.
If you believed in me
If only you had faith in me, then this paper moon could be something real.
Yes, it's only a canvas sky
The sky above may be painted on canvas or some other material, but it still has a beauty to it.
Hanging over a muslin tree
A tree made of muslin fabric is holding up the painted sky, creating an image that's pretty but not quite real.
Without your love
If I don't have your affection and devotion, then the world quickly becomes a hollow, depressing place.
It's a honky tonk parade
Without my love, everything starts looking and feeling like a cheap, tacky parade.
It's a melody played in a penny arcade
In the absence of your affection, life becomes like a boring song that's played over and over in a budget arcade.
It's a Barnum and Bailey world
This world is like a circus or a show, with all sorts of real and fake things happening all around us.
Just as phony as it can be
Many aspects of this world are fake and fraudulent, but we sometimes treat them like they're real.
But it wouldn't be make-believe
Despite all the fakery, things can still be authentic if we have the right mindset.
If you believed in me
All it takes is a leap of faith and trust to turn fake things into something meaningful and genuine.
It's phony it's plain to see
There are plenty of fake elements in our lives, and it's easy to spot them once we start looking.
How happy I would be
If only I had your love and support, my life would be much more joyful and fulfilling.
If you believed in me
All it takes is for me to have your faith and trust to make everything feel a little more real and genuine.
Lyrics © S.A. MUSIC, BMG Rights Management, 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
@castellanodrclaudio
..............................ma che bravi, fantastici, travolgenti!
Un trio davvero eccezionale, per fantasia, inventiva , estro e creatività musicale così ammaliante, trainante e travolgente che ristora il corpo, l'anima e la mente di tutti quegli appassionati del jazz e dello "swing in particolare, un Trio così ben amalgamato che suscita, in chi li ascolta, quel naturale ed Universale sentimento dell'anima che si chiama "Emozione!!
Bravi, bravi davvero!!
I miei sentiti complimenti al " Big " John Pizzarelli , al pianista altrettanto bravo ed infine al contrabbassista, un vero fenomeno!!i
Tre Big messi insieme.
E dici poco?
C.Castellano, Italia
.......... but how good, fantastic, overwhelming!
A truly exceptional trio, for imagination, inventiveness, flair and musical creativity so bewitching, driving and overwhelming that it restores the body, soul and mind of those who listen to them (and who are all those fans of jazz and swing in particular ), arousing in them that natural and Universal feeling of the soul which is called "Emotion !!
Well done, really good !!
My heartfelt congratulations to the "Big" John Pizzarelli, to the equally good pianist and finally to the double bass player, a real phenomenon !!
Three Big put together.
And you say little?
C. Castellano, Italy
@felipegonzalez7304
Dear Mr. Pizzarelli,
I just heard about your papa, Bucky. Please accept condolences from a fan of his and yours. I hope he's in a better place making beautiful music. God speed to you and yours!
Yours truly,
Felipe Gonzalez
@lesliethomas5845
wow!!!! marvelous
Both J Pizzarelli & Konrad P
@Brad4Ellis
An impressive nearly note-for-note transcription of the great Nat King Cole Trio guitar & piano 1st chorus, complete with NKC’s modulation, as well as the outro and many of his wonderful vocal mannerisms. I share John’s absorbing fandom of NKC and Oscar Moore.
@LenaLee0304
I listened to this song on Blue Note(NY) last Sunday. Amazing~ So happy!!!!!!
@claudioborrone5256
John, greatings from Argentina. I think that you are one of the greatest musicians of all the times...
@thatguyyoudontknow
4700 subs......I'll never understand the world today
True love and joy in music, the Pizarellis. Amazing.
@rodoficiati
LIGHT UP, what a bless musicians like you, also my condolences for father Bucky, i lost my dad 2 years ago, and remembers him a lot everyday, so hope you and pizzarelli family is ok, love your tunes, almost like ritual listen to you and other "italian mafia" jazz players... Big hug from and inspired brazilian musician by you. God Bless.
@jasonsteffek9265
Having lost a loved one recently, this and other video's I have watched of you and your father...have hit the spot. Thank you. Be safe.
@laurielyon7740
My condolences on the passing of your father. That he was a legendary musician is noteworthy. But that he was reputed to be a wonderful person and outstanding gentleman is perhaps an even greater legacy. His life well lived and enjoyed by many.
@roxyroxburgh9566
Absolutely BRILLIANT!!! I love the Nat King Cole trio. The interplay between Nat and Oscar M was just wonderful. Your trio is just Fab. Thank you.