It's Only A Paper Moon
Skinny Williams 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
Skinny Williams's song "It's Only a Paper Moon" has become a classic jazz standard. The song is about the power of faith and how it can transform something fake into something real. The lyrics are a metaphor for the world of show business and the illusion that it creates. The song is written in a swing style and features a catchy melody that is easy to sing along to.
The song begins with the words, "Say, it's only a paper moon sailing over a cardboard sea" which speaks to the idea that the world of entertainment is not real. However, the singer argues that if someone believes in him, it wouldn't be make-believe. The second stanza repeats this metaphor with "Yes, it's only a canvas sky hanging over a muslin tree" but again emphasizes that if the person he is singing to believes in him, it could be made real.
The chorus repeats the idea that without the love of the person he is singing to, everything is just an empty performance. The song ends with the final stanza "It's phony, it's plain to see, how happy I would be if you believed in me." This summarizes the entire song by reiterating the idea that belief can transform something fake into something real.
Line by Line Meaning
Say, it's only a paper moon
I know it seems unrealistic and impossible, but hear me out.
Sailing over a cardboard sea
This world we're in is flimsy and temporary.
But it wouldn't be make-believe
However, it could be real if you just had faith in me.
If you believed in me
I promise that everything would be possible if only you trusted me.
Yes, it's only a canvas sky
Once again, I'm aware that this world we're in is not what it seems.
Hanging over a muslin tree
Even the trees are fake and flimsy, but that doesn't mean we can't make the best of it.
Without your love
If I don't have your support, everything falls apart.
It's a honky-tonk parade
Without you, everything is a cheap and meaningless display.
It's a melody played in a penny arcade
Everything without you is a worthless, low-quality imitation of something that could be so much better.
It's a Barnum and Bailey world
This whole world is a circus act, with nothing real or valuable behind it.
Just as phony as it can be
Everything we see around us is fake, and we have to accept that.
It's phony it's plain to see
It's obvious that everything is fake and temporary, but that doesn't mean we can't strive for something more.
How happy I would be
I know that with your love and support, I could be ecstatically happy, no matter how fake our world seems.
If you believed in me
All of this is possible if only you would trust me.
Lyrics © S.A. MUSIC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Billy Rose, E. Y. Harburg, Harold Arlen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind