It's Only A Paper Moon
Stephane Grappelli Barney Kessel 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 Stephane Grappelli Barney Kessel is a whimsical love song that encourages the listener to believe in love and its power to make the ordinary seem magical. The lyrics describe a world that is made up of paper, canvas, and cardboard, but suggests that it can be transformed into a place of wonder and enchantment if one has love and belief. The song is filled with nostalgia for an era when penny arcades and honky-tonk parades were a common feature of American life. The song suggests that even in the midst of the phony world of Barnum and Bailey, love can make things real and true.
The first verse of the song portrays a paper moon sailing over a cardboard sea. The song suggests that such a sight would be make-believe to most people, but it wouldn't be make-believe if the listener believed in the singer's affection. Similarly, the second verse describes a canvas sky hanging over a muslin tree, emphasizing that the world is as fake as a Barnum and Bailey show, but once again suggests that this would not be the case if the listener were to believe in the person singing.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the power of love in transforming the world from a honky-tonk parade to a melody of happiness. The chorus also underlines that love can make a phony world seem real and true, suggesting that anything is possible if you believe in it.
Line by Line Meaning
Say, it's only a paper moon
I understand that this may appear to just be an illusion or false hope
Sailing over a cardboard sea
This idea or dream is floating gracefully, but is not grounded in reality
But it wouldn't be make-believe
However, this concept or belief could be transformed into a legitimate reality
If you believed in me
If only you placed your trust in me, my wishes could become true
Yes, it's only a canvas sky
I understand that my aspirations may seem unattainable, like a painted sky
Hanging over a muslin tree
A fabricated vision draping over something solid and tangible
Without your love
Devoid of your affection, it would be pointless to continue with this endeavor
It's a honky tonk parade
This situation would have a sense of disorder or chaos
It's a melody played in a penny arcade
A cheap, repetitive tune usually heard in an arcade or carnival setting
It's a Barnum and Bailey world
This world can be a circus, absolute chaos and confusion
Just as phony as it can be
Utterly fake, with no truth or validity to its claims
But it wouldn't be make-believe
However, if you held belief in me, we could turn this facade into reality
If you believed in me
With your belief in me, we could make this real, and I would be overjoyed
It's phony it's plain to see
This illusion is obvious and clear
How happy I would be
I would be filled with immense joy
If you believed in me
If only you had faith in me
Lyrics © S.A. MUSIC, SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: BILLY ROSE, E.Y. HARBURG, HAROLD ARLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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