It's Only A Paper Moon
Swing & Sway with Sammy Kaye with Billy 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
The song "It's Only a Paper Moon" was originally written by Harold Arlen, E.Y. Harburg, and Billy Rose in 1932, and has since become a treasured classic covered by many artists. The song's lyrics convey a message about the power of believing in love and the imagination as a means of transcending the mundane realities of life. The opening lines, "Say, it's only a paper moon sailing over a cardboard sea," describe a world that is not quite real, but one that can still be meaningful if there is someone to share it with. The idea of make-believe is emphasized throughout the song, with the repetition of the phrase "But it wouldn't be make-believe if you believed in me."
The second verse continues this theme, with the lines "Yes, it's only a canvas sky hanging over a muslin tree, but it wouldn't be make-believe if you believed in me." The singer of the song is essentially asking their lover to believe in them and to share their imagination in order to make their world a better place. The final verse reinforces this idea, with the lines "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."
The chorus of the song, which repeats twice, describes how the world is lacking without the love of the person being addressed. The lines "Without your love, it's a honky-tonk parade, without your love, it's a melody played in a penny arcade," suggest that the world is devoid of joy and meaning without the presence of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Say, it's only a paper moon
I know it may seem like a fake, insignificant thing
Sailing over a cardboard sea
floating above a sea made of cardboard
But it wouldn't be make-believe
It wouldn't be a lie or fantasy
If you believed in me
If you had faith in me
Yes, it's only a canvas sky
I understand it's just a pretend sky
Hanging over a muslin tree
Suspended above a tree made of muslin fabric
But it wouldn't be make-believe
It doesn't have to be a fabrication
If you believed in me
If you had confidence in me
Without your love
I am missing the affection you provide
It's a honky-tonk parade
My thoughts become messy and meaningless
Without your love
I am lacking the happiness you give
It's a melody played in a penny arcade
My life is dull and unremarkable
It's a Barnum and Bailey world
The world is an extravagant and unrealistic place
Just as phony as it can be
It's as fake as it can get
But it wouldn't be make-believe
It could be real
If you believed in me
If you had faith in me
Say, it's only a paper moon
I'm not trying to fool you
Sailing over a cardboard sea
Looking like it's floating above a sea made of cardboard
But it wouldn't be make-believe
It wouldn't be fake
If you believed in me
If you had trust in me
Yes, it's only a canvas sky
I understand that it's just a pretend sky
Hanging over a muslin tree
Suspended above a tree made of muslin fabric
But it wouldn't be make-believe
It doesn't have to be fake
If you believed in me
If you had confidence in me
Without your love
I am missing the affection you provide
It's a honky-tonk parade
My thoughts become messy and meaningless
Without your love
I am lacking the happiness you give
It's a melody played in a penny arcade
My life is dull and unremarkable
It's a Barnum and Bailey world
The world is full of spectacle and illusion
Just as phony as it can be
It's as fake as it can get
But it wouldn't be make-believe
It wouldn't have to be false
If you believed in me
If you had faith in me
It's phony it's plain to see
It's obvious that it's fake
How happy I would be
I would be so much happier
If you believed in me
If you had trust in me
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
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