The group took off after being signed to Capitol Records in 1952 at the insistence of high profile fan, Stan Kenton. They remained popular throughout the 50s and early 60s, releasing a wide array of successful albums, movie and television appearances and performing countless sold-out concerts. The band eventually lost mainstream attention with the emergence of the British pop bands of the 1960s, even though they managed to stay together even after the retirement of final original member Bob Flanigan in 1992.
As of 2001, the Freshmen have been composed of Bob Ferreira, Brian Eichenberger, Curtis Calderon, and Vince Johnson. Although the new lineup of the Four Freshmen have continued the legendary vocal tradition of the original band and perform many of the same standards, the current sound has more of a lounge sound rather than focusing primarily upon harmonies. This modernized sound has proven quite successful, as the group won Down Beat magazine's reader's poll award for Vocal Group of the Year in 2000, proving the quartet's prominence in the jazz world today.
Paper Moon
The Four Freshmen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I'm away from you
Out of your embrace
The world's a temporary parking place
Mm, mm, mm, mm
A bubble for a minute
Mm, mm, mm, mm
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 phoney as it can be
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me
The Four Freshmen's song "Paper Moon" is a nostalgic ballad about the feeling of detachment from reality when away from a loved one. The opening lyrics, "I never feel a thing is real, when I'm away from you. Out of your embrace, the world's a temporary parking place," express the idea that the world loses its substance and significance without the presence of a loved one. The imagery of a temporary parking place, implies that life is just a waiting period until being reunited with this person.
The chorus of the song is a direct reference to the popular Depression-era song "It's Only a Paper Moon," and incorporates its whimsical imagery into the theme of the song. The lines "Say, it's only a paper moon, sailing over a cardboard sea, but it wouldn't be make-believe if you believed in me" evoke a sense of magic and wonder in the midst of an otherwise dull reality. The repeated verse "without your love, it's a honky-tonk parade, without your love, it's a melody played in a penny arcade" further emphasizes the emptiness and lack of meaning in life without the presence of the loved one.
Line by Line Meaning
I never feel a thing is real
I feel disconnected without you
When I'm away from you
When you're not here beside me
Out of your embrace
Not having your affection
The world's a temporary parking place
This world is a transient stop until I'm back with you
A bubble for a minute
Life is fleeting and temporary
You smile, the bubble has a rainbow in it
Your smile brings joy and beauty to my life
Say, it's only a paper moon
This world is not entirely real
Sailing over a cardboard sea
Our reality is flimsy and insubstantial
But it wouldn't be make-believe
However, this reality wouldn't be fake
If you believed in me
If you had faith in us
Yes, it's only a canvas sky
The sky itself is not actual
Hanging over a muslin tree
It's merely suspended over an imitation tree
Without your love
Without you by my side
It's a honky-tonk parade
Life is an empty, meaningless spectacle
It's a melody played in a penny arcade
Life is like music in a cheap, mundane way
It's a Barnum and Bailey world
The world is like a circus, full of illusions and false images
Just as phoney as it can be
It's all a sham with no authenticity
But it wouldn't be make-believe
Still, it's not entirely imaginary
If you believed in me
If you had faith in our relationship
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