The Ink Spots were a vocal group in the 1930s and 1940s … Read Full Bio ↴(1934-1954)
The Ink Spots were a vocal group in the 1930s and 1940s that helped define the musical genre that led to rhythm and blues and rock and roll, and the subgenre doo-wop. They gained much acceptance in both the white community and black community largely due to the ballad style introduced to the group by lead singer Bill Kenny. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll hall of fame in 1999.
Their songs usually began with a guitar riff, followed by the tenor Bill Kenny, who sang the whole song through. After Kenny finished singing, the bass would either recite the first half, or the bridge of the song, or would speak the words, almost in a free form, that were not part of the song, commonly using the words "Honey Child", or "Honey Babe", expressing his love for his darling in the song. This was followed by Kenny, who finished up singing the last refrain or the last half of the song. On some songs Deek Watson would sing the lead rather than Bill Kenny. This was mostly on the uptempo "Jive" songs.
The Ink Spots formed in the early 1930s in Indianapolis. The founding members were :-
Orville "Hoppy" Jones (b. 17 February 1902, Chicago, Illinois – d. 18 October 1944, New York City) (bass) (Played cello in the manner of a stand up bass)[1]
Ivory "Deek" Watson (b. 18 July 1909, Mounds, Illinois – d. 4 November 1969, Washington, D.C.) (tenor) (Played guitar and trumpet)
Jerry Daniels (b. 14 December 1915 – d. 7 November 1995, Indianapolis, Indiana) (tenor) (Played guitar and ukulele)
Charlie Fuqua (b. 20 October 1910 – d. 21 December 1971, New Haven, Connecticut)
(baritone) (Played guitar)
*** BILL KENNY ***
The voice that made them famous Bill Kenny (Mr. Ink Spot) was born June 12th 1914 in Philadelphia PA, and died Mar 23rd 1978 in New West Minister, British Columbia. When Bill Kenny joined the group in 1936 they were mostly a "Jive" ensemble, performing swinging uptempo songs. It wasn't until The Ink Spots 1939 recording of "If I Didn't Care" that Bill Kenny's voice began being regularly featured on Ballads, which it was until The Ink Spots disbanded in 1954. Hits that feature Bill Kenny include "I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire", "We Three", "The Gypsy", "Address Unknown", "With My Eyes Wide Open I'm Dreaming", "So Sorry", "Bless You", "My Prayer", "Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall", "It's A Sin To Tell A Lie", It Isn't A Dream Anymore", and dozens of others. Bill Kenny has been listed as an influence by such great artists as Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke, Johnny Mathis, Sonny Till, Clyde McPhatter and many others. Bill Kenny is often noted as the father of Doo Wop for his high tenor singing and his introduction of the popular "Top & Bottom" format used by virtually every Doo Wop group in the 50's and 60's.
Since Bill Kenny broke up The Ink Spots in 1954 there have been well over 500 black vocal Quartets calling themselves The Ink Spots none of which have or had any original members. There are even groups still touring as The Ink Spots today. It is largely accepted that if the group didn't contain Bill Kenny then the group was/ is a fake.
It's Only A Paper Moon
The Ink Spots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 The Ink Spots and Ella Fitzgerald is a beautiful, romantic love song. The song speaks about the idea of make-believe and how the world can seem phony, but it wouldn't be make-believe if the person you love believed in you. The lyrics depict a world of imagination that is brought to life through the power of love and belief.
The opening lines of the song, "Say, it's only a paper moon/Sailing over a cardboard sea" paint a picture of a world that is made of paper and cardboard. The song suggests that the world around us might not be real, but our belief in each other makes it real. The line, "But it wouldn't be make-believe/If you believed in me" emphasizes the importance of companionship and love in our lives.
The song continues, "Without your love/It's a honky-tonk parade/Without your love/It's a melody played in a penny arcade." Here, the song implies that without the presence of the person we love, life would be nothing but a show or a facade. The song concludes with an expression of longing and a desire for connection, "It's phony, it's plain to see/How happy I would be/If you believed in me."
Line by Line Meaning
Say, it's only a paper moon
Let's acknowledge the fact that this is all pretend
Sailing over a cardboard sea
The backdrop and scenery may be low-quality or fake
But it wouldn't be make-believe
Despite its flaws, it could still be real
If you believed in me
If we have trust and faith in each other
Yes, it's only a canvas sky
Even the ceiling is a cheap substitute for reality
Hanging over a muslin tree
The trees may also be made of fabric or other materials
Without your love
If we were apart
It's a honky tonk parade
Life would be a loud, garish, unrefined spectacle
It's a melody played in a penny arcade
Or just a cheap, repetitive tune in a sideshow attraction
It's a Barnum and Bailey world
This world is like a circus, full of illusions and trickery
Just as phony as it can be
All of the artifice and lies on the surface are all there is
But it wouldn't be make-believe
Again, if we truly believe in the relationship, it can still be real
If you believed in me
If we trusted and loved each other
It's phony it's plain to see
None of this is genuine or true
How happy I would be
I would be so much happier
If you believed in me
If only we could have faith in each other
Lyrics © S.A. MUSIC, SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: DAVID E SHAW, PETER F STUART, RANDY EDELMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MariliaKatie
Say, its 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
@meghanakataria5815
I never feel a thing is real
When I'm away from you
Out of your embrace
The world's a temporary parking place
Mmm, mm, mm, mm
A bubble for a minute
Mmm, mm, mm, mm
You smile, the bubble has a rainbow in it
Say, its 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
@joeldomkus828
its so sad they don't make songs like this anymore, this is perfect
@rententobi3852
I wish they did 😭. I'm like 13 and I love this type of music. ❤️
@joeldomkus828
cece gomez I'm 13 as well :D it's a shame more people our age don't like this type of music
@hipsterdoofus1026
I don't think she needs the vocal group behind her.
@emlynperry8265
They do. You just have to go find them. ;)
@natkobitz893
THE GREATEST FEMALE VOCALIST EVER. And in an era of many terrific female singers
@JuanLopez-fw4ty
Indeed my friend, who you do?
@raoufzdn
Beautiful Ella gives us every word pristine and vibrant sailing over the silken line of her beautiful voice. A lovely performance, great male ensemble and instrumental accompaniment. Perfect performance.
@libertygiveme1987
I've been singing this song for the PAST TWO WEEKS!!!! Can't get it OUT OF MY HEAD!!!!
@lyraferret
My Mom used to sing this song all the time
Love it!