It's Only A Paper Moon
Ukulele Ike Lyrics
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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
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
In Ukulele Ike's song "It's Only A Paper Moon," the artist expresses how everything in the world seems temporary and fake without his loved one. He cannot find reality in anything when he is away from her embrace. The world around him suddenly becomes unimportant and trivial. However, when his loved one is around, it is like a bubble that has a rainbow in it. It is an ensemble of positivity and a different outlook on life.
The chorus of the song says, "Say, it's only a paper moon, Sailing over a cardboard sea, But it wouldn't be make-believe if you believed in me." The verse emphasizes how unreal the world seems to the artist without his loved one, but in the chorus, it conveys that the reality would appear genuine and not fake if his lover were to believe in him. The song is a metaphor for how love can make even the illusion of the world seem real.
Line by Line Meaning
I never feel a thing is real
I don't feel like anything is truthful
When I'm away from you
When I'm not with you
Out of your embrace
When I'm no longer in your arms
The world's a temporary parking place
Everything in the world feels temporary and unimportant without you
Mmm, mm, mm, mm
Hmmm, just a vocal interlude
A bubble for a minute
Happiness that is fleeting and doesn't last very long
You smile, the bubble has a rainbow in it
Your smile makes my temporary happiness feel more special and amazing
Say, its only a paper moon
This world may seem fake or meaningless
Sailing over a cardboard sea
The world feels insubstantial and not worth investing in
But it wouldn't be make-believe
It could be real and true
If you believed in me
If you trust and have faith in me
Yes, it's only a canvas sky
The sky may seem like a painted backdrop
Hanging over a muslin tree
The world feels like a cheap theatrical production
Without your love
If I don't have your love
It's a honky-tonk parade
Everything in life feels like an empty, meaningless spectacle
It's a melody played in a penny arcade
Everything in life feels like a cheap, fleeting amusement
It's a Barnum and Bailey world
The world feels like a circus or a show
Just as phony as it can be
The world feels insincere or fake
But it wouldn't be make-believe
It could be real and true
If you believed in me
If you trust and have 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
@MrAllie-bf6zt
The Movie "Killing Them Softly" with Brad Pitt, brought me here. Cool song and movie!
@mattgordon5228
Yelp!
@Taylor-lk2oj
Me too 🖤
@rubinanthony
Killing them softly brought me here, good song, good movie.
@victorhamon
Anthony Rubin Best part of the movie
@w_m64
+Anthony Rubin - Me too!!
I'm well behind with my movies, but just watched Killing them softly great movie, and a good song always brings me to youtube..
@mehrdadaz4717
@@w_m64 me too
@cfuller902
Rip Frankie
@TheSands83
👍👍👍
@psychostormtrooper3827
Out of all the versions, this is by far the best