It is only a paper moon
Hanging over a cardboard sea
But it wouldn't be make believe
If you believe in me

It is only a canvas sky
Sailing over a muslin tree
But it wouldn't be make believe
If you believe in me

Without your love
It's a honky tonk parade
Without your love
It's a melody played
On 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 believe in me

Without your love
It's a honky tonk parade
Without your love
It's a melody played
On 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 believe in me


Lyrics submitted by Bobo192, edited by ArmchairRadio

It's Only a Paper Moon Lyrics as written by E. Y. Harburg Billy Rose

Lyrics © S.A. MUSIC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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It's Only A Paper Moon song meanings
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6 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    This is such a pretty song! It's about wanting love. The person in the song is say. "Sure you say it's not real, but it can be if you just let me in!" or something like that. They're just conveying that it can be real, all that one desires in their heart is real if they believe it.

    TasChiBandGirlon March 04, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I agree, TasChiBandGirl. I love how it's not despairing or anything, but really hopeful, like they really believe the other person will love them back. What a wonderful song...

    gaijingeishaon April 17, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i love this song because sometimes you think you can't love someone because it would be too cliche, but it real can be real if you let it....yeah... i know... deep eh?

    Natfanon December 29, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i love this song! it's really cute does anyone have any other recommendations for this type of style of music?

    eighteenon May 15, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's cute, but i like his daughter's version better. It's too bad Natalie sold out and let herself produce such a montrosity as "Pink Cadillac", which I stumbled on on VH1 Classic.

    she_speakson December 29, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This IS a really cute and sweet song. It also makes me feel sentimental, a little freaky and sad because it feels like these lyrics are about the nature of Creation and although we are made in His image we don't love enough and so have created virtual reality and what is there to believe in that?

    Musieon February 15, 2012   Link

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