It's Only a Paper Moon

It’s Only A Paper Moon

Harold Arlen, Billy Rose, Yip Harburg,
Paul Whiteman (#9 in 1933), Ella Fitzgerald (#9 in 1945), Benny Goodman (#10 in 1945)

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

Notes: ~ Written in 1933 for the Theatre play "The Great Magoo" and originally titled "If You Believed in Me." It was sung with the new title by June Knight and Charles "Buddy" Rodgers in the 1933 Hollywood musical "Take a Chance." It was also heard in the 1945 film "To Young to Know" starring Joan Leslie and Robert Hutton. It inspired the title and was heard in the background of the 1973 film "Paper Moon" starring Ryan and Tatum O'Neal. Barbara Streisand sang it in the 1975 Musical Biography "Funny Lady" where Streisand played Fanny Brice and James Caan played Billy Rose.