Nat King Cole - It's Only A Paper Moon Lyrics

Nat King Cole Lyrics

"It's Only A Paper Moon"
(originally by Paul Whiteman)

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

It is only a canvas sky
Hanging 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
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 believe 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 believe in me

Submit Corrections

Writer(s): Billy Rose, E. Y. Harburg, Harold Arlen

When "It's Only A Paper Moon", written by Yip Harburg and Billy Rose and composed by Harold Arlen, was published in 1933, it was titled "If You Believed in Me", and was created for a short-live Broadway show "The Great Magoo".

Producer Billy Rose interpolated "It's Only a Paper Moon" for his Broadway show "Crazy Quilt" in 1933. The same year, the song was featured in the film "Take a Chance". Various artists began to record the song which led to its increasing popularity over the years.

"It's Only A Paper Moon" lyrics

Nat King Cole Lyrics