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.
