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It's Only A Paper Moon

from The Phantom Dancer by Greg Poppleton

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about

It's Only A Paper Moon was written originally for an unsuccessful Broadway play called The Great Magoo, set in Coney Island. It was subsequently used in the movie Take a Chance, in 1933, and Paul Whiteman recorded a successful version, sung by Peggy Healey. But its lasting fame stems from recordings by popular artists during the last years of World War II, when versions by Ella Fitzgerald and the Nat King Cole Trio became popular. It has endured as a vehicle for improvisation by many jazz musicians. (Wiki)

This track is also in the popular Greg Poppleton YouTube 1920s-1930s Background Chill Mix gregpoppletonandhisbakelitebroadcasters.bandcamp.com/album/1920s-1930s-jazz-swing-background-chill-mix

lyrics

LYRICS
Say, it's 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 phoney as it can be,
But it wouldn't be make-believe if you believed in me.

credits

from The Phantom Dancer, released May 30, 2006
ong: Harold Arlen (music) E. Y. Harburg and Billy Rose (lyrics) (1933)

Band: Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters.

Singer - Greg Poppleton
Saxes (soprano / alto / tenor) and Clarinet - Paul Furniss
Trumpet - Bob Henderson
Piano - Peter Locke
Double Bass - Dieter Vogt
Drums - Joel Davis

Engineer:
Phil Punch, Electric Avenue

Mastering:
Rick O'Neil, Turtlerock

license

all rights reserved

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about

Greg Poppleton Sydney, Australia

I saw Louis Armstrong on TV when I was 3 and have been hooked on 1920s-1930s jazz and swing ever since. I sing songs with some musician characters

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