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- Album This song officially appears on the Kisses On the Bottom Official album.
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
Recording "Kisses On The Bottom"
April - May 2011 ?
Related interviews
Ich lag auf dem Teppich und lauschte
Jan 26, 2012 • From Die Zeit
March 2012 • From MOJO
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Song facts
“It’s Only a Paper Moon” is a 1932 song with music written by Harold Arlen and lyrics by Yip Harburg and Billy Rose. The song was written for an unsuccessful 1932 Broadway play called The Great Magoo. Hit recordings by Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald and Benny Goodman transformed this song into a jazz and pop standard. Paul McCartney covered it on his 2012 album “Kisses On The Bottom“.
Last updated on November 1, 2020
Lyrics
Say, it's only a paper moon
Sailing over a cardboard sea
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believe 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
~ Solo ~
Without your love
It's a honky-tonk parade
Without your love
It's a melody played in a penny arcade
Yes, it's a Barnum and Bailey world
About as phony as it can be
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me
If you believed in me
If you, believed in me
Officially appears on
Official album • Released in 2012
2:35 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Vocals
- Tommy LiPuma :
- Producer
- Diana Krall :
- Piano, Rhythm arrangement
- Karriem Riggins :
- Drums
- Robert Hurst :
- Bass
- John Pizzarelli :
- Guitar
- Bucky Pizzarelli :
- Guitar
- Andy Stein :
- Violin
- Al Schmitt :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Steve Genewick :
- Additional engineering
- Elliot Scheiner :
- Additional engineering
- Brian Montgomery :
- Additional engineering
- Session Recording:
- April - May 2011 ?
- Studio :
- Capitol Records Building, Los Angeles, USA
Kisses On the Bottom (Deluxe version)
Official album • Released in 2012
2:35 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Vocals
- Tommy LiPuma :
- Producer
- Diana Krall :
- Piano, Rhythm arrangement
- Karriem Riggins :
- Drums
- Robert Hurst :
- Bass
- John Pizzarelli :
- Guitar
- Bucky Pizzarelli :
- Guitar
- Andy Stein :
- Violin
- Al Schmitt :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Steve Genewick :
- Additional engineering
- Elliot Scheiner :
- Additional engineering
- Brian Montgomery :
- Additional engineering
- Session Recording:
- April - May 2011 ?
- Studio :
- Capitol Records Building, Los Angeles, USA
Kisses On The Bottom - Complete Kisses
Official album • Released in 2012
2:35 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Vocals
- Tommy LiPuma :
- Producer
- Diana Krall :
- Piano, Rhythm arrangement
- Karriem Riggins :
- Drums
- Robert Hurst :
- Bass
- John Pizzarelli :
- Guitar
- Bucky Pizzarelli :
- Guitar
- Andy Stein :
- Violin
- Al Schmitt :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Steve Genewick :
- Additional engineering
- Elliot Scheiner :
- Additional engineering
- Brian Montgomery :
- Additional engineering
- Session Recording:
- April - May 2011 ?
- Studio :
- Capitol Records Building, Los Angeles, USA
Kisses On The Bottom - Complete Kisses
Official album • Released in 2012
2:55 • Live • L1 • Live From Capitol Studios
- Paul McCartney :
- Vocals
- Tommy LiPuma :
- Producer
- Diana Krall :
- Piano
- Karriem Riggins :
- Drums
- John Pizzarelli :
- Guitar
- John Clayton :
- Bass
- Anthony Wilson :
- Guitar
- Al Schmitt :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Sid Page :
- Violin
Concert From "Live From Capitol Studios" in Los Angeles, USA on Feb 09, 2012
Bootlegs
Kisses on the bottom - Ultimate Archive Collection
Unofficial album • Released in 2015
2:35 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Vocals
- Tommy LiPuma :
- Producer
- Diana Krall :
- Piano, Rhythm arrangement
- Karriem Riggins :
- Drums
- Robert Hurst :
- Bass
- John Pizzarelli :
- Guitar
- Bucky Pizzarelli :
- Guitar
- Andy Stein :
- Violin
- Al Schmitt :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Steve Genewick :
- Additional engineering
- Elliot Scheiner :
- Additional engineering
- Brian Montgomery :
- Additional engineering
- Session Recording:
- April - May 2011 ?
- Studio :
- Capitol Records Building, Los Angeles, USA
Kisses on the bottom - Ultimate Archive Collection
Unofficial album • Released in 2015
2:55 • Live • L1
- Paul McCartney :
- Vocals
- Tommy LiPuma :
- Producer
- Diana Krall :
- Piano
- Karriem Riggins :
- Drums
- John Pizzarelli :
- Guitar
- John Clayton :
- Bass
- Anthony Wilson :
- Guitar
- Al Schmitt :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Sid Page :
- Violin
Concert From "Live From Capitol Studios" in Los Angeles, USA on Feb 09, 2012
Live performances
“It's Only a Paper Moon” has been played in 1 concerts.
Latest concerts where It's Only a Paper Moon has been played
Feb 09, 2012 • USA • Los Angeles • Capitol Records Building
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New Video (Please Share) | loristory 4 years ago
[…] example, on my Facebook page, I’ve referred to “Creep” by Radiohead and to “Paper Moon” by Harold Arlen. But my sense of humor is beginning to wear thin. In fact, I think I can see […]