Chords: It's Only A Paper Moon

Subject: Chords: It's Only A Paper Moon
From: Peter T.
Date: 02 Dec 03 - 12:51 PM

The return of the "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime Thread" (great Crosby site, by the way) reminds me that I have never been able to find a decent set of guitar chords for "Paper Moon" -- anyone have a set that are playable? "Pennies from Heaven" is another one, but I am not greedy.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Chords: It's Only A Paper Moon
From: Steve Benbows protege
Date: 02 Dec 03 - 01:46 PM

try   www..theguitarguy.com it will give you the chords over the lyrics. if not p.m me with an e-mail adress and i will scan and send you some.
Regards.
    Pete.

Subject: RE: Chords: It's Only A Paper Moon
From: Merritt
Date: 02 Dec 03 - 01:51 PM

I'm at work now but send me a reminder at my home address - [e-mail] - and I'll ship you the chords I use. Harold Arlen left us a lot of great music.

- Merritt

Subject: RE: Chords: It's Only A Paper Moon
From: Peter T.
Date: 02 Dec 03 - 01:58 PM

Thanks Gents, will do. yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Chords: It's Only A Paper Moon
From: Leadfingers
Date: 02 Dec 03 - 02:01 PM

Harold Arlen Copywrite 1933 Try this lot:-

G       Ddim   D7                         g
  Say its only a Paper Moon Sailing over a cardboard sea
          Dm         Am            D7               G 
  But it wouldnt be make believe If you believed in me
  G        Ddim  D7                         G  
  Yes its only a canvas sky Hanging over a muslin tree
         D7                            D7           G  
  But it wouldnt be make believe if you believed in me
      Am7  Eflat Bm   C     Em7  D7      G 
  Without your love  Its a honky tonk parade
      Am7  Eflat Bm        G  Dm   E7         A7     D+
  Without your love Its a melody played in a penny arcade
  G      Ddim       D7                           G 
  Its a Barnum and Bailey world Just as phony as it can be
          Dm        Am7                D7           G 
  But it wouldnt be make believe If you believed in me

Subject: RE: Chords: It's Only A Paper Moon
From: Peter T.
Date: 02 Dec 03 - 02:02 PM

Thanks, Leadfingers!

Wow. The guitarguy site is amazing! yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Chords: It's Only A Paper Moon
From: Steve Benbows protege
Date: 03 Dec 03 - 01:40 PM

YOUR ARE WELCOME! there are plenty more like it if you want their adresses. send me a p.m as i tend to look at the message counter not at specific messages when i clock in.
Regards.
    Pete.

Subject: RE: Chords: It's Only A Paper Moon
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 03 Dec 03 - 04:52 PM

I've always thought that this was a pretty song and tune. It was used as the theme tune for the Australian Movie "Paper Moon".

Robin

Subject: RE: Chords: It's Only A Paper Moon
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 03 Dec 03 - 08:21 PM

Leadfingers, it's too late at night for me to figure it out, but surely there is more to the first two lines than that ???

I await a contribution from MTed .....

Subject: RE: Chords: It's Only A Paper Moon
From: M.Ted
Date: 03 Dec 03 - 08:54 PM

Try these chords--slightly different, but follow the melody a bit better. Four counts(one measure) between the slashes--play two downstrokes for each chord--


Paper Moon

||GG#°/Am7D7/Am7D7/GG/
GG7/CAm7/D9D7/GG/
GG#°/Am7D7/Am7D7/GG/
GG7/CAm7/D9D7/GG7/
(Bridge)
Am7A#°/Bm7E7/A7D7/G G/
Am7A#°/Bm7E7/A7A7/D7D7/

GG#°/Am7D7/Am7D7/GG/
GG7/CAm7/D9D7/GG/||

I think the words are approximately right--but I think the bridge should be"With out your love, life's a honky tonk parade, without you love,it's a melody played in a penny arcade", and the second to the last line, last verse, written, I have heard, by Dorothy Parker, should be"It's a Barnum and Bailey world, fake and phoney as it can be"--

Subject: RE: Chords: It's Only A Paper Moon
From: M.Ted
Date: 04 Dec 03 - 12:33 AM

I missed your post, Murray, because I opened the thread before you posted, and fiddled with the chords for a while before I submitted them--It is amusing and a bit disturbing to know that you can anticipate what I am going to do so precisely!

I made the chords pretty simple, but left that walk-up in the bridge because it kind of fun:

5-x-5-5-5-5
6-5-5-6-x-x
7-x-7-7-7-7
x-7-6-7-7-x
5-x-5-6-x-x
x-5-4-5-5-x
3-4-4-3-x-x(Gma7)

Those so inclined may use G6 and Gma7 for G at their own disgression--

Subject: RE: Chords: It's Only A Paper Moon
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 04 Dec 03 - 02:32 AM

Say, M.Ted

have you ever had accordion players try to strangle you? Those pretty complicated Guitar chords don't work for us squeezebox pumpers, but don't worry, I think Ive got a version round here somewhere... :-)

Robin

Subject: RE: Chords: It's Only A Paper Moon
From: Peter T.
Date: 04 Dec 03 - 09:09 AM

These chords work nice on a banjo, which is pretty perfect. Thanks M. Ted.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Chords: It's Only A Paper Moon
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 04 Dec 03 - 11:51 AM

Excellent work, MTed, but do you realise that since trying your chords I cannot get this damn tune out of my head, I go around humming it all the time. Is there an effective antidote ?

Subject: RE: Chords: It's Only A Paper Moon
From: M.Ted
Date: 04 Dec 03 - 04:08 PM

Sorry, Robin, but, I've worked with a lot of accordian players and have had to figure out chords by watching the buttons, so you get no sympathy from me:-) Seriously, you can simply play the bass note for each chord listed--

Murray, I am sorry about that tune-in-the-head thing--this tune is particularly insidious, and was once even used as a singing commercial for Domino Sugar, which is what runs through my head when I hear it--the only solution is to replace it with another tune equally insidious--I suggest "Button Up Your Overcoat", though I am currently working out "Mele Kalikimaka", which would also do in a pinch--

Subject: RE: Chords: It's Only A Paper Moon
From: Leadfingers
Date: 04 Dec 03 - 07:11 PM

I got the chords out of a book of standards I bought thirty years ago.I must try MTed's and see if they work any better.I know the ones I posted DO work though.