With the music beating, it's another sweaty humid Southern night
She sits in the room with the lights turned low
She won't tell you her age, she won't think of the past
Why, look who's here, my ticket out of here
Why, look who's here, my ticket out of here
(It's only a paper moon) Her mouth watering
She sings like some mad old bird, like a caged bird (over a cardboard sea)
(It's only a paper moon) She shone like a bright sun
On a world that had been covered in darkness (over a cardboard sea)
This is where he took her against her will on the kitchen floor
(It's only a paper moon) Crushed the life out of her like a rare orchid
(Over a cardboard sea) Crushed the life out of her like a rare orchid
(It's only a paper moon) She sits in the room with the light turned low

Na na na na na na (it's only a paper moon over the cardboard sea)
Na na na na na (it's only a paper moon over the cardboard sea)
Na na na na na na (it's only a paper moon over the cardboard sea)
Na na na na na (it's only a paper moon over the cardboard sea)
Na na na na na na (it's only a paper moon over the cardboard sea)
Na na na na na (it's only a paper moon over the cardboard sea)
Na na na na na na (it's only a paper moon over the cardboard sea)
Na na na na na (it's only a paper moon over the cardboard sea)

(It's only a paper moon) Here he stands, an angel of her destruction
But it's his liquor she's drinking (over a cardboard sea)
(It's only a paper moon) She thinks of the seventeen-year-old boy
Who took her out to some casino dancing (over a cardboard sea) and shot himself by the lake
(It's only a paper moon) Watching the constellations set out against the night sky
(Over a cardboard sea) A leaf falls in the jungle, the gun against his head (it's only)

Na na na na na na (it's only a paper moon over the cardboard sea)
Na na na na na (it's only a paper moon over the cardboard sea)
Na na na na na na (it's only a paper moon over the cardboard sea)
Na na na na na (it's only a paper moon over the cardboard sea)
Na na na na na na (it's only a paper moon over the cardboard sea)
Na na na na na (it's only a paper moon over the cardboard sea)
Na na na na na na (it's only a paper moon over the cardboard sea)
Na na na na na (it's only a paper moon over the cardboard sea)

(It's only a paper moon) Why, look who's here, my ticket out of here
(Over a cardboard sea) Why, look who's here, my ticket out of here
(It's only a paper moon) Adios, adios (over a cardboard sea)
(It's only a paper moon) He walks through your days like a ghost
(Over a cardboard sea) He says, I'm no Polack, I'm an American
(It's only a paper moon) We hear the flower seller call, it's a premonition of your death
(Over a cardboard sea) He walks through your days like a ghost, adios

Na na na na na na (it's only a paper moon over the cardboard sea)
Na na na na na (it's only a paper moon over the cardboard sea)
Na na na na na na (it's only a paper moon over the cardboard sea)
Na na na na na (it's only a paper moon over the cardboard sea)
Na na na na na na (it's only a paper moon over the cardboard sea)
Na na na na na (it's only a paper moon over the cardboard sea)
Na na na na na na (it's only a paper moon over the cardboard sea)
Na na na na na (it's only a paper moon over the cardboard sea)

(It's only a paper moon) Why, look who's here, my ticket out of here
(Over a cardboard sea) Why, look who is here, my ticket out of here
(It's only a paper moon) The Hotel Flamenco, or the Hotel Tarantula
(Over a cardboard sea) Where she pulled the legs off her victims
(It's only a paper moon over a cardboard sea) (2x)
(It's only a paper moon) (9x)