I wasn't satisfied with the two existing versions of this, so I decided to give it a try.
Chords are based on Ella's quite well known 1933 version of this wonderful standard
featuring the vocal quartet "Ink Spots".
Key: Bb
Verse (00:09)
Bbmaj7 Bdim Cm7 F9
Say it's only a paper moon
Cm7 F9 Bbmaj7 (F9)
hanging over a cardboard sea
Bb7 Eb6 Edim
but it wouldn't be make-believe
F9 Bbmaj7 F9
if you believed in me
same for next Verse
Yes, its only a canvas sky
hanging over a muslin tree
but it would be make believe
if you believed in me
Chorus (00:40)
Eb6 Edim Bb/F
Without your love
Cm7 F7 Bbmaj7
it's a honky-tonk parade
Eb6 Edim B/F G7
without your love
Cm7 F7
it's a melody played in the penny arcade
Verse (0:56)
same as first verse
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
(Ink Spots)
Say it's only a paper moon
hanging over a cardboard sea
but it wouldnt 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
Chorus (1:43)
as before,
repeat twice
Possible chord voicings:
You can always make up your own, depending on what effect you're aiming for & what
instruments you're plaing with. These are just some suggestions.
Bbmaj7: 6x776x or x1323x
Bdim: 7x776x or x2323x
Cm7: x3534x , x3131x or 8x888x
F9: 1x121x or x8788x
Bb7: x1313x or 6x676x
Eb6: x6554x or x6558x
Edim: x7878x
B/F: 1x333x or x8876x
G7: 3x343x or xx5767
For those interested:
The Melody
e|-----------------------------|--------------------------------|------------|
B|---------6--6---6---4--3-----|------------4--4--4--3----------|------------|
G|--------------------------5--|----3---3---------------5---3---|------------|
D|---3--3----------------------|--------------------------------|------------|
A|-----------------------------|--------------------------------|------------|
E|-----------------------------|--------------------------------|------------|
e|------------------3----------|--------------------------------|
B|---------6--6---7----4-------|----8---6-----------------------|
G|-----------------------5-----|--------------------------------|o
D|---3--3--------------------8-|-7-----------7--8--------(8)----|o repeat
A|-----------------------------|--------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------|--------------------------------|
e|-----------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
B|---------------8--6-6--------|-----------------6--6-6--6-------8--8-8--8--|
G|----5--6--7--8---------7-7---|----5--6--7--6-7------------6-7-------------|
D|-8-------------------------8-|-8------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
Hope this could help you.