VERSE
Circle Game
Joni Mitchell
Yesterday a child came out to wonder
Caught a dragonfly inside a jar
Fearful when the sky was full of thunder
And tearful at the falling of a star
Then the child moved ten times round the seasons
Skated over ten clear frozen streams
Words like, when you're older, must appease him
And promises of someday make his dreams
And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return we can only look behind
From where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game.
Sixteen springs and sixteen summers gone now
Cartwheels turn to car wheels through the town
And they tell him,
Take your time, it won't be long now
Till you drag your feet to slow the circles down
And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return we can only look behind
From where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game
So the years spin by and now the boy is twenty
Though his dreams have lost some grandeur
coming true
There'll be new dreams, maybe better dreams and plenty
Before the last revolving year is through.
And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return, we can only look behind
From where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game
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Translated byAllen Morningstar
About this Song
Circle Game by Joni Mitchell is a reflective piece that delves into themes of growing up, the passage of time, and the innocence of childhood. The song uses the metaphor of a carousel to depict life's journey, suggesting that time moves in a continuous, circular fashion. Key moments include the chorus, which emphasizes the inevitable and relentless nature of time, and the verses that recount different stages of life, from childhood to adulthood. This poignant narrative connects deeply with listeners by portraying both the joy and the sadness that come with the passage of time.
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