The Circle Game

Yesterday a child came out to wander
Caught a dragonfly inside a jar
Fearful when the skies were full of thunder
And tearful at the falling of a star

And the seasons, they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on a carousel of time
We can't return
we can only look behind from where we came
And go round and round and round
on the circle game

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

Sixteen springs and sixteen summers gone now
Cartwheels turn to car wheels through the town
They tell him "Take your time"
"It won't be long now
Before you drag your feet to slow the circle down"

And the seasons, they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on a carousel of time
We can't return
we can only look behind from where we came
And go round and round and round
on the circle game

(Interlude: piano and vocalizations)

Years spin by and now the boy is twenty
His dreams have lost some grandeur coming true
There'll be new dreams
Better dreams in 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 a carousel of time, time
We can't return
we can only look behind from where we came
And go round and round and round
on the circle game.