サークル・ゲーム
アグネス・チャン Lyrics
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Caught a dragonfly inside a jar
Fearful, when the sky was full of thunder
And tearful at the falling of a stars.
And the seasons
They go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We can't return
We can only look behind from where we came
And go round and round and round
In a 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 promise 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 a circle game.
Sixteen springs and sixteen summers gone now
Cart wheels 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 he circle 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 a circle game.
So the years spin by
And now the boy is twenty
Through his dreams have lost
Some grandeur coming true
There′ll be new dreams
May be better dreams, and plenty
Before the last revolving year is thorough
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 a circle game.
And go round and round and round
In a circle game.
The lyrics to アグネス・チャン's song サークル・ゲーム (Circle Game) paint a poignant picture about the inevitability of time passing and growing up. The first stanza describes a child who captures a dragonfly in a jar, only to become fearful and tearful during a thunderstorm and at the falling of a star. The second stanza describes the child growing up, moving through the seasons, and being told that certain things, like "when you're older," will make sense as time goes on. The third stanza describes the child turning into a young adult, with "sixteen springs" and "sixteen summers" gone, and being told to slow down before the last "revolving year" is through.
Throughout the song, the metaphor of a carousel or "circle game" is used to signify the cyclical nature of life, with the seasons and painted ponies going round and round in a continuous loop. The lyrics suggest that while we may dream and aspire to great things, ultimately we are "captive" to the passage of time, unable to return to the past but only able to look back and continue on the circular path of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Yesterday a child came out to wander
A child began to explore the world around them
Caught a dragonfly inside a jar
The child was fascinated by the creatures in their environment
Fearful, when the sky was full of thunder
The child was scared during a storm
And tearful at the falling of a stars.
The child was saddened by the beauty of stars falling
And the seasons
The changing of nature over time
They go round and round
The cycles of time repeat themselves
And the painted ponies go up and down
Life has highs and lows
We′re captive on the carousel of time
We cannot escape the passage of time
We can't return
We can't go back in time
We can only look behind from where we came
We can only reminisce about the past
And go round and round and round
Life is an endless cycle
In a circle game.
Life's journey is like a game where we keep going in circles
Then the child moved ten times round the seasons
The child grew older and experienced ten years of seasonal changes
Skated over ten clear frozen streams
The child enjoyed winter activities and adventures
Words like, when you′re older, must appease him
People had to reassure the child that they will understand things better when they grow up
And promise someday make his dreams.
People promised the child that their dreams will come true someday
Sixteen springs and sixteen summers gone now
The child is now sixteen years old
Cart wheels turn to car wheels through the town
The child has grown up and is now driving a car
And they tell him,"Take your time
People advise the child to enjoy the moment and not to rush
It won′t be long now, till you drag your feet to
The child will soon tire of the game of life
Slow he circle down."
The child will eventually settle down and live life at a slower pace
So the years spin by
Time passes quickly
And now the boy is twenty
The child has grown up into a young man
Through his dreams have lost
The young man has had to let go of some of his dreams
Some grandeur coming true
But some of his dreams have come true
There′ll be new dreams
The young man will have new dreams
May be better dreams, and plenty
Perhaps his new dreams will be even better
Before the last revolving year is thorough
The young man will have many opportunities before he reaches the end of his life
And go round and round and round
Life is a never-ending cycle
In a circle game.
Life is like a game where we keep going in circles
And go round and round and round
Life is a never-ending cycle
In a circle game.
Life is like a game where we keep going in circles
Writer(s): Joni Mitchell
Contributed by Connor H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
JJ
Thank you for this version!
CHAN CHAN
I hope you enjoy it^^
NAOYALENNON
小学生の頃、姉の持っていたデビューアルバムを繰り返し聴いていました。オリジナルよりも好きです。香港で吹き込んだと思われるアウトテイクも聴きましたがアレンジが圧倒的にこちらが良いですね！
CHAN CHAN
コメントありがとうございます。自分も先に聴いたのは、日本のアルバムだったので、馴染み深いのはこちらです。香港のデビュー曲として聴いた時には、シンプルですがフォークソングっぽくてそちらも好きになりました。原曲に近いのは香港版ですね。
こあcore1
映画「いちご白書」主題歌、アグネスさん香港デビュー曲日本録音版。バフィー・セントメリーさんのオリジナルより高音で澄んだ声。アグネスさんの英語フォークソング大好きです。ひなげしの花も、最初はフォークソング的に仕上がるはずだったんだよね。このアルバム、前も書いたけど日本語曲と英語曲のバランスが良く、丁寧ですごく好きです。
CHAN CHAN
こんばんは～今回もコメントありがとうございます。やはり原点のフォークソングが一番自分も好きなスタイルです。80年代になってから、オリジナルを聴いたのですが、短いし、ビブラートに特徴のある声質で、ん、やはりアグネスがいい！と思いました。
ユビーピコロット
大ファンと言うわけではありませんでしたが、あの頃の子供たちはみんなアグネスが好きでした。爽やかな歌声は不滅ですね。
CHAN CHAN
コメントありがとうございます。今年が日本デビュー50周年の年となりました。よろしければ、他の曲も聴いてみてくださいね。
tomita Thelonious
アグネス・ファンです。早朝のラジオ番組でチャンチャン・ポップスのテーマ曲が
この曲だったような気が（笑）。ＬＰでこの曲が入った「草原の輝き」というタイ
トルのアルバムも持っていました。ジョニ・ミッチエルのオリジナルよりもアグネ
スのこのヴァージョンが好きです。
CHAN CHAN
コメントありがとうございます。当時は小さかったので、ラジオを聴くよりも、やはりアグネスの姿が見られるテレビ番組ばかりで応援していました。3枚目のアルバム「草原の輝き」はそれまでのシングル曲全曲や過去のアルバム収録曲まで入っていて、何だかセミ・ベストアルバムみたいな内容ですよね。ちょうどビザの書き換えで香港へ帰る時期と重なってしまったからかも知れませんが。こちらの方がポップな仕上がりになっていますよね？。香港バージョンの方がフォークソングっぽいですね。