Merry-go-round
Ai Kawashima Lyrics

The lyrics of Ai Kawashima’s song “Merry-go-round” depict a broken carousel, once a source of joy and excitement, now neglected and empty. In the first verse, the singer describes the carousel metaphorically as her past self, forgetting kindness and losing things that mattered. However, as memories of the times spent there come back to her, she realizes her selfishness, rage, and tears were her own faults. The chorus repeats the image of the broken, neglected carousel, and expresses the singer’s regret for having hurt someone important. In the second verse, the singer reflects on her tendency to only seek what she wants and not be accustomed to giving or receiving from others. She realizes that people may be harboring hidden guilt and faults deep within themselves. The chorus repeats, with an added lament that the memories of the once-beautiful Merry-go-round can never be relived. The final verse describes the once-beautiful carousel, still shining bright in the singer’s memories, but now tarnished and useless. The final chorus emphasizes the loneliness and emptiness of the once-magical place.