Theme from Rocky
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra & Erich Kunzel Lyrics

Round like a circle in a spiral, like a wheel within a wheel
Life is a cycle, and everything in it is connected, like a circle in a spiral.

Never ending or beginning on an ever spinning reel
This cycle is continuous and perpetual, never stopping or starting but always moving forward.

Like a snowball down a mountain, or a carnival balloon
The cycle of life can be unpredictable and can gain momentum quickly, like a snowball or a balloon in a carnival game.

Like a carousel that's turning running rings around the moon
The cycle can be as constant as the moon, and can move in a circular motion like a carousel.

Like a clock whose hands are sweeping past the minutes of its face
Time is constantly moving forward, like the hands of a clock that sweep past the minutes on its face.

And the world is like an apple whirling silently in space
The universe is vast and mysterious, and the world is like a tiny apple that is spinning silently in that vast space.

Like the circles that you find in the windmills of your mind!
These cycles and patterns can be found in our thoughts and dreams as well.

Like a tunnel that you follow to a tunnel of its own
Sometimes our memories can lead us down a path that leads to more and more memories, like a tunnel that leads to another tunnel.

Down a hollow to a cavern where the sun has never shone
Some memories can be dark and hidden, like a cavern that never sees the light of the sun.

Like a door that keeps revolving in a half forgotten dream
Dreams can be fleeting and hard to remember, like a door that keeps revolving and disappearing from our memory.

Or the ripples from a pebble someone tosses in a stream
Our actions can have consequences that ripple out and affect others, like the ripples from a pebble tossed in a stream.

Keys that jingle in your pocket, words that jangle in your head
Our thoughts and memories can be triggered by simple things, like the sound of jingling keys in our pocket or words that jangle in our head.

Why did summer go so quickly, was it something that you said?
Time passes quickly, and we sometimes wonder what we could have done differently to make it last longer.

Lovers walking along a shore and leave their footprints in the sand
Love can leave a lasting imprint in our lives, like footprints left in the sand.

Is the sound of distant drumming just the fingers of your hand?
Our perception of reality can be distorted, and what we believe to be true may not be so.

Pictures hanging in a hallway and the fragment of a song
Memories can be triggered by simple objects, like pictures hanging in a hallway or a fragment of a song.

Half remembered names and faces, but to whom do they belong?
Our memories can become jumbled and confused, and we may forget who or what they belong to.

When you knew that it was over you were suddenly aware
We often don't realize the significance of a moment until it has passed.

That the autumn leaves were turning to the color of her hair!
Memories can be tied to specific moments and images, like the memory of autumn leaves turning the color of someone's hair.

As the images unwind, like the circles that you find
As we reflect on our memories, they can unravel and unwind like a never-ending cycle.

In the windmills of your mind!
Our memories and thoughts can be likened to the workings of windmills - constantly moving and turning in a cyclical fashion.