The duo started performing together in Toronto in 1959. By 1962, they were living in New York City, where they caught the attention of manager Albert Grossman, who managed Peter, Paul and Mary and would soon become Bob Dylan's manager. Grossman secured them a contract with Vanguard Records and they released their first album late in the year.
Four Strong Winds, their second album, featured title song "Four Strong Winds", written by Ian Tyson. "Four Strong Winds" was a major hit in Canada and ensured their stardom. Years later, the song was named as the greatest Canadian song of all time by the CBC-Radio program 50 Tracks: The Canadian Version.
Their third album, Northern Journey, featured the song "Someday Soon", a composition by Ian Tyson that would rival "Four Strong Winds" in its popularity.
Their fourth album, Early Morning Rain, introduced the work of the couple's fellow Canadian songwriter and performer Gordon Lightfoot through the title song and "(That's What You Get) For Lovin' Me".
In 1969, Ian & Sylvia formed the country rock group Great Speckled Bird.
By 1975, Ian & Sylvia had stopped performing together and soon afterwards were divorced.
In 1992, they were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
In 1994, they were both made Members of the Order of Canada.
The Circle Game
Ian & Sylvia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 lost 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
So the boy who dreamt tomorrow now 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
Round and round and round
Round and round and round
In the circle round and round and round
The song "The Circle Game" by Ian & Sylvia is a nostalgic reflection of time and its ever-revolving nature. It begins with a child's curiosity and innocence, as the child catches a dragonfly in a jar, afraid of the thunder and tearful of the falling star. However, as the child grows and moves through the seasons, they must face the reality of aging and the passing of time. The child is told to wait for the promises of someday, and to appease themselves with the thought of growing older. The idea of the "circle game" represents the cyclical nature of life, as the seasons, and the painted ponies go up and down, symbolizing the ups and downs of life. The song ends by reflecting on the passing of time, with the boy now twenty, and his dreams that have both come true and been lost in the process. Though the years keep revolving, the promise of new dreams and new beginnings is still ahead.
Line by Line Meaning
Yesterday a child came out to wonder
A young and curious child stepped outside to explore the world.
Caught a dragonfly inside a jar
The child captured a dragonfly in a jar, perhaps as a form of innocent play and fascination with nature.
Fearful when the sky was full of thunder
The child was afraid of the loud thunder during a storm.
And tearful at the falling of a star
The child was saddened at the sight of a shooting star, possibly due to a fear of change or loss.
Then the child moved ten times round the seasons
The child grew up and experienced ten full cycles of seasons, symbolizing the passing of time and the inevitable transition into adulthood.
Skated over ten clear frozen streams
The child also experienced ten winters, represented by skating over frozen streams, and likely formed cherished memories during these moments.
Words like when you're older must appease him
The child is told to wait until they are older to understand certain things or do certain things, which is frustrating but necessary for growth.
And promises of someday make his dreams
Despite the impatience, the child holds onto the hope that someday they will reach their dreams and goals.
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
The metaphor of a carousel represents the inevitable passage of time, with the seasons and painted ponies going round and round. We are all captives on this carousel, unable to reverse time and only able to reflect on our past experiences as we continue to move forward.
Sixteen springs and sixteen summers gone now
The child has grown up and is now in their mid-20s, reflecting on the passing of time since they were a young child.
Cartwheels lost to car wheels through the town
The childlike innocence and freedom of doing cartwheels has been replaced by the practicality and monotony of driving a car through town, emphasizing the loss of childhood wonder and playfulness.
And they tell him take your time it won't be long now
Till you drag your feet to slow the circles down
Others tell the person to take things slow and savor life, as time seems to pass more quickly as one gets older. Eventually, they will want to slow down time and hold onto the present moment.
So the boy who dreamt tomorrow now is twenty
The person who once dreamed of the future is now reaching the age of 20, realizing that the future is no longer far away and that they are now living in it.
Though his dreams have lost some grandeur coming true
While some of their childhood dreams may have come true, they may not have been as grand or exciting as they once imagined them to be.
There'll be new dreams maybe better dreams and plenty
Before the last revolving year is through
Despite the realization that some dreams may not come true as imagined, there is still hope for the future and the possibility of better dreams yet to come before the end of their lifetime.
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
Round and round and round
Round and round and round
In the circle round and round and round
The repetition of the refrain emphasizes the cyclical nature of life and how we are all stuck on this same carousel of time, unable to change the cyclical nature of the seasons and time passing. All we can do is reflect on our past experiences and continue moving forward, unsure of what the future holds.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Joni Mitchell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@wolfmantiptip6218
Great Song...........
@wolfmantiptip6218
👍👍👍👍👍
@flossie1961
Wow!
@dano3952
Great! I also love Buffy Saint Marie's version.
@roblabow9702
I think they were once married but don`t know if they still are. They were a great talent.
@davidlenander
They divorced in about 1975. They both continued to record, separately. Ian Tyson achieved greater success on his own in Canada than the duo had had. With a more western (as in Country & Western, but not so much like Nashville country, more "cowboy" songs) orientation.
@brianrabinowitz1469
@davidlenander 540