The Wheel
Leslie Fish Lyrics


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Chorus:
Am F C
There's a wheel turning on muddy ground,
G C
Gains an inch every time it goes around.
F C G Am
Come on, let's make another revolution!
C G F Am G Am
[*Turn, turn, turn;] turn, turn, turn.

Am
There are wheels that turn through all of our lives,
F G Em -- E
And we sometimes see them clear.
Am `C Am G Am
When the night comes down, when the first snow falls,
F G Em -- E
We can mark the day or the year.
F C
The circle's end we can tell too easy;
G Em -- E
The beginning is hard to see.
Am G Am G Am
And the wheel whose seasons no-one knows
(run) C (run) G (run) F G Am
Is the turn of the tide that can make us free. (Cho, *2x)

There are wheels that turn in the Natural world,
And there's some in the heart of Man.
Your wish moves them, your hand proves them,
So turn them the best you can.
When you see your wheel, you can add your shoulder
Or wait 'til it's rolling high.
You can slow it down or speed it around,
But you can't make it stop, even when you die. (Cho, *3x)

(Instrumental break, 1 verse & chorus, *3x)

There's a wheel that's moving fast through our time
And we've seen the track it made.
I believe you know where it has to go
And the way that the game is played.
So night's come down and the turn is hidden,
But it never stops rolling 'round.
So lay on your hand, 'cause we're coming to land.




Just another strong pull and we're on hard ground!
(Cho,*4x)

Overall Meaning

Leslie Fish’s song The Wheel is a metaphor for life; it talks about the cycles that we go through, whether it is the turning of the four seasons or the ups and downs of life. In the chorus of the song, a specific wheel is mentioned, which turns on muddy ground and gains an inch every time it completes a full circle. Each completed revolution brings about a change, and the lyrics invite the listener to join in and contribute to bringing about another revolution or positive change. The phrase “turn, turn, turn” serves as a reminder that life is about moving forward and embracing change.


The first verse of The Wheel reminds us that there are several wheels turning all around us. The verse talks about how some wheels are easy to see while others are challenging to perceive. The lyrics suggest that the difficult part of life is not knowing what is coming next. The metaphor of the wheel is used to illustrate the cyclical nature of life, which is why the end of a circle (the closure of a cycle) is easier to understand than the beginning (where the new cycle starts). The lyric “The wheel whose seasons no one knows” conveys the unpredictability of life's changes and how these changes can lead to freedom if we accept them.


The second verse introduces the idea that our wishes and actions can influence the wheels that turn. The metaphorical wheel becomes the manifestation of our goals and aspirations. According to the lyrics, we can either add our shoulder to turn the wheel, or we can wait for the wheel to gain momentum before we give in our best. The lyrics suggest that even after we die, our legacy can continue to turn the wheel of life. The song's final verse conveys the message that there are times in life when we are unsure of where the wheel is headed. It is only when we embrace the unknown and trust ourselves that we can make a difference. The song concludes by encouraging listeners to play their part in the revolution and to keep the wheel of life turning.


Line by Line Meaning

There's a wheel turning on muddy ground,
The world is in constant motion and change.


Gains an inch every time it goes around.
Every revolution of the wheel brings progress, no matter how small.


Come on, let's make another revolution!
Let's keep moving forward and making progress.


There are wheels that turn through all of our lives,
There are cycles and patterns in life.


And we sometimes see them clear.
We can sometimes recognize these patterns and cycles.


When the night comes down, when the first snow falls,
These patterns and cycles can be marked by significant events such as the passing of seasons.


We can mark the day or the year.
We can make note of these events and the passing of time.


The circle's end we can tell too easy;
The end of these cycles is often more obvious to us than the beginning.


The beginning is hard to see.
It can be difficult to recognize the start of a new cycle or pattern.


And the wheel whose seasons no-one knows
There are certain cycles that cannot be predicted or explained.


Is the turn of the tide that can make us free.
These unpredictable cycles can sometimes lead to positive changes or liberation.


There are wheels that turn in the Natural world,
Natural cycles and patterns also exist.


And there's some in the heart of Man.
Human behavior and emotions can follow certain patterns and cycles.


Your wish moves them, your hand proves them,
Our actions and desires can affect these cycles and patterns.


So turn them the best you can.
We should try to influence these patterns in a positive way.


You can't make it stop, even when you die.
These cycles and patterns will continue beyond our lifetime.


There's a wheel that's moving fast through our time
There is a certain cycle happening rapidly in our present day.


And we've seen the track it made.
We can observe the impact of this cycle on the world around us.


I believe you know where it has to go
We have some sense of where this cycle is leading us.


So night's come down and the turn is hidden,
It can be difficult to see where this cycle is going or what the next phase will bring.


But it never stops rolling 'round.
The cycle only continues and progresses.


So lay on your hand, 'cause we're coming to land.
Let's work together to bring this cycle to a positive conclusion.




Contributed by Jonathan S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@Siriussky22

This is a truly beautiful song, it has so much meaning to it

@winkleried

Thanks for sharing this. It’s nice to hear full versions of these old songs.

@vfd9574

Amazing

@carolinchicago

Trying to pick out the other voices. Kristoph, me, who else?

@peterwall8191

You blind ? Its a freaking ball dudes! A wrecking ball at that! Wheel indeed! Y'all need some shrooms to clear your eyes.

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