Doughty's sound is that of muted acoustic guitar rhythms and nasally vocals with impeccable melodies. His lyrics are unique, and he can be described as a master wordsmith. He turned to a new direction for his 2008 album, Golden Delicious. Instead of an acoustic gritty sound, he began using things like electric guitars, stronger vocal backgrounds and even a cello.
Doughty's album, Yes and Also Yes, was released in August 2011. In January 2012, The Book of Drugs, Doughty's memoir about his "ugly, drug-doing years", was published by Da Capo Press. In 2012 Doughty recorded a version of "Take Me Home, Country Roads" for a fund-raising cd titled "Super Hits Of The Seventies" for radio station WFMU. Doughty's album, The Question Jar Show, was released in late January 2012. It is a two disc set containing highlights from his Question Jar tour.
Discography:
Skittish LP (recorded 1996; released 2000)
Smofe + Smang: Live in Minneapolis LP (2002)
Rockity Roll EP (2003)
Skittish / Rockity Roll double LP (2004): A two disc re-release which includes the out-of-print Skittish, the Rockity Roll EP, and five bonus tracks.
Haughty Melodic LP (2005): Doughty's first full-band album, released on May 3, 2005.
The Gambler EP (2005): Six song EP. Title track is a cover of the Kenny Rogers hit.
Golden Delicious (2008)
Sad Man Happy Man (2009)
Yes and Also Yes (2011)
The Question Jar Show (2012)
The Lo-Fi Lodge (2012)
The Flip Is Another Honey (2012)
Official website: www.mikedoughty.com
Circles
Mike Doughty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And when the wind set down in funnel form and pulled you in.
[Chorus]
I don't need to walk around in circles,
Walk around in circles, walk around in circles,
Walk around in
Don't need to walk around in circles,
Walk around in
When the ghostly dust of violence traces everything,
And when the gas runs out just wreck it, you insured the thing.
[Chorus]
I don't need to walk around in circles,
Walk around in circles, walk around in circles,
Walk around in
Don't need to walk around in circles,
Walk around in circles, walk around in circles,
Walk around in
Doom da doom da doom
What I'm doing I'm doing
[x4]
But I can't sigh now that you made the move.
It has gone and gone to dogs, lay down on the floor,
For the right price I can get everything.
Slip into the car, go driving to the farthest star.
[Chorus]
I don't need to walk around in circles,
Walk-a, in circles, walk around in circles,
Walk around in-a
Don't need to walk around in circles,
Walk around in circles, walk around in circles,
Walk around in [x2]
The lyrics to "Circles" by Mike Doughty depict a relationship where one person has created a space for the other to exist, but ultimately the other person leaves despite having "insured the thing." The first verse describes the room that one person built for the other, and how they were pulled in by a funnel-forming wind. This could represent the sense of being trapped or powerless in the situation. In the second verse, the violence and eventual end of the relationship is hinted at with the mention of ghostly dust and the idea of wrecking something that was insured.
The chorus repeats the line "I don't need to walk around in circles." The circles could represent the cyclical nature of the relationship or the feeling of being stuck and unable to move forward. The repetition of the line drives home the idea that the singer is ready to break free from this pattern. The song ends with the lines "Slip into the car, go driving to the farthest star," which could be interpreted as a desire to escape and start fresh.
Overall, "Circles" seems to be about a relationship that has run its course and the struggle to move on. The imagery and repetition of the lyrics add to the feeling of being trapped and unable to break free from a cycle.
Line by Line Meaning
When you were languishing in rooms I built to file you in,
When you were sad and stuck in rooms I constructed to keep you isolated,
And when the wind set down in funnel form and pulled you in.
And when external forces beyond our control sucked you in like a vortex.
I don't need to walk around in circles,
I don't need to keep recounting the same old problems and issues.
Don't need to walk around in circles,
I don't need to keep repeating patterns that aren't working.
When the ghostly dust of violence traces everything,
When the remnants of harmful actions linger in every part of our lives,
And when the gas runs out just wreck it, you insured the thing.
And when resources run out, just abandon the damaged object since you already bought insurance.
But I can't sigh now that you made the move.
But I can't be upset now that you've taken action.
It has gone and gone to dogs, lay down on the floor,
It's degraded and hopeless, so give up and surrender.
For the right price I can get everything.
For a certain amount of money, I can acquire all of my wants and desires.
Slip into the car, go driving to the farthest star.
Get in the car and venture to the outer limits of possibility.
Walk-a, in circles, walk around in circles,
Continue to stay stuck in repetitive cycles that don't lead anywhere new.
Walk around in-a
Continue to stay stuck without making any progress.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARK DEGLIANTONI, MICHAEL DOUGHTY, SEBASTIAN STEINBERG, YUVAL GABAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Scrub Jones
I have to say I prefer this version. It's very upbeat and chill. If this is what you wanted it to sound like originally, then we really missed out back then in my opinion.
E. Asinus
Agree 💯
DylanDoesThings
I agree!
Stephanie Watson
This new version has a richness and life that exceeds its original, and yet the original still remains a treasure of its own. I have been so inspired by this album since its release (and the corresponding tour that was so fun!) that I have chosen this song for a choreographed ballroom dance performance piece (a rumba) later this Spring. (Mike, I'll be sure to send you a video!)
firefly311
I like this. It has a more laid-back feel than the original cut.
Another Jake
yeah its better than the sc version, your the shit mike
MelloDom
should of changed the lyric to "walk around with urkle" just once like he does on the live version
Greg Costa
Should "HAVE"
MelloDom
its good but i think i still like the soul coughing version better. i dont like his new super bon bon at all. The st louise is listening new one is pretty good too. His acoustic versions are really good on skittish
unqtious
Agreed. I liked most of his solo work (Skittish) and all the Soul Coughing stuff. But this album doesn't do it for me--the Soul Coughing versions are layered and infused with interesting Jazz, hip-hop flavor. This is kind of lacks dynamics and musical variations. It seems like he recorded it in a single day.