Roger, along with the other Byrds members, was honored with an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.
Circle Song
Roger McGuinn Lyrics
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Cause we don't mean these things we sing
I'll still be waiting for another day
When you feel it too, but it's a game we play
And I've tried to tell you for a long, long time
That games aren't played where love is made
And I grow so weary of this masquerade
From this never ending game that we play
It's a never ending game
Going round and round, round and round and round
Sometimes I'll see you with a blind man's eyes
They never borrow or repay
And I never speak it in the light of day
But don't you feel it too in the game we play
And it's a never ending game
Going round and round, round and round
And round round and round (repeated to fade)
The Circle Song by Roger McGuinn is a song about the never-ending cycle of a dysfunctional relationship that seems to be going nowhere. The song starts off by talking about how sometimes when we're singing, the words won't rhyme, because we don't mean what we're saying. This sets the tone for the whole song, as the lyrics describe how the relationship is just a game that the two people are playing.
The singer talks about how he's tired of this "masquerade" and how he wishes he could just "hide his head and slip away" from it all. He's tried to tell his partner that games aren't played where love is made, but it seems like it's falling on deaf ears. The chorus of the song emphasizes the never-ending nature of this game, as it goes "round and round and round."
The second verse talks about how sometimes the singer sees his partner with a "blind man's eyes," which never borrow or repay. This could be interpreted as the singer seeing his partner as someone who doesn't give anything back in the relationship. However, even though the relationship is dysfunctional, the singer still feels that his partner feels it too. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the never-ending nature of this game they're playing.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes we're singing and the words won't rhyme
Occasionally, we express ourselves in song without cohesion in the lyrics
Cause we don't mean these things we sing
Situations arise wherein these songs do not reflect our true feelings
I'll still be waiting for another day
I'll still be hopeful for the future, despite our present complications
When you feel it too, but it's a game we play
The anticipation that you'll reciprocate my emotions, despite the fact that we recognize our affection to be a facade
And I've tried to tell you for a long, long time
I've been attempting to communicate this for an extended period
That games aren't played where love is made
Emotional attachment should never involve pretence
And I grow so weary of this masquerade
I'm rapidly becoming exhausted of the pretence
I'd like to hide my head and slip away
I'd prefer to avoid this complicated situation
From this never ending game that we play
Escape from the ongoing charade is desirable
Sometimes I'll see you with a blind man's eyes
There are moments when I'm oblivious to the truth of our situation
They never borrow or repay
These situations involve no debts or obligations
And I never speak it in the light of day
I keep these thoughts to myself, avoiding the conversation
But don't you feel it too in the game we play
Despite knowing this to be a game, I'm hopeful you feel the same
It's a never ending game
This facade appears to be perpetual
Going round and round, round and round and round
It seems to be an infinite cycle of deceit
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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