The Circle Game
Sainte marie buffy Lyrics
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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 turn to car wheels thru the town
And they tell him, "Take your time, it won't be long now"
'Til you drag your feet to slow the circles down
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
So the years spin by and now the boy 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
In the circle game
"The Circle Game" by Joni Mitchell is a powerful and hauntingly beautiful song that speaks of the passage of time and the cyclical nature of life. The lyrics describe a child who catches a dragonfly in a jar and experiences joy and fear, as well as the passing of the seasons and the growth of the child into adulthood. The child is comforted by promises of a better future while still being warned that life is fleeting and they must enjoy it while they can. As the seasons continue to go round and round, the child becomes an adult and experiences new dreams and challenges, while still being trapped on the "carousel of time."
The song is a poignant reminder of the inevitability of change and the importance of cherishing the present moment. The circle game referenced in the title refers to the way that life seems to continually repeat itself in cycles, with each new generation facing the same challenges and joys as those before them.
Line by Line Meaning
Yesterday a child came out to wonder
A child's natural curiosity and wonderment begins at an early age
Caught a dragonfly inside a jar
The child is fascinated by capturing and observing nature
Fearful when the sky was full of thunder
The child experiences fear in the face of powerful natural phenomena
And tearful at the falling of a star
The child is moved emotionally by the beauty and mystery of the cosmos
Then the child moved ten times round the seasons
The child experiences the cyclical nature of time and change
Skated over ten clear frozen streams
The child enjoys the freedom and playfulness of youth through activities like skating
Words like, when you're older, must appease him
Adults try to console the child with promises of maturity and growth
And promises of someday make his dreams
The child's aspirations are fueled by hope for the future
And the seasons they go round and round
Time is in a constant state of cyclical change
And the painted ponies go up and down
Life is full of ups and downs and joys and sorrows
We're captive on the carousel of time
Our lives are subject to the fixed and ever-turning wheel of time
We can't return we can only look behind
There is no going back to the past, only reminiscing and reflecting
From where we came
Our past experiences have shaped and formed us
And go round and round and round
Life goes on and continues to cycle through various stages
Sixteen springs and sixteen summers gone now
Time has passed and the child has grown into a young adult
Cartwheels turn to car wheels thru the town
Childlike activities and motions give way to more mature ones as one grows older
And they tell him, "Take your time, it won't be long now"
The young adult is encouraged to enjoy the present moment and not rush into the future
'Til you drag your feet to slow the circles down
We try to hold onto and preserve the present moment to make it last longer
So the years spin by and now the boy is twenty
Time continues to move forward and the young adult has reached a milestone age
Though his dreams have lost some grandeur coming true
Reality can tarnish or alter our earlier dreams and aspirations
There'll be new dreams, maybe better dreams and plenty
As we grow and change, new dreams and aspirations can take hold
Before the last revolving year is through
There is still time to pursue and fulfill dreams before life comes to an end
Lyrics © Crazy Crow Music / Siquomb Music Publishing, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Joni Mitchell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Михаил Сергопольцев
"Круговая игра"
Вчера ребенок вышел побродить
Поймал стрекозу в банке
Страшно, когда небо было полно грома
И слезы при падении звезды
Затем ребенок десять раз перемещался по сезонам
Прокатился по десяти прозрачным замороженным ручьям
Такие слова, как "когда ты станешь старше, должны успокоить его"
И обещания когда-нибудь воплотить его мечты
И времена года они ходят по кругу
И нарисованные пони поднимаются и опускаются
Мы в плену карусели времени
Мы не можем вернуться, мы можем только оглянуться
Откуда мы пришли
И ходить по кругу и по кругу
В игре по кругу
Шестнадцать весен и шестнадцать лет прошли
Колеса тележки потеряны из-за автомобильных колес по городу
И они говорят ему: «Не торопитесь, это будет недолго»
Пока ты не тянешь ноги, чтобы замедлить круги
Итак, мальчику, который мечтал о завтрашнем дне, сейчас двадцать
Хотя его мечты потеряли какое-то величие, сбывшись
Будут новые мечты, может быть, лучшие мечты и много
До того, как истечет последний оборотный год
И времена года они ходят по кругу
И нарисованные пони поднимаются и опускаются
Мы в плену карусели времени
Мы не можем вернуться, мы можем только оглянуться
Откуда мы пришли
И ходить по кругу и по кругу
В игре по кругу
•Victim•
That vibratos in her voice, are definitly beautifull
BansaiMont3l
its tremolo
kind2311
i came here from the movie to complain about that vibrato. Joni Mitchells version is superior simply due to the better singing. This is just annoying.
Sandrine Bonnaire
So happy this song was revived in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. This really did embody the 1960s. Youth, innocence, and HOPE
margus kiis
Ironically it was originally in pessimistic "Strawberry Statement"
de L7i
Creepy as hell
Beatriz Toro
And tripping on acid.
red wolfe
A favorite of mine since the 1960's, when I was near the beginning of the circle game. 62 now, near the end. My wife and I raised six children, five are still alive. I listen to this song, and tears come- honestly, life is good.
blinko656
It is a good thing to get to know Jeus even more as we get older. Im 69 and he guides me every day; It is a beautiful thing you have children.
Mike retired FF
Susan P Jamieson
so with you there brother. Only 2 kids. But its so sweet to remember back and see their success and their dreams becoming true too remembering where I was when I started this route