Sam Bush (born: 1952 in Bowling Green, Kentucky) is a virtuoso American blu… Read Full Bio ↴Sam Bush (born: 1952 in Bowling Green, Kentucky) is a virtuoso American bluegrass musician. Bush plays mandolin, fiddle and guitar as well as being an accomplished bluegrass vocalist. He was a founding member of the New Grass Revival and has been called a modern day Bill Monroe. Sam is one of the main attractions at the annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Telluride, Colorado. He is affectionately known as "The King of Telluride" for his perennial appearances there.

Circles Around Me
Sam Bush Lyrics

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We were riding down through the grapevines
When I heard someone say your name
Hand on my shoulder, just a little bit older now
And I remember everything

High in Telluride, up on Bridal Veil
Ten thousand feet above the sound
The news came around and sent me to count all my blessings

And to thank you for all the good friends that I've found

Hey, hey, hey
How in the world did we get this far
Hey, hey, hey
Holding tight to the tail of a shooting star

Hey, hey, hey, you're running circles around me
Circles around me now

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Sam Bush's song "Circles Around Me" are rich in imagery and emotion. The song is a reflection on the passage of time and the importance of relationships in our lives. The opening line, "We were riding down through the grapevines," sets the scene for a journey through life that is filled with twists, turns, and unexpected surprises. As the singer hears someone say his friend's name, he is suddenly filled with memories of their time together. The phrase "Circles around me" is a metaphor for the cycle of life that we all experience, as we move from one phase to the next.

The second verse of the song is particularly poignant. The singer recalls a trip to Telluride, where he was standing "ten thousand feet above the sound." The news of something terrible had just come, and he took the time to "count all [his] blessings." The use of the mountain imagery is powerful, as it emphasizes both the beauty and the harshness of life. The final lines of the verse express gratitude for the good friends who have made his life richer and more meaningful.

The chorus of the song is catchy and upbeat, but it's also a reminder that time is passing quickly. The phrase "Holding tight to the tail of a shooting star" suggests that life is fleeting, and we need to make the most of the time we have. The last line, "You're running circles around me," can be interpreted in a few ways. It could suggest that the friend whom the singer is thinking of has achieved more in life, or it could be a playful nod to the idea that life is always changing.

Overall, Sam Bush's "Circles Around Me" is a bittersweet tribute to the journey of life, with all its ups and downs, and the people who make it worth living.

Line by Line Meaning

We were riding down through the grapevines
While we were journeying through the grape plantation fields

When I heard someone say your name
I overheard a person mentioning your name

Hand on my shoulder, just a little bit older now
With their hand on my shoulder, I realized I'm a little older now

And I remember everything
I retain everything in my memory

High in Telluride, up on Bridal Veil
We went to the top of Bridal Veil in Telluride

Ten thousand feet above the sound
The sound was way below us at a height of ten thousand feet

The news came around and sent me to count all my blessings
When the news arrived, I had to start appreciating all the good things in my life

And to thank you for all the good friends that I've found
I want to express gratitude to you for all good friends that I've came across

Hey, hey, hey
Expressing astonishment or excitement

How in the world did we get this far
I wonder how we managed to come this far

Holding tight to the tail of a shooting star
Hanging on to the last remains of a sensational experience