Victoria and Canadian country artist Deric Ruttan both went to high school in Bracebridge, Ontario where they performed in a band together. Victoria went on to complete a degree in Zoology/Anthropology at the University of Toronto before moving to Nashville, Tennessee in 1998, where she signed her first publishing deal. From 1998-2004 she was a staff songwriter for Fame Music (aka House of Fame), from 2004-2007 she was a writer for Full Circle Music (Circle C Songs), and in 2007 she signed a contract with Nashville's Sony/ATV Publishing.
As a staff songwriter in the country music market, Victoria has had songs featured in movies and TV and recorded by a variety of country artists including Jessica Simpson, Sara Evans, Cowboy Crush, Marty Raybon, 3 of Hearts, and Johnny Reid. She has won International Unisong and USA Songwriting Competitions in 2006 and 2007, played acoustic guitar for Pam Tillis, Crystal Shawanda and Rachel Proctor, shared the performing stage with Julie Roberts, Jamie O'Neal, Alabama and Billy Currington, and has cowritten with artists such as Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Jessica Simpson, Gretchen Wilson, Danielle Peck, Amy Dalley, Julie Roberts and Gary Nichols. She is best known for her Jessica Simpson hit "Come on Over" (which was the highest debuting first single for a new country artist in the Billboard chart history) and her solo-written Sara Evans hit "Saints & Angels", which earned her a 2003 ASCAP Country Music Award[1] and a SOCAN International Achievement Award.
The Wheel
Victoria Banks Lyrics
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The clock starts tickin' with the breath you're breathing
Tiny hands, tiny feet, and all you do is eat and sleep
Then you blink your eyes and you're crawlin' 'cross the floor
Then you blink 'em again and you're runnin' out the door
For a tire swing, then a school bus,
Then a second hand Chevy and you're kickin' up dust
It happens so fast, just like that
[Chorus]
Oh the wheel keeps turning
And the flame keeps burning
And the hunger in the heart
And the spirit and the soul keeps yearning
And the wheel keeps turning
You fall for love on a prayer and a wing
And your heart gets broken and you feel that sting
And you fall again, and it sure feels right
And half a second later they're throwin' rice
Then you're back to work and the honeymoon's done
Boy time flies when you're having fun
You buy a little house with a leaky roof
Then you're paintin' that nursery baby blue
The first time you hold him, it starts all over
[Chorus]
The sun comes up and the moon goes down
The rock in the sky spins round and round
It's one more day here on the ground as the stars roll by
You live and learn, break and bend
Say a little prayer when the daylight ends
Wake in the morning, do it all again, it's a crazy ride
[Chorus]
You come into the world kicking and screaming
And the wheel keeps turning
The lyrics of Victoria Banks's song, The Wheel, are a poignant reflection on the cyclical nature of life. The song starts with the idea of birth and how life commences with a resolute energy, "kicking and screaming.” The breath a newborn takes sets in motion the countdown of life, as a “clock starts ticking”. The lyrics symbolize the passage of time by describing the milestones that one goes through before they are even aware: falling asleep, waking up, crawling, running and so on. Life moves quickly and before we know it, we find ourselves growing up fast - riding a tire swing, taking the school bus, driving a car, and so on. This realization is sandwiched between the chorus, which features a repetition of "the wheel keeps turning", signifying the constant motion of life whether we are cognizant of it or not.
The second verse describes falling in love and the numerous ups and downs that one faces throughout a relationship. Sometimes love works out, and other times it leads to heartbreak. Despite the hardships, people keep trying to find love until they finally find the right person to marry. The lyrics then liken marriage to a new beginning, and the couple purchases a new home and starts a family. The song concludes by reminding us that life is a continuous cycle that can be both exhilarating and exasperating, and all we can do is hold on for the ride while the wheel keeps turning.
Line by Line Meaning
You come into the world kicking and screaming
Life begins with a lot of noise and confusion as one is born into the world.
The clock starts tickin' with the breath you're breathing
From the moment of birth, time starts ticking away with every breath taken.
Tiny hands, tiny feet, and all you do is eat and sleep
As a baby, life is simple and revolves around basic needs such as eating and sleeping.
Then you blink your eyes and you're crawlin' 'cross the floor
Before you know it, you're growing up and crawling around on the floor.
Then you blink 'em again and you're runnin' out the door
In the blink of an eye, you're out the door and growing up even faster.
For a tire swing, then a school bus,
Childhood is full of adventures, from tire swings to catching the bus to school.
Then a second hand Chevy and you're kickin' up dust
Before you know it, you've grown up even more and are driving your own car.
It happens so fast, just like that
Life passes by so quickly, it feels like it happened in the blink of an eye.
Oh the wheel keeps turning
Life goes on and on, never stopping for anyone.
And the flame keeps burning
Throughout life, the fire of our passions and desires continues to burn strongly within us.
And the hunger in the heart
The desire to search for more and to experience everything life has to offer stays within us.
And the spirit and the soul keeps yearning
The spirit and soul continue to long for more knowledge, experience, and growth throughout life.
You fall for love on a prayer and a wing
Love is a risk that we take on a leap of faith, hoping for the best outcome.
And your heart gets broken and you feel that sting
However, love also comes with the risk of heartbreak and the resulting pain and sadness.
And you fall again, and it sure feels right
Despite the risks, we continue to fall in love, as it feels so right and fulfilling.
And half a second later they're throwin' rice
Before we know it, we're celebrating our own weddings and feeling the joy of the moment.
Then you're back to work and the honeymoon's done
However, the honeymoon phase ends and we're back to reality and the everyday work involved in maintaining a relationship.
Boy time flies when you're having fun
Time seems to pass so quickly when we're enjoying ourselves and making the most of life.
You buy a little house with a leaky roof
As we grow older, we start to take on more responsibilities, such as owning a home with its own set of issues and headaches.
Then you're paintin' that nursery baby blue
Starting a family and painting a nursery is another big step and responsibility in life.
The first time you hold him, it starts all over
However, the joy and love of holding your newborn child brings back the cycle of life and the excitement of new beginnings.
The sun comes up and the moon goes down
Every day, the sun rises and sets, and life goes on in a continuous cycle.
It's one more day here on the ground as the stars roll by
Each day is a gift, and it's up to us to make the most of it while the stars roll by above us.
You live and learn, break and bend
Throughout life, we learn and grow, but not without overcoming struggles and difficult times.
Say a little prayer when the daylight ends
At the end of each day, we take a moment to reflect, say a prayer or give thanks, and prepare for a new day to come.
Wake in the morning, do it all again
Each day gives us the opportunity to start anew, tackle obstacles, and make the most of our time on this earth.
It's a crazy ride
Life is unpredictable and often filled with surprises, but it's a journey worth taking and enjoying to the fullest.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Tia Sillers, Victoria Banks
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind