Circle Game
Joni Mitchell · Dreamland: The Very Best Of Joni Mitchell [2004]
Caught a dragonfly inside a jar
Fearful when the sky was full of thunder
And tearful at the falling of a star
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
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
16 springs and 16 summers gone now
Cartwheels turn to car wheels through 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 20
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
And go round and round and round in the circle game
Circle Game - Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell's "Circle Game" stands as a defining track from her 1971 album *Ladies of the Canyon*, though often associated with her broader catalog of introspective ballads. The song exemplifies Mitchell's signature style, blending folk-rock instrumentation with poetic lyrics that explore themes of romantic entanglement and emotional complexity. Its melodic structure and vocal delivery have cemented its status as a staple of her discography, frequently appearing on greatest collections and influencing subsequent generations of singer-songwriters. The recording captures the raw vulnerability characteristic of her work during this pivotal era, making it a enduring piece of music history.

