Circle Game

Joni Mitchell · Dreamland: The Very Best Of Joni Mitchell [2004]

Yesterday a child came out to wander

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.