The Circle Game

Yesterday a child came out to wonder
Caught a dragonfly inside a jar
Fearful when the sky was full of thunder
And tearful at the falling of a star

C - - - / F - - - / C - - - /    /    / F - - - / G - - - /    / 
C - - - / F - - - / Em - - - /    / F - - - / G - F - / C - - - /    //

 C:	And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on a 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

C - - - / F - C - /  x2  / F - - - /    / C - - - /    / F - - - /    / 
Em - - - / F - - - / Em - - - / F - G - / C - - - /    //

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

 C:	And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on a 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"

 C:	And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on a 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
Tho' his dreams have lost some grandeur coming true
There'll be new dreams, maybe better dreams and plenty
Before the last revolving year is thru

 C:	And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on a 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

© 1966 Siquomb Publishing/Reprise::  on her "Ladies of the Canyon"
and "Miles of Aisles", on Ian and Sylvia "Greatest Hits", and "So Much
for Dreaming", on Buffy Saint-Marie "Best of Buffy Saint-Marie" and "Fire
and Fleet and Candlelight", on Tom Rush "Circle Game" and "Classic Rush"
and on Ian Campbell Folk Group "Circle Game"