The Circle Game | Joni Mitchell Lyrics, Meaning & Videos

May 2024 · 5 minute read

The Circle Game
Joni Mitchell Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴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
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

Sixteen springs and sixteen summers gone now
Cartwheels turn to car wheels through the town
And they tell him,
Take your time, it won't be long now
Till 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 twenty
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


Overall Meaning

Joni Mitchell's The Circle Game is a poignant reflection on the journey of life and the passing of time. The lyrics describe the experience of a child who catches a dragonfly in a jar and is afraid of thunder and moved to tears by the falling of a star. The seasons continue to cycle, and the child grows up, experiencing the passing of time and the changes that come with it. The lyrics are a reminder that life is cyclical, and we are all "captive on the carousel of time", unable to go back, but only able to look behind us and appreciate the experiences that have brought us to where we are now.


The song is poetic in its metaphorical use of "painted ponies" and "carousel of time" to describe the cycle of life. The lyrics also show the difference between the perspective of a child and that of an adult, as the child is eager for the future, while the adult has come to terms with the passing of time and the inevitability of change. The song culminates in an acknowledgement that life will continue to cycle, with new dreams replacing old ones, until the final revolution is complete.


Line by Line Meaning

Yesterday a child came out to wonder
A child was full of curiosity and open-mindedness


Caught a dragonfly inside a jar
The child was fascinated by the beauty of nature and wanted to preserve it


Fearful when the sky was full of thunder
The child was afraid of unknown dangers and things beyond their control


And tearful at the falling of a star
The child was saddened by the loss of something beautiful or wonderous


And the seasons they go round and round
Time moves forward in a cyclical fashion, with events repeating themselves


And the painted ponies go up and down
Life is unpredictable and full of ups and downs


We're captive on the carousel of time
We cannot control time, but we are forced to move along with it


We can't return we can only look behind
We cannot change the past, but we can reflect on it


From where we came
Our past experiences shape who we are and influence our present


And go round and round and round
Life is a cycle that continues indefinitely


Then the child moved ten times round the seasons
The child grew up and experienced the changing of the seasons ten times


Skated over ten clear frozen streams
The child experienced life and the beauty of nature in different ways


Words like, when you're older, must appease him
Adults tell the child to be patient and wait for maturity to fully experience life


And promises of someday make his dreams
The child is promised that their dreams will come true if they wait long enough


Sixteen springs and sixteen summers gone now
The child has gone through sixteen seasons of life


Cartwheels turn to car wheels through the town
The child has grown up and changed in many ways


And they tell him, take your time, it won't be long now
People advise the child to enjoy the present moment and not grow up too quickly


Till you drag your feet to slow the circles down
The child will eventually grow older and want to slow down the passage of time


So the years spin by and now the boy is twenty
The child has continued to age and is no longer a child


Though his dreams have lost some grandeur coming true
The child's dreams may have been realized, but they may not have been as grand as he originally thought


There'll be new dreams, maybe better dreams and plenty
Even if some dreams have been realized, there are always new dreams waiting to be discovered


Before the last revolving year is through
There are always new experiences to be had before the end of life


And go round and round and round
Life's cycle continues indefinitely


In the circle game
Life is a game that continues in a circular fashion


Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Joni Mitchell

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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