The Circle Game

[Verse 1] Yesterday a child came out to wonder And caught a dragonfly inside a jar And fearful when the skies were full of thunder And tearful at the falling of a star [Chorus] And the seasons they go 'round and 'round Painted ponies go up and down Were captive on the carousel of time We can't return, we can only look Behind from where we came And go 'round and 'round in the circle game [Verse 2] Then the child moved ten times 'round the seasons And skated over ten clear frozen streams Words like, when you're older, must appease him And promises of someday make his dreams [Verse 3] And sixteen springs and sixteen summers gone now And cartwheels turn to car wheels through the town They tell him, "Take your time, it won't be long now" 'Til you drag your feet to slow the circles down [Chorus] And the seasons they go 'round and 'round Painted ponies go up and down Were captive on the carousel of time We can't return, we can only look Behind from where we came And go 'round and 'round in the circle game [Verse 4] And so the child who dreamed tomorrow now 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 [Chorus] And the seasons they go 'round and 'round Painted ponies go up and down Were captive on the carousel of time We can't return, we can only look Behind from where we came And go 'round and 'round in the circle game And go 'round and 'round And go 'round and 'round in the circle game