The Circle Game (Take One)

Yesterday a child came out to wonder
Caught a dragonfly inside a jar
Fearful when the skies were full of thunder
Tearful at the falling of a star

And the seasons, they go 'round and 'round
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
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

Sixteen springs, sixteen summers gone now
Cartwheels lost 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"

And the seasons, they go 'round and 'round
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
In the circle game

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

And the seasons, they go 'round and 'round
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
In the circle game

And go 'round and 'round
And go 'round and 'round
In the circle game