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 this 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 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 this circle game
Sixteen springs and sixteen summers gone now
Cartwheels turn to carwheels 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 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 this 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 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 this circle game
And go round and round and round
In this circle game