Joni Mitchell - The Circle Game (Official Audio)

You're listening to the official audio for Joni Mitchell - "The Circle Game" from the album 'Ladies Of The Canyon'.

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Welcome to the official YouTube channel of Joni Mitchell, whose songs “River,” “Both Sides Now," “California,” and albums ‘Clouds,’ ‘Ladies of the Canyon’ and ‘Blue’ compose only a fragment of a multi-disciplinary artistic output that has been embraced across generations, inspired multitudes of artists, and earned every conceivable accolade.

One of the world’s most remarkable and beloved artists, Mitchell has influenced musicians across a vast cross-section of genres with her ethereal songs that reflect social and environmental ideals. The prolific singer-songwriter-painter-poet has not only written and produced her music, but also designed most of her album covers and packaging. A journey into Joni Mitchell’s artistry is one of a highly original, harmonically innovative, and emotionally charged, familiar yet fresh adventure.

[pattiaustin]

I just asked my 38-year-old daughter if she remembered me singing this to her as I rocked her as a baby. She replied, “I could sing you the chorus right now”. Thank you, Joni. I didn’t have your voice but I did impart your spirit to my baby girl.

[thomaslong]

About 18 years ago I was invited to a small gathering. I'm divorced and my 10 year old daughter was with me that week. I had been working on playing Circle Game and my daughter was taking singing lessons and they were working on Joni. There was an acoustic guitar there at the party. Although my daughter and I had never rehearse, we did this song. The people there were folkies, all older than me. My daughter sang, I played guitar, the rest joined in singing at the chorus. It was a magical moment So every time i hear this, it takes me back to that moment and it brings tears to me.

[Lainey-rkfx]

Today is the first time in nearly 6.5 years that I’ve been able to listen to The Circle Game.
My Son, Jordan, passed away 7th October 2017 aged just 20 years old. It was played at Joe’s funeral. The song is so poignant and takes me back step by step through his short but fulfilling life. Jordan had a heart transplant aged just 7. The first to survive the sort he had, my Son was a brave and loving soul with an old head on his shoulders. He survived another 13 years and went on to achieve many great things - including receiving his Degree (posthumously) for Physics with Theoretical Physics at Manchester University, UK - despite dying before sitting his 2nd year exams. Unprecedented!
This song - particularly the last verse - breaks me every time! But, I still need to hear it and weep while I remember my beautiful Son, Jordan Ashley.

[manlybaker]

This songs reminds you that the world existed before you were born and will continue after you die. Learn from the past and find joy in the here and now.

[richardmercer]

I have a PhD in Mathematical Physics, but if you ask me "What is Time?", I would say listen to this song. I can't do any better, and I'm not sure anyone can. I can't listen to it without crying. Thank you Joni.

[Purplepentapus_]

My father sang this song many times to me and my brother before bed as children, and then as my brother's casket was being lowered 3 years ago. His circle game was cut short just less than 4 years after the last verse of the song. In some ways I think it was merciful, as it released him from a life that seemed to only have suffering left in store for him, and all of his dreams had been lost. This song was profoundly impactful on my formative years in ways that I was never aware of at the time and helped me process what happened to my brother as I grieved his death.

[cindywuollet]

Joni captured mortality with her words. She was very in tune spiritually. I lost my son last year. He was 35. When I became a mom this song always guided me.

[nancybros]

I’ll be 70 in a few weeks. Haven’t heard this song in decades. But it popped into my head today for some reason and got stuck there. Came to listen all the way thru to shake it off, since my album is long gone, and I never replaced it. It sure does grow in meaning the longer we’re on that carousel. Still a wonderful song.

[davidpeters]

Played at my 91 year old mom's funeral reception yesterday. Perfect ❤

[lydialpersonalacct]

I recently read that Joni Mitchell wrote The Circle Game in response to Neil Young's song Sugar Mountain which he wrote about his sadness at aging out of a club called Sugar Mountain when he turned 20. So The Circle Game was intended as a song of hope that things will still be good as you get older. Now when I hear this song and want to cry, I try to remember that it is a song of hope!

[imhappyinthesun]

When I first listened to this music, I burst into tears. I don't know why. I just liked this music and I still like this music. "We can't return, we can only look behind, from where we came." 😊 Yes, it's true. We just look behind from where we came. Our life is like a circle game.

I pray that my 2024 may be prospering and fruitful by looking behind, I mean, by pausing at the right moment, and by reflecting on my own journey. Amen. :)

[GaiaCarney]

Here we all are, gathered together, and Joni is teaching us! How wonderful ☮️

[ToddBoyle]

Anyone who heard this since the 1960s and now, long ago raised children, now gone off to their adult lives... We are touched by this song. Thank you Joni.

[mellowfire]

I almost never cry, but this song brings out the waterworks

[dawgmaw]

Young Joni was wise beyond her years. Spiritually connected, I think.

[Fantod]

She wrote this song at 16 years of age. Amazing.

[RichardFeynmanRules]

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 thru the town
And they tell him,
Take your time, it won't be long now
Till you drag your feet just 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

[Greyhhhb]

We play this at the bridging ceremony at school every year, it’s been seven years since the first time I attended a bridging ceremony in first grade, in seventh, it still brings tears to my eyes

[asatimmons]

My mom played this song for me when I moved away from home it reminds me of all the good times and makes me feel hopeful for the future

[andrewgotlost]

When I was in 4th grade, our Bob Ross looking guidance counseler taught the school to sing this song so we could sing it to our parents.