Steve Vassey’s Watchin’ for Rainbows has a reflection on carousels. (He uses the alternate spelling carrousel, which is fine. He’s published; I’m not.) He compares it to life- some go through laughing with the wind in their hair, others with a grim determination to make it through this tough time, and still others scared, eyes closed, holding on for dear life.
While reading it, I kept hearing in my mind the song by The Hollies, On A Carousel. (Lyrics and a link to the song are below.) I decided to look up the lyrics and found at least twenty different songs with the title Carousel. There were dozens more that referred to carousels. Artists and groups like Melanie Martinez, Travis Scott, Miranda Lambert, Blink-182, and Abba all had songs titled Carousel. And then there was an entire Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel. The American songbook songs If I Loved You, June Is Bustin’ Out All Over, and You’ll Never Walk Alone came from it.
Almost all the Carousel songs speak of heartbreak, frustration, and being unable to get off the carousel. Vassey says we can choose how we ride this thing.
One of my favorite photographs of my niece Megan comes from when she was about 2. She’s riding the carousel at Columbiana Mall, in Columbia, SC. I am standing beside her, making sure she doesn’t fall of the horse she chose. She’s waving at the people standing around the carousel as she goes by because she thinks they are waving at her and cheering her on. In fact, they were. She was enjoying the ride, smiling, sometimes laughing, and not crying or screaming like some of the other small children. And people were cheering her on. Even though they did not know her, they were happy she was enjoying the ride.
There’s a lesson here somewhere.
PS- Thirty years later she has grown into a beautiful, responsible, intelligent, and compassionate woman. And though we do not get to see each other much, I can’t help but believe people are still waving and cheering her on.
On A Carousel– written by Graham Nash, Allan Clarke, Tony Hicks
Riding along on a carousel
Trying to catch up to you
Riding along on a carousel
Will I catch up to you
Horses chasing ’cause they’re racing
So near yet so far
On a carousel, on a carousel
Nearer, nearer by changing horses
Still so far away
People fighting for their places
Just get in my way
Soon you’ll leave and then I’ll lose you
Still we’re going round
On a carousel, on a carousel
Round and round and round and round and round
And round and round and round with you
Up, down, up, down, up, down too
As she leaves she drops the presents
That she won before
Pulling ducks out of the water
Got the highest score
Now’s my chance and I must take it
A case of do-or-die
On a carousel, on a carousel
Round and round and round and round and round
And round and round and round with you
Up, down, up, down, up, down too
Riding along on a carousel
Trying to catch up to you
Riding along on a carousel
Will I catch up to you
Now we take our ride together
No more chasing her
On a carousel, on a carousel
On a carousel, on a carousel
Michael Henderson 