CIRCLE OF STEEL
(Gordon Lightfoot)

Gordon Lightfoot 1973


Rows of lights in a circle of steel
Where you place your bets on a great big wheel.
High windows flickering down through the snow
A time you know.
Sights and sounds of the people going 'round
Everybody's in step with the season.

A child is born to a welfare case
Where the rats run around like they own the place.
The room is chilly, the building is old
That's how it goes.
A doctor's found on his welfare rounds
And he comes and he leaves on the double.

Deck The Halls was the song they played
In the flat next door where they shout all day.
She tips her gin bottle back till it's gone
The child is strong.
A week, a day, they will take it away
For they know about all her bad habits.

(bridge)

Christmas dawns and the snow lets up
And the sun hits the handle of her heirloom cup.
She hides her face in her hands for a while
Says look here child.
Your father's pride was his means to provide
And he's serving three years for that reason.

Rows of lights in a circle of steel
Where you place your bets on a great big wheel.
High windows flickering down through the snow
A time you know.
Sights and sounds of the people going 'round
Everybody's in step with the season.




(Transcribed by David Story - February 2013)