Circle of steel
D - C - D -
G D - G - A - C - D
D C
1. Rows of lights in a circle of steel,
D G
where you place your bets on a
great big wheel,
D C G D
high windows flickering down
through the snow, a time you know.
G A
Sights and sounds of the
people going 'round,
C
D
everybody's in step with the season.
D C
2. A child is born to a welfare case,
D G
where the rats run around like
they own the place,
D
C G
D
the room is chilly, the
building is old, that's how it goes.
G A
A doctor's found on his welfare
rounds
C D
and he comes and he leaves on
the double.
D C
3. Deck The Halls was the song they played
D G
in the flat next door where
they shout all day.
D
C G
D
She tips her gin bottle back
till it's gone, the child is strong.
G
A
A week, a day, they will take
it away,
C D
for they know about all her
bad habits.
F#m - Bm - Em
- A - C - D
D C
4. Christmas dawns and the snow lets up,
D G
and the sun hits the handle of
her heirloom cup.
D
C G D
She hides her face in her
hands for a while, says, look here child.
G A
Your father's pride was his
means to provide,
C D
and he's serving three years
for that reason.
D C
5. Rows of lights in a circle of steel,
D G
where you place your bets on a
great big wheel,
D C G D
high windows flickering down
through the snow, a time you know.
G A
Sights and sounds of the
people going 'round,
C D
everybody's in step with the
season.
F#m - Bm - Em
- A - C - D
(orig. = capo 3rd) (Gordon
Lightfoot)