I had a taste of bitter life

At sweet sixteen

I was growing up too fast

If you know what I mean

Met an older man

Who taught me his own way to live

And all I had to do to keep him

Was to give and give



[Chorus:]

The carousel man

Kept me going around and round

Carousel man always know

That I'd stay around

The carousel man

Wouldn't let me off

His merry-go-round



I followed him around

In traveling shows

Along the main county lines

Watching him drinking his mind away

Not ever knowing my name at time

Each night when the show closed down

He used to tell me of his dreams

He was wearing new French suits

While I mended my torn jeans



[Chorus]



Then one night in Santa Fe

The horses stop going around

There he was my poor rich man

Lying on the Mexico ground

All the sad music of his life

Is still spinning in my mind

The carousel starts up again

And I found my place in life



[Chorus x2]