Spinning Wheel - Blood, Sweat & Tears

Artist: Blood, Sweat & Tears
Song: Spinning Wheel
Year: 1969
Album: Blood, Sweat & Tears

If you listen to familiar songs, really listen, you can get past the familiarity and get to the core of the song. Sure, this is a song of the psychadelic age, but it is also a song cautioning people not to get caught up in that scene because everything comes full circle.

I guess that's one of the reasons why this song always reminded me of an old fashioned merry-go-round. The kind where you ride the horses, not the school playground economy model. The song reminded me of a carnival atmosphere that didn't jive with the late sixties. It seemed more in tune with turn of the twentieth century settings.

"Spinning Wheel" came off the band's second album featuring the second lead singer, David Clayton-Thomas, who also wrote this pop gem. Blood, Sweat & Tears played Woodstock this year. I think that this album was the apex of their career. Most of that had to do with other issues besides the music. The music was fine, but the band's involvement with the State Department (in order to smooth over David Clayton-Thomas' visa) led to ridicule from most of their peers in 1970.

Most reviews of their third album focused on their cooperation with the government. Some didn't even mention the music. As a result, sales suffered and the band wanted to switch directions. This led to David Clayton-Thomas to leave the band. He returns and disappears several times after his initial departure. The current band tours, but features no original members.

Lyrics:
What goes up, must come down
Spinning wheel got to go round
Talkin' 'bout your troubles, it's a cryin' sin
Ride a painted pony, let the spinning wheel spin

You got no money and you, you got no home
Spinning wheel, all alone
Talkin' 'bout your troubles and you, you never learn
Ride a painted pony, let the spinning wheel turn

Did you find a directing sign on the straight and narrow highway?
Would you mind a reflecting sign?
Just let it shine within your mind
And show you the colors that are real

Someone is waiting just for you
Spinning wheel spinning true
Drop all your troubles by the riverside
Catch a painted pony on the spinning wheel ride
Ha!

Someone's waiting just for you
Spinning wheel spinning true
Drop all your troubles by the riverside
Ride a painted pony, let the spinning wheel fly