[Verse 1] I wanted the white one with roses in her mane, Gold around the saddle and a pretty little name. Mama held my jacket, Daddy held my place, I was eight feet tall when the music changed. Up above the midway, queen of everything, Certain painted horses must grow themselves wings. [Pre-Chorus] Round and round, Up and down, Funny what you call forever When you've barely left the ground. [Chorus] Carousel, carry me somewhere, Anywhere but here. I keep passing the same faces Once or twice a year. Up when I should know better, Down when I can tell— I used to think that horse was running. Now I know the carousel. [Verse 2] Seventeen, mascara in the bathroom mirror, Every little promise made the exit disappear. Boyfriend by the railing with a cigarette grin, Swore we'd leave this nowhere town and never come again. We were going somewhere— God, we couldn't wait. Funny how the horses run and never leave the gate. [Chorus] Carousel, carry me somewhere, Anywhere but here. I keep passing the same faces Once or twice a year. Up when I should know better, Down when I can tell— I used to think that horse was running. Now I know the carousel. [Bridge] Now the paint is cracked, The midway's gone. There's a pharmacy where we climbed on. And I'd trade every road I've traveled, Every clever thing I know, For one dumb quarter in my pocket And nowhere else to go. [(quiet)] I'd pick the white one. [Final Chorus] Carousel, don't take me somewhere, Just take me around. Let me hear that cheap old music, Let my feet leave the ground. Up because it felt like flying, Down because I fell— Before I knew that going nowhere Could hurt like hell. [Outro] Round and round, Up and down... I thought the horse was running.
