Hearing children as they laugh and they sing
Pulling brass rings, dreaming all sorts of things
And the stare in their mother's eyes, both fear and delight
She's shaking from fright but she knows everything's all right

Come ride, come ride, come ride up and down
The merry-go, merry-go-round

Pictures bring back thoughts and things from the past
Memories, they last, even though time, it will pass
For memories are real when there is nothing more
Whenever you're bored and there's nothing to live for

Come ride, come ride, come ride up and down
The merry-go, merry-go-round

An old man, he sits and he rocks in his chair
Waiting to die, the boy starts to cry but the man he cannot
'Cause he's lived far too long and there is nothing left
Visions of youth and he serves
no more use than a book on the shelf

Life is sweet when you've lost all your fear
Death, it is near, your cares, they will disappear
So you sit and remember the gay laughing sounds
The ups and the downs of your ride on the merry-go-round

Come ride, come ride, come ride up and down
The merry-go, merry-go-round

Life is just a merry-go-round