Gordon Lightfoot Forums - View Single Post

Kerstin · 02-16-2007, 05:49 PM

To redundantman:

I did find that commentary to be insightful. However, I think, at least at the first level, the name "Circle of Steel" is literal: he is talking about a gambling device. However, that game is not Roulette. Rather, it is a game often (in the not too distant past) found in slums and even in casinos: Wheel of Fortune (sometimes known as the Big Six Wheel). See this link:

http://www.cateringbydeangelos.com/i...of_fortune.jpg
( or use <http://i15.tinypic.com/2nhotnc.jpg> if that wraps too much)

This game would have been VERY familiar to less fortunate people 30 years ago. This is the game from which came the expression: "Round and round it goes and where it stops nobody knows."

So, what does this game typically have? Rows of lights, and a circle of steel. Small rows of lights run along each steel wire that extends from the center to the outside edge. The wire is tied to a nail at the outside edge.

This wheel is mounted vertically, so that it faces you. A playing card is often used as the pointer to show the winner. The wheel spins; as it does, it clicks through each row until the wheel finally stops. A circle of steel wire runs around the outside of the wheel -- originally to provide support to hold the wheel together.

So, with that background, at least at the first level, the song can be seen literally:

"Rows of light in a circle of steel
where you place your bets on a great big wheel.
High windows flickering down through the snow."

The flickering is the clicking of the card as the wheel spins (Round and round and round it goes. And where it stops, nobody knows).

Here, the song becomes an allegory:

"A time you know.
Sights and sounds of the people goin’ ’round
Everybody’s in step with the season."

This speaks to the life experience of most of his audience. Most people who listen to GL would understand that he is talking about Christmas time. (We don't know it yet, but we won that particular lottery.)

GL then examines the other end of the spectrum: most people who play the Big Six Wheel lose. The house has a significant edge.

"A child is born to a welfare case,
Where the rats run around like they own the place
The room is chilly, the building is old
That’s how it goes
The doctor’s found on his welfare round
And he comes and he leaves on the double"

The doctor spends exactly the amount of time he must, and does not stay a second longer. The doctor would obviously be one of the privileged; he is probably disgusted by what he sees: the mother, this infant that has little chance, the rats, the mess, the smell. The site would be revolting. The next stanza makes it clear that she will not have the "child" very long ("A week, a day, they will take it away..."). This is not a pretty picture.

The father is "servin' 3 years" because of his pride. We don't know more about him, although we can guess that he stole something as "his means to provide" and was caught in the process.

Finally, GL returns to the literal: a Wheel of Fortune. In that game, there are many losers and fewer winners. This is where it becomes clear that this is an allegory about life.

"Rows of lights in a circle of steel
Where you place your bets on a great big wheel"

However, juxtaposed to the previous image, the following lyrics have a different connotation:

"High windows flickerin’ down through the snow,
A time you know,
Sights and sounds of the people goin’ ’round,
Everybody’s in step with the season."

Outside that cold, smelly, dirty apartment, people are hustling and bustling about. What do we see? We see everyone hurrying to buy their last minute gifts. We hear people singing in the streets. We see the light from the high windows flickering off the snow. This is a truly beautiful image. And, we are once again unaware of the scene inside those windows.

02-16-2007, 05:49 PM	#45
Kerstin Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Woodland Hills, CA Posts: 278	To redundantman: I did find that commentary to be insightful. However, I think, at least at the first level, the name "Circle of Steel" is literal: he is talking about a gambling device. However, that game is not Roulette. Rather, it is a game often (in the not too distant past) found in slums and even in casinos: Wheel of Fortune (sometimes known as the Big Six Wheel). See this link: http://www.cateringbydeangelos.com/i...of_fortune.jpg ( or use <http://i15.tinypic.com/2nhotnc.jpg> if that wraps too much) This game would have been VERY familiar to less fortunate people 30 years ago. This is the game from which came the expression: "Round and round it goes and where it stops nobody knows." So, what does this game typically have? Rows of lights, and a circle of steel. Small rows of lights run along each steel wire that extends from the center to the outside edge. The wire is tied to a nail at the outside edge. This wheel is mounted vertically, so that it faces you. A playing card is often used as the pointer to show the winner. The wheel spins; as it does, it clicks through each row until the wheel finally stops. A circle of steel wire runs around the outside of the wheel -- originally to provide support to hold the wheel together. So, with that background, at least at the first level, the song can be seen literally: "Rows of light in a circle of steel where you place your bets on a great big wheel. High windows flickering down through the snow." The flickering is the clicking of the card as the wheel spins (Round and round and round it goes. And where it stops, nobody knows). Here, the song becomes an allegory: "A time you know. Sights and sounds of the people goin’ ’round Everybody’s in step with the season." This speaks to the life experience of most of his audience. Most people who listen to GL would understand that he is talking about Christmas time. (We don't know it yet, but we won that particular lottery.) GL then examines the other end of the spectrum: most people who play the Big Six Wheel lose. The house has a significant edge. "A child is born to a welfare case, Where the rats run around like they own the place The room is chilly, the building is old That’s how it goes The doctor’s found on his welfare round And he comes and he leaves on the double" The doctor spends exactly the amount of time he must, and does not stay a second longer. The doctor would obviously be one of the privileged; he is probably disgusted by what he sees: the mother, this infant that has little chance, the rats, the mess, the smell. The site would be revolting. The next stanza makes it clear that she will not have the "child" very long ("A week, a day, they will take it away..."). This is not a pretty picture. The father is "servin' 3 years" because of his pride. We don't know more about him, although we can guess that he stole something as "his means to provide" and was caught in the process. Finally, GL returns to the literal: a Wheel of Fortune. In that game, there are many losers and fewer winners. This is where it becomes clear that this is an allegory about life. "Rows of lights in a circle of steel Where you place your bets on a great big wheel" However, juxtaposed to the previous image, the following lyrics have a different connotation: "High windows flickerin’ down through the snow, A time you know, Sights and sounds of the people goin’ ’round, Everybody’s in step with the season." Outside that cold, smelly, dirty apartment, people are hustling and bustling about. What do we see? We see everyone hurrying to buy their last minute gifts. We hear people singing in the streets. We see the light from the high windows flickering off the snow. This is a truly beautiful image. And, we are once again unaware of the scene inside those windows.