Circle of Steel
A Tale of Life's Gamble: Circle of Steel by Joseph Bergstrom
Lyrics
Rows of lights in a circle of steel
Describing a place with rows of lights within a steel structure, where people gamble on a large wheel.
Where you place your bets on a great big wheel
Highlighting the act of placing bets on the aforementioned wheel.
High windows flickerin' down through the snow
Depicting high windows with flickering lights, possibly in a snowy setting, indicating a specific time.
A time you know
Referencing a certain time with a sense of familiarity.
Sights and sounds of the people goin' 'round
Observing the sights and sounds of people moving around, possibly in a rhythmic manner.
Everyone's in step with the season
Describing everyone being in sync with the season, suggesting a collective harmony.
A child is born to a welfare case
Portraying the birth of a child to a person on welfare, with a challenging living environment.
Where the rats run around like they own the place
Describing a place infested with rats, indicating a difficult living situation.
The room is chilly, the building is old
Depicting a cold room in an old building, expressing harsh living conditions.
That's how it goes
Stating the harsh reality of life, accepting it as part of the natural order.
The doctor's found on his welfare round
Describing a doctor on welfare rounds, emphasizing urgency in his actions.
And he comes and he leaves on the double
Highlighting the doctor's swift and timely visits.
Deck The Halls was the song they played
Mentioning the song "Deck The Halls" playing in a nearby flat where people are loud.
In the flat next door where they shout all day
Describing a woman consuming gin in the neighboring flat throughout the day.
She tips her gin bottle back 'till it's gone
Illustrating the woman's consumption of gin, indicating potential struggles with alcoholism.
The child is strong
Noting the strength of a child in this challenging environment.
A week, a day, they will take it away
Referring to authorities taking the child away due to the mother's known vices.
For they know about all her bad habits
Explaining that authorities are aware of the mother's detrimental habits.
Christmas dawns and the snow lets up
Describing the arrival of Christmas and the easing of snowfall.
And the sun hits the handle of her heirloom cup
Depicting sunlight hitting a cherished cup, possibly symbolizing hope.
She hides her face in her hands for a while
Expressing the woman hiding her face in her hands, suggesting emotional turmoil.
Says look here child
Instructing the child to pay attention, possibly to a lesson or revelation.
Your father's pride was his means to provide
Revealing the father's pride in providing, now serving a prison sentence.
And he's servin' three years for that reason
Stating that the father is incarcerated for his means of providing.
Rows of lights in a circle of steel
Repeating the initial description of a place with rows of lights and a gambling wheel.
Where you place your bets on a great big wheel
Reiterating the act of placing bets on the large wheel within the steel structure.
High windows flickerin' down through the snow
Repeating the description of high windows flickering in the snow, emphasizing a specific time.
A time you know
Reiterating a sense of familiarity with a specific time.
Sights and sounds of the people goin' 'round
Reiterating the observation of people in rhythmic motion in tune with the season.
Everyone's in step with the season
Reiterating the collective harmony of people moving in step with the season.
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