“No longer riding on the merry-go-round. I just had to let it go.”
I remember when this album came out way way back in 1980, my stepdad bought this album not long after it came out, so I remember listening to it growing up. I think I have mentioned before that I love John Lennon and this album is one of the reasons why.
When Larry and I purchased our house in Kansas and started making our plans for moving I had people I worked with who acted as if I was gonna force them to move to Kansas with me, like they were actually “offended” by my choice to leave Ohio behind for the plains of Kansas. I’d just look at them and say “I’m sorry but did you think I was taking you with me? You don’t have to move to Kansas you can stay in Ohio if you want.” This song makes me think about that, now.
“People say I'm crazy
Doing what I'm doing
Well, they give me all kinds of warnings
To save me from ruin
When I say that I'm okay, well they look at me kinda strange
Surely, you're not happy now, you no longer play the game"
Moving to Kansas was all about getting off that merry-go-round and changing our lives to have less and do more. Life has kept us from doing some of the things we had planned but it has not stopped us from spending more time with family and making memories with them. I have the absolute bestest siblings in the world, and my brothers have given me the best sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews I could ever ask for and all I had to do was just let it go.
Larry’s Perspective:
John Lennon is the best Beatle, hands down. He didn't need those other clowns.
I'm familiar with this song and how it deals with fame, walking away from it and how everyone else thinks you should be doing it (or not doing it).
Limelight from Rush approaches this topic from a different perspective, but it feels like John and Neil had the same struggles, per se.
But dancing tonight put it into a much more personal perspective.
"I'm just sittin' here watchin' the wheels go round and round
I really love to watch them roll
No longer ridin' on the merry-go-round
I just had to let it go"
Right after talking about how proud I was of Shannon and her evil corporate twin Sharon, her condition keeps her at home. All she can do is sit and watch the wheels go round and round. And she's no longer on the corporate or any other job merry-go-round.
Tonight's song was a reminder to me that I need to walk in her shoes. While I still go through the ups & downs of my jobs, she is here at home.
Watchin' shadows on the wall...
Ghost of a Chance 