Going In Circles – English Lyrics

• By: The Friends Of Distinction
• Album: The Best Of Friends Of Distinction

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a soulful journey with The Friends Of Distinction's classic "Going In Circles." This poignant R&B ballad offers a beautiful opportunity to delve into English, with its evocative lyrics and smooth harmonies. You can explore expressions of emotional confusion and yearning, and appreciate the rich vocal arrangements that define the group's sound. Understanding the song's narrative of being stuck in a cycle of love and uncertainty can deepen your grasp of emotional vocabulary in English, while its timeless melody makes it a compelling listen.

[English]

I'm an ever rollin' wheel, without a destination real

I'm an ever spinning top, whirling around 'til I drop

Oh, but what am I to do, my mind is in a whirlpool

Give me a little hope, one small thing to cling to

You got me going in circles (oh round and round I go)

You got me going in circles (oh round and round I go)

I'm spun out over you (over you, over you, over you, over you)

I'm a faceless clock, with timeless hopes that never stop

Lord, but I feel that way, of my soul

My soul is stay

Oh but what am I to do, my mind is in a whirlpool

Give me a little hope, one small thing to cling to

You got me going in circles (oh round and round I go)

You got me going in circles (oh round and round I go)

I'm spun out over you (I need you baby)

Over you (I need you baby)

Spun out over you

(I need you baby, I need you bab-) (oh, baby)

I'm spun (I need you baby) I said I'm spun out over you (I need you baby)

Spun out over you (I need you baby, I need you baby, I need you baby)

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
wheel /wiːl/ A1	noun - a circular object that revolves on an axle and is fixed below a vehicle or other object to enable it to move easily over the ground
destination /ˌdestɪˈneɪʃn/ B2	noun - the place to which someone or something is going or being sent
top /tɒp/ A1	noun - the highest part or surface of something
spinning /ˈspɪnɪŋ/ B1	verb - turning or whirling rapidly
whirling /ˈwɜːrlɪŋ/ B2	verb - moving rapidly round and round
drop /drɒp/ A2	verb - to let or make (something) fall vertically
mind /maɪnd/ A1	noun - the element of a person that enables them to be aware of the world and their experiences, to think, and to feel; the faculty of consciousness and thought
whirlpool /ˈwɜːrlpuːl/ B2	noun - a rapidly rotating mass of water in a river or sea into which objects may be drawn
hope /həʊp/ A2	noun - a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen
cling /klɪŋ/ B2	verb - to hold on tightly to
circles /ˈsɜːrklz/ A1	noun - round plane figures whose boundary consists of points equidistant from the centre
spun /spʌn/ B2	verb - past participle of spin; to turn or cause to turn or whirl around quickly
faceless /ˈfeɪsləs/ B2	adjective - without a face; anonymous.
clock /klɒk/ A1	noun - an instrument for measuring and showing time
timeless /ˈtaɪmləs/ B2	adjective - not affected by the passage of time or changes in fashion.
soul /səʊl/ B1	noun - the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal, regarded as immortal.

Key Grammar Structures

• I'm an ever rollin' wheel, without a destination real

  ➔ Present participle as adjective ('rollin')

  ➔ The word "rollin'" is a present participle being used as an adjective to describe the "wheel". It implies continuous action. The omission of the 'g' is colloquial.

• I'm an ever spinning top, whirling around 'til I drop

  ➔ Contraction ('til) and present participle as adjective ('spinning', 'whirling')

  ➔ "Til" is a contraction of "until". "Spinning" and "whirling" function as adjectives modifying "top". The sentence showcases informal language through the contraction.

• Oh, but what am I to do, my mind is in a whirlpool

  ➔ Modal verb ('am to do') indicating obligation or a lack of choice.

  ➔ The structure "am to do" (similar to "is/are to do") implies a sense of necessity or predetermined course of action, often used when someone feels helpless or without options.

• Give me a little hope, one small thing to cling to

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose ('to cling to')

  ➔ The infinitive phrase "to cling to" explains the purpose or reason for wanting "one small thing". It shows the intended use of the small thing – for support and stability.

• You got me going in circles (oh round and round I go)

  ➔ Causative 'got' + object + present participle ('going')

  ➔ The structure "got me going" means "caused me to go". It indicates that the subject (You) is the reason the speaker is "going in circles". This construction is colloquial.

• I'm spun out over you (over you, over you, over you, over you)

  ➔ Past participle as adjective ('spun out') and prepositional phrase ('over you')

  ➔ "Spun out" is a past participle acting as an adjective, describing the speaker's state (overwhelmed, confused). "Over you" is a prepositional phrase showing the cause of that state. The repetition emphasizes the intensity of the feeling.

• Lord, but I feel that way, of my soul

  ➔ Ellipsis (omission of words) and vague prepositional phrase ('of my soul').

  ➔ The sentence is grammatically incomplete and relies on the listener to infer the missing words. It is likely meant to be something like 'Lord, but I feel that way, *deep within* my soul.' The prepositional phrase 'of my soul' is also vague, hinting at a feeling deep within the speaker's being but not explicitly defined.