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 sound 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.