[Verse 1]
I had a taste of bitter life at sweet sixteen
I was growing up too fast, if you know what I mean
Met an older man who taught me his own way to live
And all I had to do to keep him was to give and give

[Chorus]
The carousel man kept me going around and round
Carousel man always knew that I'd stay around
The carousel man wouldn't let me off his merry-go-round

[Verse 2]
I followed him around in traveling shows along the main county lines
Watching him drinking his mind away, not ever knowing my name at time
Each night when the show closed down, he used to tell me of his dreams
He was wearing new French suits while I mended my torn jeans

[Chorus]
The carousel man kept me going around and round
Carousel man always knew that I'd stay around
The carousel man wouldn't let me off his merry-go-round

[Verse 3]
Then one night in Santa Fe, the horses stopped going around
There he was my poor rich man lying on the Mexico ground
All the sad music of his life is still spinning in my mind
The carousel starts up again and I found my place in life

[Chorus]
The carousel man kept me going around and round
Carousel man always knew that I'd stay around
The carousel man wouldn't let me off his merry-go-round

[Outro]
The carousel man kept me going around and round
Carousel man always knew that I'd stay around
The carousel man wouldn't let me off his merry-go-round