"Carousel" (originally titled "Circus Girl") is a previously unreleased song by Michael Jackson released as the thirteenth track on the Thriller: Special Edition reissue.
What was released up until 2008 was a short edit, which later reappeared on Thriller 25. A few months later, a longer edit was featured on French and Italian editions of the King of Pop compilation album and got re-released on Thriller 40 released in 2022.
Background[]
“Carousel” was co-written by Michael Sembello and Don Freeman, produced by Quincy Jones, and recorded between August-September 1982. It was in the running for Thriller until it was decided that "Human Nature" should replace it’s spot.
| “ | One of them was Carousel, which is a great song, that slow-ish song from Michael Sembello, which was beautiful. But lyrically, and at that point in time, it didn't seem, that that was were the album was heading to [...] | ” |
–Rod Temperton during an interview on Thriller: Special Edition[1] | ||
Audio[]
The full version leaked online at an unknown time in the 2000s, if not earlier. This features an eleven-second-long intro, not present in any of the released incarnations of the song. Additionally, the breakdown is around ten seconds longer.
- Full version - (
listen)
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
She's from a world
Of popcorn and candy
Pony rides for a dime
Little children laughing
I'm from a world
Of disappointments and confusions
But I want her to be mine
I started talking
She kept on walking
She disappeared into the crowd, oh-oh
[Chorus]
I lost my heart
On the carousel
To a circus girl
Who left my heart in pieces
Lost my heart
On the carousel
To a circus girl
Who ran away
[Verse 2]
I was the clown
And she was the dancer
We both knew it wouldn't work
But we took our chances
What I can't recall
Is if there was a girl at all
Or was it my imagination?
I still remember
All of those faces
And now, all I have is memories
[Chorus]
I lost my heart
On the carousel
To a circus girl
Who left my heart in pieces
Lost my heart
On the carousel
To a circus girl
Who ran away
[Bridge]
Two different people
In love for an instant
To see that the circus came today
Sometimes, I can hear the calliope
And I can hear her calling me
[Instrumental]
[Chorus]
Don't you know?
I lost my heart
On the carousel
To a circus girl
Who left my heart in pieces
Lost my heart
On the carousel
To a circus girl
Who ran away
[Outro]
I lost my heart (Lost my heart)
I lost (On the carousel)
I lost my girl (To a circus girl)
Who left my heart in pieces
(Lost my heart) Lost my heart
(On the carousel) Lost my girl (To a circus girl)
Who ran away
I lost (Lost my heart)
I lost my girl (On the carousel)
Ooh, oh, lost, oh, lost (To a circus girl)
I lost
I lost my heart (Lost my heart)
I lost (On the carousel)
I lost my girl (To a circus girl)
[Verse 1]
She's from a world
Of popcorn and candy
Pony rides for a dime
Little children laughing
I'm from a world
Of disappointments and confusions
But I want her to be mine
I started talking
She kept on walking
She disappeared into the crowd
[Chorus]
I lost my heart
On the carousel
To a circus girl
Who left my heart in pieces
Lost my heart
On the carousel
To a circus girl
Who ran away
[Bridge]
Two different people
In love for an instant
To see that the circus came today
Sometimes I can hear the calliope
And I can hear her calling me
[Chorus]
I lost my heart
On the carousel
To a circus girl
Who ran away
[Outro]
Trivia[]
- Quincy Jones had talked about the song in depth in an interview featured on Thriller 25.