"Carousel" (originally titled "Circus Girl") is a previously unreleased song by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson, released as the thirteenth track from 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 was re-released on Thriller 40 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 intended to be in the Thriller album until "Human Nature" took its spot in the track list.
| “ | 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 in 2009. This features an eleven-second-long intro, not present in any of the released versions 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[]
- "Carousel" was talked about by Jones in depth in an interview featured on Thriller 25.