"Smell the salt air," my father said
but I looked for the carousel instead.
Then I saw it - with pennant top
and flashing mirrors - slow to a stop.

It wasn't a "carousel" in those days
of young and unsophisticated ways.
"Let me ride the merry-go-round," I cried.
Dad bought me a ticket then stepped aside.

It=s sta-a-arting slow, now u-u-up we go;
moving ahead, gaining speed, riding on my handsome steed.
I would like to try for the brass ring, but I can=t quite reach the thing.
The horse leaped high then smoothly fell, circling round on the carousel.

That's an elegant horse, that jumper there;
see, all his feet are in the air.
He's star-gazing - look at his nose;
I'm going wherever this lead horse goes!

How thrilling to sit tall astride the King,
who's adorned with nearly everything.
We try to pass the chariot ahead
but just rear back, and up and down instead.

It=s sta-a-arting slow, now u-u-up we go;
moving ahead, gaining speed, galloping on my handsome steed.
I would like to grab a ring but I can't quite reach the thing.
All else forgotten in my magic spell as we soared with ease on the carousel.

We jump and dive a counter-clockwise arc
many times before I must disembark,
while prancers haven't left the ground,
nor standers, which just stand around.

The bright rounding board can't be seen from here;
that sight is for all the spectators there.
They admire, too, my horse's romance side
as I'm enjoying my delightful ride.

It's sta-a-arting slow, now u-u-up we go;
moving ahead, gaining speed, galloping on my handsome steed.
I keep on trying for the brass ring but I still can't reach the thing.
The breeze brushed my face as well as we soared on the carousel.

Oh, the music's done;
must we end such fun?
We slow in leaping deceleration,
then I dismount with exhilaration.

I'd like to remain on my mount, of course,
but others, too, want to enjoy this horse.
So I walk slowly to the exit gate,
in a lightheaded and most happy state.

It's sta-a-arting slow, now u-u-up they go;
moving ahead, gaining speed; my, it's such a handsome steed!
Many try for the brass ring; some can't quite reach the thing.
I waved good-bye and bid farewell to my friends on the carousel. •
• • •
Listen to my friend the late Ron Berringer read "The carousel" at
https://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=14777986



NOTES ON CAROUSEL TERMS
Brass ring: After catching the ring, the rider must toss it into a large target like ring collection device, often covered with a gaping mouthed clown face. Most rings were steel, as I recall. If the ring was brass, sometimes a free ride would be the prize.

Chariot: A stationary, carved unit containing a benched seat allowing people to ride a carousel without climbing onto a horse.

Jumper: A horse or figure that has all four feet off the carousel platform. Jumpers are normally the 'moving' horses on a carousel (either suspended from the overhead or attached to a mechanism from underneath). Another term sometimes used for a horse with all four feet off the platform is "galloper."

Lead Horse (or King): There is usually only one per carousel and it is in the outer row. There is frequently a flag on it. It is the 'number one' horse on a carousel. The lead horse is usually the most decorated one on the outside row, and sometimes carried the markings or initials of the manufacturer somewhere in its trappings. Lead horses are usually directly behind the chariots.

Prancer: A horse, which has its rear legs on the ground and its front legs in the air. Prancers would most often be found on the outside row of a carousel, though they were not as common as the jumpers or standers.

Romance Side: The side of the horse facing out, away from the hub or center of the carousel, is called the "romance" side and is usually the most detailed. Carousel horses, especially outside row horses, carried much more decoration on the side of the horse that was going to be seen by the public than on the side that faced towards the center of the carousel. On American carousels, the Romance Side is on the right side of the horse on English carousels, it is on the left. The reason for this is the difference in rotation direction between American (counter-clockwise) and English (clockwise) carousels.

Rounding Board: The top decorative outer part of the carousel forming the edge of the roof and used to hide the mechanical workings of the carousel. Each of the, say, 12 rounding board sections may contain irises, cherries, swashes and mirrors. At the junction of each rounding board is a shield. There may also be cherubs, busts, or other fantasy figures. These decorative boards are placed on the upper portion of the outside of the carousel, below the canopy, and often were carved and brightly painted.

Stander: A horse with 3 or 4 feet on the ground; it is usually stationary

Stargazer: A horse with its head back and eyes looking skyward towards the stars. •