The Circle Game is a folk rock song written by Canadian musician Joni Mitchell in 1966. It tells a story of aging and hopeful change, conceived as a response to Neil Young’s Sugar Mountain. Mitchell recorded it for her 1970 album Ladies of the Canyon, with backing vocals by Crosby, Stills & Nash credited as The Lookout Mountain United Downstairs Choir, and the track was recorded at A&M Studios in Hollywood. The song has been widely covered since its debut, including Ian & Sylvia’s 1967 version, Buffy Sainte‑Marie’s 1967 single release, and Tom Rush’s 1968 album The Circle Game. Mitchell’s own version also appears on her 1974 live album Miles of Aisles. The Circle Game is about four minutes long, rooted in folk rock, and released on Reprise Records.
