what do these lyrics refer to?

[don1]

Like a circle in a spiral
Like a wheel within a wheel
Never ending or beginning
On an ever-spinning reel
Like a snowball down a mountain
Or a carnival balloon
Like a carousel that's turning
Running rings around the moon
Like a clock whose hands are sweeping
Past the minutes of it's face
And the world is like an apple
Whirling silently in space
Like the circles that you find
In the windmills of your mind

Like a tunnel that you follow
To a tunnel of it's own
Down a hollow to a cavern
Where the sun has never shone
Like a door that keeps revolving
In a half-forgotten dream
Or the ripples from a pebble
Someone tosses in a stream
Like a clock whose hands are sweeping
Past the minutes of it's face
And the world is like an apple
Whirling silently in space
Like the circles that you find
In the windmills of your mind

Keys that jingle in your pocket
Words that jangle in your head
Why did summer go so quickly?
Was it something that you said?
Lovers walk along a shore
And leave their footprints in the sand
Is the sound of distant drumming
Just the fingers of your hand?
Pictures hanging in a hallway
And the fragment of a song
Half-remembered names and faces
But to whom do they belong?
When you knew that it was over
You were suddenly aware
That the autumn leaves were turning
To the colour of her hair

Like a circle in a spiral
Like a wheel within a wheel
Never ending or beginning
On an ever-spinning reel
As the images unwind
Like the circles that you find
In the windmills of your mind

[Gill1941]

The Windmills of your Mind.

Dusty Springfield

[don1]

Yes I know who sang it Gill, what I meant was what do the lyrics mean?

[Gill1941]

sorry!!!

Do not know.

[rosles]

sound track from the thomas crown affair   windmills of your mind

[johnalex]

Not sure what it all means Don1 but it was of course the theme song from 'The Thomas Crown Affair', starring the late (great) Steve McQueen.  Maybe this will lead you to your answer? (Originally sung by Noel Harrison, long before Dusty)

[Hippy]

What goes around comes around.

[lelliej]

I'm sure it refers to our imagination, as in the phrase to tilt at the windmills, which is a referece to Don Quixote who started to do battle with windmills when he imagined them to be giants - unless you know better don1?

[don1]

lelliej, this isn't a trick question I would just like to know what the lyrics mean thats all.

[wideboy]

Getting a bit deep!! Try these two:-

http://boynton.ubersportingpundit.com/archives/005154.html

http://www.philosophos.com/knowledge_base/archives_23/philosophy_questions_23139.html

[alanogden]

This is rather beautiful poetry written, I believe, by Michel Legrand.   I think it refers to the way one's thoughts drift around in a delightful reverie.

[beerbelly]

with a little help from MARIA WARNER , no doubt

[lelliej]

don1 That wasn't a trick answer, that's what I think it's all about!

[don1]

Sorry if that sounded offhand lelliej it wasnt meant to be I think your explanation works quite well, I was simply referring to the last part of your post in which you said:

"Unless you know better don?" I thought that YOU thought that I already knew the answer and was trying to trick you.

I hope you follow me