I Run the Carousel Lyrics

+ On the album he seems to play the C and G/B chords as indicated on the left.
I included alternate fingerings in parenthesis on the right as an easier version
(plus the transitions are smoother when you stay in one position on the neck).
+ The general pattern for picking in the verse is low-mid-high-mid. He includes
variations throughout where he just plays low-high-low-high, such as F and Fsus2.
+ I'm not entirely certain that the low E string rings throughout all the chords
in the chorus. But without it, the chorus sounds kind of weak. The ringing
low E adds power, so I included it.
+ The dashes for the chords in the chorus are just to remind you to strum the
chord once and then directly strum the next chord following the dash. Listen
to the song and you'll get the pattern.
+ After the second and third chorus there is a weird transition section. It's hard
to tell what exactly is going on here, but the overall harmony sounds like
the indicated G#maj7 chord so just play around with that.
~AW
8xx98x : C (or x320xx)
755xxx : G/B (or x200xx)
133xxx : F5
355xxx : G5
1xx2xx : F
1xx0xx : Fsus2
07555x : C/E
06444x : B/E
0.10.8.8.8.x : Eb/E
09777x : D/E
08666x : Db/E
3554xx : G
2443xx : F#
5755xx : Am7
4644xx : G#m7
8.10.8.8.x.x : Cm7
7977xx : Bm7
6866xx : Bbm7
4x5543 : G#maj7
(Intro)
I run the carousel
With horses and tinkerbell
Late night by the canal
You wouldn't notice me
I have a tendency
To blend with the music
I run the carousel
Children swirl around
Like drapes in a summertown
Husbands kindle their wives
Sometimes it tortures me
The envy and the jealousy
But I never panic
I run the carousel
I run the carousel
I run the carousel
Sometimes when the birds fly over
I look up, but I don't want to go nowhere
I got lives to save under the open
I live as a mystery man
And I sleep in a caravan
And I love everybody
(Chorus: Same as the second chorus above)
(Then transitions to G#maj7 section)
(Followed by intro riff)