Circles

Album: Morning View (2001)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This Incubus rocker is about the choices we make, and how they can come back and bite us. What goes around comes around - everything moves in circles. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Dak - Golden City, MO
  • "Circles" wasn't released as a single but is a fan favorite and a popular live selection for the band. You can see a live performance on their Morning View Sessions DVD, recorded on October 23, 2001 at Sony Studios in New York City.

    Incubus was in the city during the attacks of September 11 and became the first major act to perform there after that date when they played their scheduled shows at the Hammerstein Ballroom on September 15 and 16 (they played "Circles" in the second show). This was a frightening time, but most of the ticket holders showed up and found a sense of connection during the shows.
  • The song is part of the band's fourth album, Morning View, released in 2001 at the peak of their popularity. They formed in 1991 when most of the members were just 15, and had a breakthrough with their third album, Make Yourself, thanks to the hits "Pardon Me," "Stellar," and "Drive."

Comments: 8

  • Seinbeans from Anchorage AlaskaEvery song from incubus is about karma
  • Brian from Winchester, Mai'd say Karma and the circle of life, everything moves in Circles.
  • Pat from East Hanover, NjThis song is also about patience. It shows how everyone will eventually get their chance. (It will come back around again). You always have another chance, because everything goes in circles. My favorite incubus song...
    -Thanks
  • Jeff from Macomb, Mithis song is about there former bass player dirk (alix), what made me form this conclusion is if you watch the morning view sessions dvd and you will see how right befor they play this song brandon sprays dirk in the face with breath spray and walks away with a pissed off look on his face and dirk does a "mean" slide on the bass, you can sence the tencion betewwn them at that moment and how brandon introduces the song.
  • Rob from Houston, TxThis song is about the Hindu and Buddhist concept of karma. The spiritual equivelant of Newton's Third Law of Motion which states, "every action has an equal and opposite reaction." The song is talking about taking the higher ground and chosing not to react negatively to an action that had done him some sort of physical or emotional harm. And he is content knowing that everything comes around and the other person will get whatever is due them as they get on the "exestential carousel" again.
  • Tessa from Dayton, Or'like a stinger without a bee' my god that is brillant!
  • Mel from Sydney, AustraliaEverything mooves in circles round and round
  • Kate from Wellington, New Zealandthis song is about how some of the choices we make soon come back and bite us on the bum.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Chris Tomlin

Chris TomlinSongwriter Interviews

The king of Christian worship music explains talks about writing songs for troubled times.

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About Transgenderism

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About TransgenderismSong Writing

A history of songs dealing with transgender issues, featuring Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Morrissey and Green Day.

Phone Booth Songs

Phone Booth SongsSong Writing

Phone booths are nearly extinct, but they provided storylines for some of the most profound songs of the pre-cell phone era.

Ramones

RamonesFact or Fiction

A band so baffling, even their names were contrived. Check your score in the Ramones version of Fact or Fiction.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?

Bryan Adams

Bryan AdamsSongwriter Interviews

What's the deal with "Summer of '69"? Bryan explains what the song is really about, and shares more of his songwriting insights.