The Windmills Of Your Mind

The song 'The Windmills Of Your Mind' by Noel Harrison is a hauntingly beautiful piece that delves into the complexities of the human mind and the nature of memories. The lyrics are rich with metaphors and similes that describe thoughts and memories as continuous and cyclical, much like the windmills mentioned in the title. The song's imagery evokes a sense of endless motion, with comparisons to spirals, wheels, and circles that never cease. This could represent the way thoughts and memories can spin endlessly in one's mind, often without a clear beginning or end.

The song also touches on the ephemeral nature of life and experiences. Phrases like 'Why did summer go so quickly?' and the reference to lovers leaving footprints in the sand suggest a contemplation of the fleeting moments and how they slip away, leaving only traces in our memories. The mention of 'half remembered names and faces' and 'the fragment of a song' further emphasizes the incomplete and sometimes fragmented nature of memory. The song captures the bittersweet realization that even significant moments and people can become distant and unclear over time.

Lastly, 'The Windmills Of Your Mind' can be seen as a reflection on change and the passage of time. The changing seasons, from summer to autumn, and the transformation of leaves to match the color of a loved one's hair, symbolize the inevitable progression of time and its impact on our lives and relationships. The song's cyclical structure and repetitive motifs mirror the way in which time and memories can loop back on themselves, creating a sense of continuity even as things change.