Fortuna's Wheel in Pop Culture

Journey, "Wheel in the Sky" on the car stereo--kid asks me, "What is this song called?"

I explain the "Wheel in the Sky" is the Wheel of Fortune. And, "I don't know where I'll be tomorrow," is both a reference to the belief in shifting fortunes over which we have no control, as well as a frequent theme in Journey's music to the melancholy of traveling on a musical tour, and missing one's home. Ironically, while his fortunes are "up" --his band is successful--he is unhappy.

Next song (completely random) --John Lennon, "Watching the Wheels"

Again, the Wheel(s) of Fortune. I explain that he has disassociated from the attachment to "fortunes" being "up" or "down" and has chosen a different value system. He even lampoons our society's obsession with pursuing "good fortune" with the line, "no longer riding on the merry-go-round" --presenting the Wheel of Fortune as a diversion that leads nowhere.

The only thing that could have improved this lesson is if The Doobie Brothers, "Wheels of Fortune" would have come on next,

Changin' wheels of fortune
Drivin' us on and on
Winnin', sometimes losin'
As soon as it's here it's gone

I'm so tired of losin'
But I still play the game
And I know there's no reason
Still I go on searchin' just the same

Can you think of any other "Wheel of Fortune" themed songs?

Not a wheel, but a circle

Joni Mitchell's Circle Game

Sixteen springs and sixteen summers gone now
Cartwheels turn to car wheels through the town
And they tell him,
Take your time, it won't be long now
Till you drag your feet to slow the circles down
And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return we can only look behind
From where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game

Nice. Cartwheels, car wheels. Painted ponies, a carousel.