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In a 1994 interview with Mojo, Mitchell said: "I didn't write 'Circle Game' as a children's song, but I'm very pleased to see it go into the culture in that way." While written, and played in concerts, for a few years before she released this song on her "Ladies Of The Canyon" album, it was covered (in 1967) by Buffy Sainte Marie in a more upbeat version, and more similarly to Joni's version by Tom Rush in 1968.

This was partly written in response to Neil Young's song about lost innocence "Sugar Mountain," where Young sings, "You can't be 20 on Sugar Mountain." Mitchell's last verse is a rejoinder of sorts, with the 20-year-old facing diminished dreams but still with plenty of hope. The line "The painted ponies go up and down" gave David Clayton-Thomas the idea for the lyric "Ride a painted pony let the spinnin' wheel spin" in the Blood, Sweat & Tears hit "Spinning Wheel."