In Circles is the tenth track on the album Transistor: Original Soundtrack. Its instrumental release is the ninth track in the album Transistor: Original Soundtrack (Extended). A Processed version of the song called _n C_rcl_s is the twenty-fifth track in the same album. In Circles was written and produced by Darren Korb, with vocals provided by Ashley Barrett.
The song plays during Red's confrontation with Sybil Reisz at the Empty Set. With each successive phase of the fight, the song becomes more and more Processed, eventually playing its Processed counterpart, _n C_rcl_s, exclusively. An orchestral rendition of the song was released as part of Supergiant Games' 10th Anniversary Album, Songs of Supergiant Games.
As with the other vocal tracks, it is a song written and performed by Red. Its lyrical content suggests it was written about Sybil prior to the events of the game.
Lyrics[]
Official lyrics from the Bandcamp album release:
I hear you buzzing, a fly on the wall
In through the window and up through the hall
Flying in circles just trying to land
I see you hurting I do what I can
But I won't save you
I won't save you
Maybe you're looking for someone to blame
Fighting for air while you circle the drain
Never be sorry for your little time
It's not when you get there, it's always the climb
But I won't save you
I won't save you
I won't save you
I won't save you
Media[]
Meaning[]
Sybil is the "fly", falling in love with Red ("Flying in circles just trying to land"). Red is aware of the infatuation ("I hear you buzzing"), and tries to let her down gently ("I see you hurting, I do what I can"). Ultimately, Red does not feel the same way ("But I won't save you").
The second verse is a bit harsher, implying a depression from the fall ("Maybe you're looking for someone to blame / Fighting for air while you circle the drain"). Red gives the advice to learn from the experience ("Never be sorry for your little time") and respect that relationships are not a destination ("It's not when you get there, it's always the climb").
"Looking for someone to blame" might also allude to Sybil's antipathy toward Unknown, as her Function Files mention a belief that he had turned Red against her.
| Transistor Soundtrack | |
|---|---|
| Vocal Tracks | In Circles (_n C_rcl_s) · Paper Boats · She Shines · Signals · The Spine · We All Become |
| Instrumental Tracks | Apex Beat · Blank Canvas · Coasting · Cut Apart · Dormant · Forecast · Gateless · Gold Leaf (G_ld L__f) · Heightmap · Impossible · Interlace · Old Friends · Sandbox · Stained Glass · Tangent · Traces · Vanishing Point (V_n_sh_ng P__nt) · Water Wall |
| Unreleased Tracks | Dread1 · HighriseStingerShort · MysteryStingerAuden |
| Unused Track | HighriseStinger |
| Albums | Transistor: Original Soundtrack · Transistor: Original Soundtrack Extended · The Songs of Supergiant Games |