Pinball Wizard
Aram Quartet Lyrics
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From Soho down to Brighton I must have played them all
But I ain't seen nothing like him in any amusement hall
That deaf, dumb and blind kid sure plays a mean pinball
He stands like a statue, becomes part of the machine
Feeling all the bumpers, always playing clean
Plays by intuition, the digit counters fall
He's a pinball wizard, there has to be a twist
A pinball wizard's got such a supple wrist
How do you think he does it I don't know
What makes him so good
Ain't got no distractions, can't hear no buzzes or bells
Don't see lights a-flashing, plays by sense of smell
Always gets a replay, never seen him fall
That deaf, dumb and blind kid sure plays a mean pinball
I thought I was the Bally table king
But I just handed my pinball crown to him
Even on my favourite table, he can beat my best
His disciples lean him in and he just does the rest
He's got crazy flipper fingers, never seen him fall
That deaf, dumb and blind kid sure plays a mean pinball
The song Pinball Wizard by Aram Quartet describes a skilled pinball player who has a disability of being deaf, dumb and blind. Despite his condition, he is able to excel in playing pinball machines better than anyone else. The lyrics express admiration for the pinball wizard's ability and how he dominates in the game. The singer describes how he thought he was the best pinball player until he met the pinball wizard who effortlessly outperformed him. The song presents the pinball wizard as a hero, someone who overcame his disability and found a way to excel in a game that requires hearing, sight, and speech.
The lyrics also offer some details about the pinball wizard's technique. They describe how he stands like a statue, feeling the bumpers and playing by intuition instead of relying on his limited senses. The song also mentions that he can't see or hear, but he plays using his sense of smell. The chorus and part of the verses repeat the phrase "That deaf, dumb, and blind kid sure plays a mean pinball," emphasizing the wizard's impressive skills.
Line by Line Meaning
Ever since I was a young boy I played the silver ball
From a young age, I started playing pinball
From Soho down to Brighton I must have played them all
I have played pinball machines in every city from Soho to Brighton
But I ain't seen nothing like him in any amusement hall
I have never seen anyone as skilled as him in any arcade
That deaf, dumb and blind kid sure plays a mean pinball
Despite being deaf, dumb, and blind, he is very good at playing pinball
He stands like a statue, becomes part of the machine
He stands still and focuses entirely on playing, as if he is a part of the pinball machine itself
Feeling all the bumpers, always playing clean
He is very accurate when hitting the bumpers and never makes a mistake
Plays by intuition, the digit counters fall
He plays by instinct rather than logic, and always scores high
He's a pinball wizard, there has to be a twist
He is a very skilled player, and his success must have a secret behind it
A pinball wizard's got such a supple wrist
A skilled pinball player has flexible wrists that help them control the ball easily
How do you think he does it I don't know
I am not sure how he is such a skilled player
What makes him so good
I am curious as to what makes him such a successful player
Ain't got no distractions, can't hear no buzzes or bells
He is not distracted by noise, and doesn't get affected by the sound effects of the game
Don't see lights a-flashing, plays by sense of smell
He doesn't rely on the visual effects of the game, and plays based on his sense of touch
Always gets a replay, never seen him fall
He always manages to win another round, and has never lost a game
I thought I was the Bally table king
I used to think I was the best at playing pinball
But I just handed my pinball crown to him
However, I now recognize that he is the true king of pinball
Even on my favourite table, he can beat my best
He is so skilled that he can beat my high score even on my favorite pinball machine
His disciples lean him in and he just does the rest
His supporters watch him closely, but he doesn't need their help and always wins on his own
He's got crazy flipper fingers, never seen him fall
He can move his fingers very quickly on the flippers, and has yet to lose a game
Contributed by Sarah K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.