Pinball Wizard
Rod Stewart Lyrics
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I played the silver ball;
From Soho down to Brighton
I must have played 'em all.
But I ain't seen nothin' like him
In any amusement hall
That deaf, dumb an' blind kid
Sure plays a mean pinball.
He stands like a statue,
Becomes part of the machine.
Feelin' all the bumpers
Always playin' clean.
Plays by intuition,
The digit counters fall.
That deaf, dumb an' blind kid
Sure plays a mean pinball!
He's a pinball wizard
There has to be a twist,
A pinball wizard,
Not such a supple wrist.
How do you think he does it?
What makes him so good?
Ain't got no distractions,
Can't hear those buzzes and bells,
Don't see lights a-flashin'
plays by sense of smell.
Always gets a replay,
Never tilts at all
That deaf, dumb an' blind kid
Sure plays a mean pinball.
Even my usual table,
He can beat my best,
His disciples lead 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 lyrics to Rod Stewart's song Pinball Wizard describe a young boy who has an incredible talent for playing pinball. The song speaks to his unique ability to play pinball like nobody else has before. He stands still like a statue and becomes part of the machine, feeling all the bumpers and playing clean. He plays by intuition and his digit counters seem to fall without any effort. This boy who is deaf, dumb, and blind plays pinball like a true wizard, winning every game and getting replays.
Throughout the song, it is clear that this boy is an anomaly in the world of pinball. While others struggle to beat their own high scores, he easily beats them all, and even beats his peer's personal best scores with ease. It's hard not to be impressed by this boy's pinball playing abilities as he never seems to falter or tilt the machine, unlike other players. Despite his disabilities, he seems to have a sixth sense for the game.
Line by Line Meaning
Ever since I was a young boy,
From my formative years, videogames have been a part of my life.
I played the silver ball;
I've played numerous games, especially pinball.
From Soho down to Brighton
I've played pinball in different arcades across the UK, from Soho to Brighton.
I must have played 'em all.
I have played so many pinball games across various locations.
But I ain't seen nothin' like him
However, I've never witnessed anyone play the game like him.
In any amusement hall
At any arcade I've visited.
That deaf, dumb an' blind kid
The person in question is a deaf, dumb, and blind kid.
Sure plays a mean pinball.
He is a master at playing pinball and will beat anyone.
He stands like a statue,
While playing the game, he's motionless.
Becomes part of the machine.
He seems to merge with the game as if he's one with it.
Feelin' all the bumpers
He can sense the game's geometry and when the ball collides with different parts.
Always playin' clean.
He never tilts the machine or cheats.
Plays by intuition,
He plays using his instincts and feelings.
The digit counters fall.
He scores points continuously.
He's a pinball wizard
He's considered a master at playing the game.
There has to be a twist,
There must be something special about his gaming ability.
Not such a supple wrist.
It's not just about his wrist movements.
How do you think he does it?
What do you think makes him so great at the game?
What makes him so good?
What's the secret behind his ability to beat anyone at pinball?
Ain't got no distractions,
He's not distracted by any external factors.
Can't hear those buzzes and bells,
He can't hear the sounds of the game as he's deaf.
Don't see lights a-flashin'
He can't see the flashing lights of the game as he's blind.
plays by sense of smell.
He uses his sense of smell to guide him.
Always gets a replay,
He always wins an extra game after the first one.
Never tilts at all
He never tilts or interrupts the game.
Even my usual table,
Even on a pinball game, I'm really good at playing.
He can beat my best,
He's proven time and time again to be better than me.
His disciples lead him in
People lead him to the pinball machine as he's blind.
And he just does the rest.
He automatically plays the game using his senses and instincts.
He's got crazy flipper' fingers,
He has fast and skilled fingers when it comes to operating the pinball machine.
Never seen him fall.
He's never made a mistake playing pinball.
That deaf, dumb and blind kid
Again, he's a person with disabilities, but it hasn't affected his pinball playing ability.
Sure plays a mean pinball.
He is a superb pinball player and can beat anyone at the game.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Peter Townshend
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Luke Dabford
I’m gonna be honest, this might be my favourite version. I love how it sounds dramatic and Rod’s vocals just complement it so well.
Juan Jacobo Guzman
Pinball winzard with phillarmonic orchestra and Rod Stewart as main voice is as odd and funny as Frank Zappa's Stairway to Heaven with reagge music. Both are fucking amazing.
Charles Professor.
É lindo demais com Rod Stewart!!
Lee B
Tommy the whole symphonic album is a masterpiece
Nooner27
I recall my dad playing this version for me sometime in the early 80's. He always used to make tapes of 60's and 70's music. I love this version of the song.
Bryan Palmer
I first heard this in the 70s,my father used to do the same thing,make mixtapes of the 60s and 70s on his Phillips reel to reel tape recorder,always good to listen to Auckland New Zealand 2022
Miguel Zambon
Fantastica version con una de voz de primera categoria,el gran Rod Stewart
Kurinto Gurai
First version of this song I'd heard back in the '70s. I like it.
E Farkas
It is a great music! I was a little child when I have listened to it at the first time. It was so magical, how it still is!
Trisha Ramsey
No one does this better than The Who!! Its my favorite rock opera!