Pinball Wizard
Roger Daltrey Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ever since I was a young boy
I've played the silver ball
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 pin ball!

He stands like a statue
Becomes part of the machine
Feeling all the bumpers
Always playing clean

He plays by intuition
The digit counters fall
That deaf dumb and blind kid
Sure plays a mean pin ball!

He's a pin ball wizard
There has got to be a twist
A pin ball wizard
S'got such a supple wrist

How do you think he does it?
I don't know!
What makes him so good?

He ain't got no distractions
Can't hear those buzzers and bells
Don't see lights a flashin'
Plays by sense of smell

Always has a replay
'N' never tilts at all
That deaf dumb and blind kid
Sure plays a mean pin ball

I thought I was
The Bally table king
But I just handed
My pin ball crown to him

Even on my favorite 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 kind
Sure plays a mean pin ball!

Overall Meaning

Pinball Wizard by Roger Daltrey is a song about a young boy who is a master at playing pinball. The song starts with the boy stating that he has played pinball everywhere, from Soho to Brighton, but has never seen anyone like the "deaf dumb and blind kid." This boy is different; he plays pinball better than anyone else, and the singer is awestruck by him.


The song describes this boy as becoming a part of the machine while playing, seemingly feeling the bumpers and always plays clean. He plays with intuition, and the digit counters fall under his expert control. The singer is amazed and describes him as a "pinball wizard" with incredible flipper fingers and a supple wrist. This boy's incredible talent at pinball is a mystery, and the singer has no idea how he does it, but he is undoubtedly the best.


The song ends with the singer admitting that he had always thought he was the Bally table king, but this boy easily takes his crown. With his unerring sense of smell and perfect intuition, he never tilts at all, making him undoubtedly the pinball king. Not only is the young boy a pinball genius, but his disciples lead him to victory, and he never fails to win. The song remains one of the most iconic classics ever produced and is the quintessential pinball song for enthusiasts worldwide.


Line by Line Meaning

Ever since I was a young boy
Since my youth, I have been playing pinball.


I've played the silver ball
I have been playing pinball.


From Soho down to Brighton
I have played pinball at many locations.


I must have played them all
I have played a lot of pinball machines.


But I ain't seen nothing like him
I have never seen anyone play like him.


In any amusement hall
Wherever I have played, I have not seen anyone like him.


That deaf dumb and blind kid
He is physically disabled.


Sure plays a mean pin ball!
However, he is incredibly talented at playing pinball!


He stands like a statue
While playing, he stands very still.


Becomes part of the machine
He seems to merge with the pinball machine.


Feeling all the bumpers
He can sense the different bumpers on the machine.


Always playing clean
He never loses his composure or makes mistakes.


He plays by intuition
He relies on his instincts when playing.


The digit counters fall
He scores a lot of points by hitting the right targets.


He's a pin ball wizard
He is so talented at playing pinball that he is a wizard.


There has got to be a twist
There must be some secret to why he is so good.


S'got such a supple wrist
His wrist is very flexible and helps him play well.


How do you think he does it?
I cannot figure out how he plays so well.


I don't know!
I have no idea!


What makes him so good?
I do not understand how he is so talented.


He ain't got no distractions
He is not bothered by any of the sounds or lights on the machine.


Can't hear those buzzers and bells
He is deaf and cannot hear the sounds of the machine.


Don't see lights a flashin'
He is blind and cannot see the lights on the machine.


Plays by sense of smell
He is able to use his other senses, such as smell, to play well.


Always has a replay
He always gets to play again because he earns so many points.


'N' never tilts at all
He never tilts the machine, which would cause him to lose his turn.


I thought I was
I used to think that I was


The Bally table king
The best pinball player.


But I just handed
However, I recently lost my title as


My pin ball crown to him
The pinball wizard I mentioned earlier.


Even on my favorite table
He is so good that he can even beat me on my favorite pinball machine.


He can beat my best
He is better than me at playing pinball.


His disciples lead him in
His friends help him get to the pinball machine.


And he just does the rest
He plays incredibly well without needing any help.


He's got crazy flipper fingers
His fingers move very quickly on the flipper buttons.


Never seen him fall
I have never seen him make a mistake.


That deaf dumb and blind kind
He is still physically disabled and cannot see or hear.


Sure plays a mean pin ball!
But he is still an incredible pinball player!




Writer(s): PETER DENNIS BLANDFORD TOWNSHEND

Contributed by Skyler A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Father AxeKeeper's Archives

Best song ever written about a blind kid who was good at pinball.

TheBfutgreg

Deaf and Dumb too, don't forget, heard he played simply by his olfactory senses

1 More Replies...

rarefossil

There is no other band that created a sound like the Who. Genius.

William Wallace

Nope, no band other than The Who can create a sound like The Who, stands to reason.

CasperInkyMagoo

Ah, yes. Also worthy of note: the floor is made of floor.

Debra Slattery

Agree! I just saw them Saturday night at Bethel Woods: site of the '69 Woodstock. They still rock!!

Chris Taylor

They are a bit spinal tappish lol. I was listening to the Tommy album the other day, I had to laugh some of the songs were terrible. I still love them of course

Misskitty 123

And none with a front man as gorgeous as Roger. 🥰

5 More Replies...

Igor Tchernowitzer

The sound Pete Townshend was able to retrieve is still flabbergasting ... it blows my mind and takes beyond real

LastSecondShot

What an amazing idea it was to have Keith Moon in frame 100% of the time! Such an entertaining goofball. And one of the best drummers ever of course!!

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