The Who — Pinball Wizard
Album: TommyAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 765
Length: 2:56
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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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 pinball
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 pinball
He's a pinball wizard
There has got 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?
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 pinball
I thought I was
The Bally table king
But I just handed
My pin ball crown to him
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 kind
Sure plays a mean pinball
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 pinball
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 pinball
He's a pinball wizard
There has got 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?
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 pinball
I thought I was
The Bally table king
But I just handed
My pin ball crown to him
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 kind
Sure plays a mean pinball
Comments (41)add comment
good to hear these songs together, as they should be.
AhhtheMusic wrote:
Hmmm. I see. So you continued, and continue, to wallow in ignorance not bothering to research, re-listen, rediscover the album in it's entirety. Is this how you function? Taste something once and and that's it? Sad.
The movie is one thing. A tad commercial but good for the era. Elton does an excellent job on this song. But for the original album here, you might want to re-educate yourself on this masterpiece of a rock opera.
Have hated this song ever since I saw the movie "Tommy" cause I hated the movie. I have no clue as to whybecause I don't remember the movie at all, but I have no inclination to see it again to find out "why". Rather dark, ugly and cruel as I recall.
Hmmm. I see. So you continued, and continue, to wallow in ignorance not bothering to research, re-listen, rediscover the album in it's entirety. Is this how you function? Taste something once and and that's it? Sad.
The movie is one thing. A tad commercial but good for the era. Elton does an excellent job on this song. But for the original album here, you might want to re-educate yourself on this masterpiece of a rock opera.
AhhtheMusic wrote:
never saw the movie but this song is lame, all these so-called rock operas were embarrassing
Have hated this song ever since I saw the movie "Tommy" cause I hated the movie. I have no clue as to whybecause I don't remember the movie at all, but I have no inclination to see it again to find out "why". Rather dark, ugly and cruel as I recall.
never saw the movie but this song is lame, all these so-called rock operas were embarrassing
Have hated this song ever since I saw the movie "Tommy" cause I hated the movie. I have no clue as to whybecause I don't remember the movie at all, but I have no inclination to see it again to find out "why". Rather dark, ugly and cruel as I recall.
Its a big double album how about playing another than the hackneyed tracks
clyman99 wrote:
twas a great show indeed. Got to see them do Tommy live back in the day when this was new.
I never thought I would hear show tunes on Radio Paradise...
twas a great show indeed. Got to see them do Tommy live back in the day when this was new.
I never thought I would hear show tunes on Radio Paradise...
Can't believe I have not rated this yet. 9
I know, what made them so good: passion, anger. rage, and hard work.
These lyrics... it changed my life forever! So profound and meaningful!
Besides the sarcasm, it's a great song. Not by its lyrics merits though.
Besides the sarcasm, it's a great song. Not by its lyrics merits though.
(Had to happen, I guess.) fredriley wrote:
My school in Kent had just one pinball machine in the lunch room - it had a single hockey player at each end and you could reach ferocious speeds by spinning the player around at precisely the right nano second. Alas, I needed magic monkey farts or some such talisman on my side if I were to challenge the best.
On a tangent to the song, which I couldn't give a monkey's fart about, I used to play an awful lot of pinball in bars and got pretty good at it, so I thought. Much to my dismay, seeing as I rarely become good enough at anything to draw admiring comments from onlookers, pinball machines have disappeared from pubs and clubs in the UK - I've not seen one in a pub for years and years. Probably they're nothing like as profitable as electronic gaming machines and bandits and are more difficult to maintain. Similarly, you can't find a table football table in a pub for love or money these days, supplanted no doubt by pool tables which are again more profitable. Which is also a shame as I wasn't half bad at the old table footie...
My school in Kent had just one pinball machine in the lunch room - it had a single hockey player at each end and you could reach ferocious speeds by spinning the player around at precisely the right nano second. Alas, I needed magic monkey farts or some such talisman on my side if I were to challenge the best.
Just had to change from Outstanding to Godlike. Cause I just realized how Godlike it is.
fredriley wrote:
My kids didn't know what pinball was when they first heard this. My son thought they were singing about paintball.
On a tangent to the song, which I couldn't give a monkey's fart about, I used to play an awful lot of pinball in bars and got pretty good at it, so I thought. Much to my dismay, seeing as I rarely become good enough at anything to draw admiring comments from onlookers, pinball machines have disappeared from pubs and clubs in the UK - I've not seen one in a pub for years and years. Probably they're nothing like as profitable as electronic gaming machines and bandits and are more difficult to maintain. Similarly, you can't find a table football table in a pub for love or money these days, supplanted no doubt by pool tables which are again more profitable. Which is also a shame as I wasn't half bad at the old table footie...
My kids didn't know what pinball was when they first heard this. My son thought they were singing about paintball.
WICKED!!!! Frater_Kork wrote:
For several years, they've been on my short list of performers I'd most like to see live. Just great! Thanks for the link!
And now: The sea shanty version for ukuleles!
For several years, they've been on my short list of performers I'd most like to see live. Just great! Thanks for the link!
Everybody in my church loves this song...
coloradojohn wrote:
great fun memory. you always share neat things!
There used to be a truly fine breakfast establishment in Boulder called The Aristocrat, (that became, sadly, a GAP), where Nick's Greek Omelet and a Blueberry Pancakes, Short Stack were sure to fix that hangover, and the cooks used to JAM to this nearly every Sunday morning — complete with air-guitar spatulas and chef knife drums! and we would all jam along. The Who, especially on Tommy, made one hell of a Soundtrack for Life!
great fun memory. you always share neat things!
This Tommy cover art reminds me of David Gray's White Ladder.
mandolin wrote:
Of course not. But let me recommend you a very funny movie: The blind Swordsman: Zatoichi (Takeshi Kitano, 2004). It could easily be titled Katana Wizard.
...call me a skeptic, but i really don't think it's possible to play pinball by sense of smell...
Of course not. But let me recommend you a very funny movie: The blind Swordsman: Zatoichi (Takeshi Kitano, 2004). It could easily be titled Katana Wizard.
nice song nice movie
Now play "dogs part 2" the B side of Pinball Wizard
mandolin wrote:
...call me a skeptic, but i really don't think it's possible to play pinball by sense of smell...
Great cover of an Elton John tune.........What??
I had a friend that just had to make a replay of the intro a few times before letting it play through.
eswiley2 wrote:
My memories are equally vivid. This tune blew my mind. Oh to be a 14-year-old listening on my little white portable stereo and hear this for the first time ....
It never ceases to amaze me how listening to a song I haven't thought about in DECADES will zap me right back in time, with memories so vivid I could swear I could reach out and touch those people from that time. So many good friends... gone too soon.
My memories are equally vivid. This tune blew my mind. Oh to be a 14-year-old listening on my little white portable stereo and hear this for the first time ....
...call me a skeptic, but i really don't think it's possible to play pinball by sense of smell...
Great tune.
Roger is touring the US doing Tommy, good reviews in Florida. Seeing it this Sunday. I fell in love with the Who when that came out, and still love it and them. Rock and Roll!
It never ceases to amaze me how listening to a song I haven't thought about in DECADES will zap me right back in time, with memories so vivid I could swear I could reach out and touch those people from that time. So many good friends... gone too soon.
On a tangent to the song, which I couldn't give a monkey's fart about, I used to play an awful lot of pinball in bars and got pretty good at it, so I thought. Much to my dismay, seeing as I rarely become good enough at anything to draw admiring comments from onlookers, pinball machines have disappeared from pubs and clubs in the UK - I've not seen one in a pub for years and years. Probably they're nothing like as profitable as electronic gaming machines and bandits and are more difficult to maintain. Similarly, you can't find a table football table in a pub for love or money these days, supplanted no doubt by pool tables which are again more profitable. Which is also a shame as I wasn't half bad at the old table footie...
There used to be a truly fine breakfast establishment in Boulder called The Aristocrat, (that became, sadly, a GAP), where Nick's Greek Omelet and a Blueberry Pancakes, Short Stack were sure to fix that hangover, and the cooks used to JAM to this nearly every Sunday morning — complete with air-guitar spatulas and chef knife drums! and we would all jam along. The Who, especially on Tommy, made one hell of a Soundtrack for Life!
First time I heard this was Elton's version in the movie. The whole movie was mind-blowing at the time. No idea if it holds up.
I was 11 and I had an aunt who worked in a theatre. I got to see this and a lot of movies free because of her :)
Good times.
I was 11 and I had an aunt who worked in a theatre. I got to see this and a lot of movies free because of her :)
Good times.
mandolin wrote:
Anything's possible. Haven't ever heard Abba's 'Dancin' Queen' on RP either.
...hah - first play, really?..
Anything's possible. Haven't ever heard Abba's 'Dancin' Queen' on RP either.
I was a tyke when this came out - I thought it was kind of freaky..."a deaf, dumb and blind boy ..." playing PINBALL??
...hah - first play, really?..
Sho plays a mean pinball. This makes me feel about 8 years old again.