Ever since I was a young boy
I've played the silver ball
From Soho down to Brighton
I must have played 'em 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?

Ain't got no distractions
Can't hear no buzzers and bells
Don't see no lights a-flashin'
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 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 kid
Sure plays a mean pinball


Lyrics submitted by Lucky1869_420

Pinball Wizard Lyrics as written by Peter Townshend

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Spirit Music Group, Abkco Music Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Pinball Wizard song meanings
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  • +1
    General Comment

    petes mentor, meher baba, taught that people cant perceive god if they can perceive earthly things. this theory inspired pete to write about a boy who was deaf, mute, and blind, but later regained his senses and taught people what he learned about god while he could not sense the world around him. Halfway through recording the album, rock critic nik cohn gave the work-in-prgoress a mediocre review. pete knew that cohn was an avid pinball player, and so he told him that a twist in the story was coming where tommy became a pinball phenomenon. cohn loved the idea, and so pete wrote pinball wizard.

    PJ10on June 18, 2002   Link

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