Pinball Wizard

Pete Townshend

About Pinball Wizard

"Pinball Wizard" is a song written by Pete Townshend and performed by the English rock band the Who, and featured on their 1969 rock opera album Tommy. The original recording was released as a single in 1969 and reached No. 4 in the UK charts and No. 19 on the U. S. Billboard Hot 100. The B-side of the "Pinball Wizard" single is an instrumental credited to Keith Moon, titled "Dogs (Part Two)". Despite the title, it has no musical connection to the Who's 1968 UK single "Dogs".


Year:
1995
3:09
87 
#1

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Ever since I was a young boy,
I've played the silver ball.
From Soho down to Brighton
I must've played them all.
But I never seen anything 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 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 no buzzers and bells.
Don't see no lights a flashin',
Plays by sense of smell,
Always has a replay,
An' never tilts at all...
That deaf, dumb and blind kid
Sure plays a mean pinball!

He's a pinball wizard.
There has to be a twist.
A pinball wizard's got
Such a supple wrist.

Even at 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!!!

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Pete Townshend

Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend (born 19 May 1945) is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career. His career with The Who spans more than 40 years, during which time the band grew to be considered one of the most influential bands of the 1960s and 1970s, and, according to Eddie Vedder, "possibly the greatest live band ever." more »

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Written by: Peter Townshend

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Spirit Music Group, Abkco Music Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Song Development
"Pinball Wizard" was written and composed by Pete Townshend, the lead guitarist and one of the founders of the British rock band, The Who.
Release
The song was first released as a single in 1969 and it is a part of the rock opera album called "Tommy".
Inspiration
"Pinball Wizard" was inspired by Townshend's friend and rock critic, Nik Cohn, who was a pinball fan. He wrote the song in an attempt to get a favourable review from Cohn for their "Tommy" album.
Chart Performance
Shortly after its release, "Pinball Wizard" climbed the charts in several countries, reaching the top 5 in the UK and making its way to the top 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Pop Culture Reference
The song became such a popular cultural reference to pinball that it later influenced the creation of the musical "The Who's Tommy", which was eventually transformed into a movie and a pinball machine.
Deaf, Dumb, and Blind Protagonist
The song's lyrics focus on a "deaf, dumb and blind kid" who plays a mean pinball, hinting at the character of Tommy Walker, the protagonist of the rock opera.
Musical Elements
“Pinball Wizard” is famous for its distinctive acoustic guitar intro, played by Townshend himself, which is a popular hallmark of the song.
Reception
Despite its initial mixed reviews, "Pinball Wizard" is considered one of the greatest rock songs of all time now, and it remains a staple of The Who’s live shows.
Cover Versions
The song has been covered by many artists, including Elton John, whose version became a top 10 hit in the UK and US in 1975.
The Who's Signature Song
"Pinball Wizard" is considered a signature song of The Who and it has become orthodoxy at radio stations, helping the band gain worldwide acclaim.
Awards and Ranking
The song has made it to various music lists and rankings, including Rolling Stone's list of "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".
Use in Film
Elton John's version of "Pinball Wizard" features in the 1975 film "Tommy", based on The Who's rock opera, where John makes a cameo as a pinball champion, using oversized boots to reach the game's controls.

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