I took my girl to go bowling
Downtown at the red door
After an argument I started
‘Cause I thought she didn’t like me anymore
I can’t help it sometimes I feel pitiful
And of course she’s so young and beautiful
I bought us two glasses of coke
That’s her favorite
And I wanted to make up for earlier
But I dropped her glass and it broke
So I just gave my glass to her
She laughed and so did I in our lane
And then she went to the vending machine
To buy a candy cane
But right next to that was a boy I knew
With a spring in his hand
Playing a country pinball machine
Called “Stand By Your Man”
I saw him talk to her
But I stayed in my lane
And played my game steady
And was thinking of a day
When I’d be too old to throw a ball this heavy
But I guess I’m young now
So it’s easier to knock ’em all down
Then I looked and saw her say to him
“You’re really hittin’ that ball around”
And so he’s lookin’ at her the way I did
When I first met her
I could see in his face
White flowers
And cups of coffee
And love letters
I was sorry to interrupt their game
But I went and did it anyway
I dropped my red bowling ball
Through the glass of his machine
I said “Are you quick enough to hit
This ball, Mr. Clean?”
I was scared to lose her
So I couldn’t help bein’ mean
And that ended both of our games
I said I was sorry
But my girl left with him just the same
I thought how much I hate
When love makes me act this way
I was bent over a broken pinball machine
In a blowling alley and I threw it all away
Well it’s it all just a big game?