Hand Springs

I took my girl to go bowling downtown at the Red Door After an argument I started because 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 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 the day when I'd be too old to throw a ball this heavy But I guess I'm young now, so it's easy to knock 'em all down Then I looked and saw her say to him, "You're really hittin' that ball around" And he's looking 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 that game But I went and did it anyway I dropped my red bowling ball through the glass of the machine And said, "Are you quick enough to hit this ball, Mr. Clean?" I was scared to lose her, so I couldn't help being 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 bowling alley And I threw it all away Well, isn't it all just a big game?