The Song Fight Bulletin Board

At The Arcade
Embers of Autumn


It’s days like this that bring me back
To the times we had as kids
And all the memories we made to share

We cashed in our allowance in quarters
Saturdays down at the corner arcade
All the cool kids trying out the latest games

All my friends met down at the arcade
We hung out and played “Galaga” all day
(And if you get that reference, give yourself a point**)

We watched all the other kids turn green
Got the high score on the pinball machine
We had our first date at the dance (dance revolution)
Lost track of my guy up on the screen
With Street Fighter Turbo Max Ultra Extreme
Dumb Button Masher, I never had a chance

At lunchtime it was pizza and a coke
Trying to see which game was the biggest joke
And make fun of the kid who tried it anyway

Spent a few quarters trying to play skiiball
Winning tickets to trade in for some cheap junk
That we’d break before we even left the door

We watched how all the other kids would scream
Playing games with a gun you shot at the screen
And the aim would be off an inch or so
Sit down for Cruisin’ USA
All my friends kept getting in my way
Stupid back seat drivers made me crash, you know

Now I’m grown and in my twenties
I don’t think I’ll ever see those times again
But I guess that happens to us all
I guess I should be grateful for the memories
(The memories) of all those times

We watched all the kids as evening came
Off went the lights and all the games
And I said, I’ll see you guys next week same time
Grabbed our broke junk and went on our way
Never guessed it’d all be gone some day
Guess it’s time to say goodbye and let another generation make some memories down at
The arcade…


((** The reference is not to the game itself, but to the two lines of lyrics behind it))

At the Arcade
by Soundscape Rebellion

Pinballs bounce, I've lost another live
I'll see you on the other side

I'm eight years old and four feet tall again
the world once again is a magical place
I feel the allure of the tickets and cheap toys
my world is reduced to quarters and points

something mystic in the flickering dim
the digital noise like the voice of a sage
a transcendental urge to strive for more
the child's voice demands a high score

I journey down the childhood path
and nod with reverence to the god of the realm
spend the last token and watch the dream die
the child retires to the back of my mind

When we got to Arcade* we pulled off to the side and started to kiss
But we were afraid of the slippery slope so we didn't go far
Later I got a ticket and she thought it was punishment
A higher warning against being together in the dark

If there's a light at the end of the tunnel but you don't fit through
Keep cutting parts off until you do
If you find your body's primary goal is to reproduce
Try not to do what other animals do

At the funeral home people were crying at the service next door
It was explained to me it was because they had no hope
They should have been glad because there's an eternal reward
Provided you do the right things before you go

If there's a light at the end of the tunnel but you're too big
Just leave behind your wife and kids
If you find that you have weeks instead of years
Try not to fear what every animal fears



*Arcade NY

At The Arcade

By Steve Durand


I know a place a select few have been
Only the folks on the A list get in
And management caters to their every whim
An establishment called The Arcade

All the high rollers appear after five
That's when the whole gaming floor comes alive
And you start to feel like you've finally arrived
When you're seen at The Arcade

Take a roll of the dice
Pray your luck will hold out

You can play all your life
But you can't beat the house

It's where the wealthy make their rendezvous
With influence peddlers in smoky back rooms
They call the music we dance to the tune
It's the place high stakes games are played
It all happens at The Arcade

At the Arcade
by David Bax

(Galaga Pacman Space Invaders Zaxxon)
(Asteroids Afterburner Berzerk Time Pilot)
(Gauntlet Karate Champ Galaxian Tempest)

When we were young
(Joust Donkey Kong Burger Time Defender)
We played the games
(Tapper Jungle Hunt Centipede Missile Command)
Fighting evil
(Moon Patrol Paper Boy Punch Out Q-bert)
To save the day
(Robotron Tail Gunner Battlezone Dig Dug)
(Tron)

We don't have cheat codes
At the arcade
We don't score low
At the arcade

The magic is gone
From the games today
Race fight shoot
It's all the same

We don't have cheat codes
At the arcade
We don't score low
At the arcade

Three lives
Is all you get
Three letters
Proves the high score you set

To survive this long
It's all in the wrists
If you have the skills
You'll make the list

We don't have cheat codes
At the arcade
We don't score low
At the arcade