The white light arcade
Coloured lights, jokes and candy
A marching brass band
A carousel, giants, jugglers
A girl turning cartwheels in the sand
You follow the arrows
And in the white light arcade you stand
Your heart beating - beating - beating
Your ticket in your hand
They told you – you only get one ride
So make it the best ride you can find
And your eyes open wide
With the feeling inside
As you leave your shadow behind
Here we go – higher and higher
Hold on – we’re going up
We’re going round
Here we go – higher and higher
Hold on – we’re at the top
We’re going down
Faster and faster we go
The world spinning round below
Here we go – higher and higher
Hold on – we’re going up
We’re going round
We’re at the top
We’re going down
Coloured lights, jokes and candy
How soon the memories fade
Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor, rich man, poor man
You’re just a face in the passing parade
You follow the arrows
How you wish you could have stayed
But soon it will be morning
Time to leave the white light arcade
They tell you – you only get one ride
So make it the best ride you can find
Let your eyes open wide
With the feeling inside
As you leave your shadow behind
Here we go – higher and higher
Hold on – we’re going up
We’re going round
Here we go – higher and higher
Hold on – we’re at the top
We’re going down
Faster and faster we go
The world spinning round below
Here we go – higher and higher
Hold on – we’re going up
We’re going round
We’re at the top
And here we go – higher and higher
Hold on – we’re going up
We’re going round
Here we go – higher and higher
Hold on – we’re at the top
We’re going down
Faster and faster we go
The world spinning round below
Here we go – higher and higher
Hold on – we’re going up
We’re going round
We’re at the top ...
the white light arcade
words & music by Robert Campbell
photo by Javier Coria
There used to be two amusement parks in Barcelona and this song was inspired by visits to both of them in the 1980s. Today only the Tibidabo park remains although many people think that the whole city has become a tourist theme park. The song was also inspired by Jacques Brel whose work has had a huge influence on me.