5
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Initially, I played music, but after a spell,
they called me disreputable, I said "oh well"
The judge said I was out of order, but he was wrong,
I wasn't in at the beginning, but two places along

Is it inappropriate for me to to start something to eat?
I was just playing games, let me skip the repeat.
Look at me in the light, can't believe I'm so pretty
I guess I better go back to the Capital City

Hint One

None of the lines requires any special knowledge except line 5, but the puzzle can be solved without that one. Lines 6 and 7 are not wordplay, all the rest are in the style of cryptic clues. Every line has a clue, but some clues go across lines. There are a couple instances of filler for the rhyme or the meter. The answer is very short.

Hint Two

This might be easier for Gen X age-range people to figure out than other generations.

Hint Three

If you're really really stuck on line 5, you might ask on English SE, I famously did! But probably not until after you solve the rest, unless you really want it handed to you on a platter.

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4
  • $\begingroup$ +1 for the clever title! $\endgroup$
    – happystar
    Sep 4, 2020 at 7:46
  • $\begingroup$ Can we have a hint $\endgroup$
    – Prince Deepthinker
    Sep 4, 2020 at 12:45
  • $\begingroup$ @Deepthinker101 - Here's three, added above $\endgroup$
    – Chris Sunami
    Sep 5, 2020 at 15:23
  • $\begingroup$ This puzzle is harder than your other two. Also the title adds to the difficulty. $\endgroup$
    – Prince Deepthinker
    Sep 5, 2020 at 17:05

2 Answers 2

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3
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Wild guess but is the word to you are looking CD?

Edit:

Lines 1 and 2 maybe a HarpsiChorD. It was popular in the 17th century but was then replaced by the Piano.

Edit:

3 and 4 It is referring to OCD. The person in 4 sounds pedantic over where the I is located in line 3.

Edit:

5 I think it is referring to where Oliver Twist 'asked for more' in Charles Dickens' novel. The initials of Charles Dickens is CD.

Edit:

6 I think you are referring to ArCaDe

7 CDs look pretty if you shine light on it.

Edit:

8 On second thought maybe you are suggesting Washington 'DC'.

Also CD fits with the title

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  • $\begingroup$ Amazingly you got the answer right while only getting two of the clues correct --7 and the title. I'm going to leave this open to see if anyone can get the correct references. $\endgroup$
    – Chris Sunami
    Sep 6, 2020 at 2:04
  • $\begingroup$ Line 8 is now correct, although you're either missing a key part of that clue or you just didn't list it. The other new explanations are impressive but wrong! $\endgroup$
    – Chris Sunami
    Sep 7, 2020 at 11:31
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Deepthinker101 has got the answer so here are what I think are some of the missing line explanations

Initially, I played music,

CD are the initials for Compact Disc whose primary use is to play music.
C and D are also musical notes.

but after a spell, they called me disreputable, I said "oh well"

CD sounds like "seedy" (after a spell), meaning disreputable (I think "oh well" is filler).

The judge said I was out of order, but he was wrong,

I think this refers to DC (CD out of order) which stands for either District Court or Defence Counsel, but of course the judge is wrong because, really it is CD.

I wasn't in at the beginning, but two places along

I think this refers to the beginning of the alphabet, so instead of starting A,B,... we start two places along at C,D,...

Is it inappropriate for me to to start something to eat?

The something to eat here is "nuts" and is referring to the joke mentioned here on English Stack Exchange.

I was just playing games, let me skip the repeat.

CDs are also used to hold games. CD "skipping" refers to a player not being able to read a faulty groove or block of data, one of the consequences of which is the CD playing a repeated section or track.
Skipping and repeating are also two functions of CD playing which were big improvements that the CD introduced on previous technologies (thanks to OP for clarifying).

Look at me in the light, can't believe I'm so pretty

I think Deepthinker101 explained this adequately - the back of the CD reflects and refracts light to is very colourful and shiny.

I guess I better go back to the Capital City

Deepthinker101 also effectively got this. CD "goes back" (reverses) to give DC (as in Washington DC, capital of the USA).

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2
  • $\begingroup$ These are all essentially correct! "After a spell" is the hint for line 2, and the key fact for line 3 is that the judge is wrong. Your line 6 explanation is good, but I'd also add that when these were first introduced, those two functions were a big part of their improvement over older technologies. Everything else is completely and correctly explained! :) $\endgroup$
    – Chris Sunami
    Sep 7, 2020 at 15:29
  • $\begingroup$ @ChrisSunamisupportsMonica Ah, I see what you mean, will add the clarifications. $\endgroup$
    – hexomino
    Sep 7, 2020 at 15:31

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