Alice Cooper

Songwriter: Alice Cooper Danny Saber Greg Hampton

Producer: Alice Cooper Danny Saber Greg Hampton

Since you been gone
I see your skin
So pale and drawn
So grey and thin

You're just a shadow of yourself
A shade of a different color
Let me create you, let me help
You're just a shadow of yourself

With all my love
With all my heart
My masterpiece
My work on you is a piece of art

You're just a shadow of yourself
A shade of a different color
Let me create you, let me help
You're just a shadow of yourself

You're just a shadow of yourself
A shade of a different color
Let me degrade you, let me help
You're just a shadow of yourself

Your hollow eyes (a shadow of yourself)
Your twisted smile
Your open arms (a shadow of yourself)
Come here and lie with me awhile

You're just a shadow of yourself
A shade of a different color
Let me degrade you, let me help
You're just a shadow of yourself

You're just a shadow of yourself
A shade of a different color
Let me decimate you, let me help
You're just a shadow of yourself

A shadow of yourself

Alice Cooper is the stage name and ‘fun villain’ character of Vincent Furnier. Cooper became the target of parents and ministers for his dark lyrics and gory theatrical performances that earned him the title Godfather of Shock Rock. Despite once claiming the name was conjured from a ouija board that told him he’s the reincarnation of a 17th century witch, Cooper laughs the topic off with flippant answers like “It was either a Scrabble board or a bowl of alphabet soup” and “I didn’t want a name like Iron Butterfly or Black Sabbath. I wanted it to be something your aunt might be called.”

The band Alice Cooper was originally signed by Frank Zappa to his own record label. Their first notoriety came when Cooper tossed a wayward chicken (possibly arranged by long-time manager Shep Gordon) into the crowd, who then tore it apart at the 1969 Toronto Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival Festival. Newspapers claimed he’d bit the bird’s head off and drank its blood. Zappa advised them to not deny the story and Cooper used it as inspiration to make his character darker.

The band’s teaming with producer Bob Ezrin for their third album Love It To Death led to their US breakthrough with a top 30 hit “I’m Eighteen” in early 1971. By then, the band was already infamous for their stage show, which had escalated into simulated torture and executions. That same year, Killer was released with its two singles “Under My Wheels” and “Be My Lover” finding moderate US success, and both albums being certified gold the following year.

more tracks from the album

Along Came a Spider

From the album

Along Came a Spider (2008)

Alice Cooper popular songs

Shadow of YourselfAlice Cooper

Alice Cooper

Along Came a Spider