Released: February 25, 1973

Songwriter: Rolf Kempf

Producer: Bob Ezrin

[Verse 1]
Hello! Hooray! Let the show begin
I've been ready
Hello! Hooray! Let the lights grow dim
I've been ready

[Chorus]
Ready as this audience
That’s coming here to dream
Loving every second
Every moment, every scream
I've been waiting so long
To sing my song
And I've been waiting so long
For this thing to come
Yeah, I've been thinking so long
I was the only one

[Verse 2]
Roll out! Roll out, with your
American dream and its recruits
I've been ready
Roll out! Roll out with your
Circus freaks and hula hoops
I've been ready

[Chorus]
Ready as this audience
That's coming here to dream
Loving every second
Every moment, every scream
I've been waiting so long
To sing my song
And I've been waiting so long
For this thing to come
Oh, I've been thinking so long
I was the only one

[Bridge]
I can stand here strong and thin
And I can laugh
When this thing begins

[Instrumental break 2:23-3:09]

[Outro]
God, I feel so strong
I feel so strong
I'm so strong
I feel so strong, I feel so strong
So strong
God, I feel so strong
I am so strong
So strong
I feel so strong, I feel so strong
I feel so strong, I feel so strong
I feel so strong, feel so strong
I feel so strong, I feel so strong
So strong

Alice Cooper

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.