Alice Cooper

Released: September 22, 1986

Songwriter: Alice Cooper Beau Hill Kane Roberts

Producer: Beau Hill

He was born in a depressed nation
Started tough and worked his way right off the street
Thumbed his nose at a graduation
Wheeled and dealed, his education was complete

He's got all his hair, but his life is a wreck
Always been a brat, he don't get no respect
He's got the time, he's got the money
You better get out of his way
You better watch out for him, sonny

Back to school
He's gonna take that plunge
Gonna jump back in there
Back to school
He's gonna shape his mind
Gonna shed old skin there
Back to school

Spent some time in appreciation of finer arts
And the human body mysteries
Scoring high in procreation
Got an 'A' in the study of female anatomy

He thinks about his teacher in his literary class
He's staring at her legs
But he's dreaming 'bout her face
He's got the time
He's got the money
You better get out of his way
You better watch out for him, sonny

Back to school
He's gonna take that plunge
Gonna jump back in there
Back to school
He's gonna shape his mind
Gonna shed old skin there
Back to school

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.

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