Alice Cooper

Released: September 22, 1986

Songwriter: Alice Cooper Kane Roberts

Producer: Beau Hill

Hey you!
Fighting for your life where you've never fought before
Hey you!
Running from the scene and nailing down your door
Oh yeah!
Back 'em off, brother
Oh yeah!
Terminate the mother now
You know you gotta get hard

The world needs guts
The world needs power
Show me some blood
Show me some cuts
Show me some scars
The world needs guts
The world needs us

Hey you!
Crying 'cause your best friend's splattered against the wall
Hey you!
Some maniac butcher's tryin' to hack away your balls
Oh yeah!
Back 'em off, brother
Oh yeah!
Terminate the mother now
You know you gotta get hard

The world needs guts
The world needs power
Show me some blood
Show me some cuts
Show me some scars
The world needs guts
The world needs us

Hey, hey, what's in your eyes? I think I'm getting through
Say, say that you despise the things they did to you
Pray, pray some day their throats are in your hands
Take them, shake them 'til they understand

The world needs guts
The world needs power
Show me some blood
Show me some cuts
Show me some scars
The world needs guts
The world needs us

Hey you!
You gonna let some scumbag stab you in the back
Hey you!
Turn around kicking and rearrange your sack
Oh yeah!
Back 'em off, brother
Oh yeah!
Terminate the mother now
You know you gotta get hard

The world needs guts
The world needs power
Show me some blood
Show me some cuts
Show me some scars
The world needs guts
The world needs us

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

Constrictor

From the album

Constrictor (1986)

Alice Cooper popular songs

The World Needs GutsAlice Cooper

Alice Cooper

Constrictor