Alice Cooper

Released: June 6, 2000

Songwriter: Alice Cooper Bob Marlette

Producer: Bob Marlette

Don't sing me lullabies
I won't close my eyes
I can't close my eyes
It's true
I'm doomed
'til dawn
Shines through
Got too many things to do
Got friends to see
I can't miss a thing
It's true
I'm through
I'm screwed
Unglued

I won't close my eyes, I can't close my eyes
I never close my eyes
You see, they're always there with funny hair
Oh, I'm so scared

It happens to me every night
Can't sleep, the clowns will eat me
They always want to take a bite
Can't sleep, the clowns will eat me
And if you think this isn't real
I'll show you wounds that never heal
To them I'm just a happy meal
Can't sleep, the clowns will eat me

Make the coffee black as night
Help me through the night
I know their appetite for me
I'm meat
But I'm sweet
As can be
And if I do too much booze
I begin to snooze
I hear the big old floppy shoes
It's true
I'm stew
Unchewed

I won't close my eyes, I can't close my eyes
I never close my eyes
See, they're always there with that funny hair
Oh, I'm so scared

It happens to me every night
Can't sleep, the clowns will eat me
They always want to take a bite
Can't sleep, the clowns will eat me
And if you think this isn't real
I'll show you wounds that never heal
To them I'm just a happy meal
Can't sleep, the clowns will eat me

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

Dragontown

From the albums

Brutal Planet (2000)
Dragontown (2001)

Alice Cooper popular songs

Can’t Sleep, Clowns Will Eat MeAlice Cooper

Alice Cooper

Dragontown