Alice Cooper

Released: April 28, 1980

Songwriter: Alice Cooper Davey Johnstone Fred Mandel

Producer: Roy Thomas Baker

The boy's got problems
The boy's got stress
The boys got a .38 hidden in his desk
The boy's got a chickie
With four months to go

Grim facts every parent better know

The girl's a heavy teaser
Wants to do a private show
She got a hundred thousand fantasies
She wants the band to know
She likes to brush across my Levis
Likes to watch him grow

Grim facts every parent better know
Grim facts every parent better know

Red lights
Gang fights
Brewin' in the heat
Cop cars
Gay bars
On your precious street
That ain't so neat

Sister's on the street now
Lookin' for some Joe
Only got about an hour
To pay for her new nose
Gets a hundred for her body
A nickel for her soul
These are grim facts every parent must know
Grim facts every parent must know

Red lights
Gang fights
Brewin' in the heat
Cop cars
Gay bars
On your precious street
That ain't so neat

[Guitar Solo]

And I am feelin' itchy
Got a fire down below
I'm a walkin' loaded time bomb
Just about to blow
Tries to slide inside my pockets
But it's strictly SRO
Grim facts every parent gotta know
Grim facts every parent gotta know

Red lights
Gang fights
Brewin' in the heat
Cop cars
Gay bars
On your precious street
That ain't so neat

Ooo, Grim Facts

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

Flush the Fashion

From the album

Flush the Fashion (1980)

Alice Cooper popular songs

Grim FactsAlice Cooper

Alice Cooper

Flush the Fashion