Alice Cooper

Released: April 28, 1980

Songwriter: Alice Cooper Davey Johnstone Fred Mandel

Producer: Roy Thomas Baker

Be an Arab, be a Jew
Be a boxing Kangaroo
Beat yourself all black and blue
I don't care

Be a bleeder, be a Cancer
Be a hemophiliac romancer
Be a crippled disco dancer
Ooo What a pair

He's a model citizen
I think I've got them fooled again
He's an ultra sweetie guy
And the master of disguise
He's a model citizen
Just keep believin' that, my friends
I'm a model citizen

I'm a model citizen
I'm a model citizen
I'm a model citizen
I'm an All-American!

I'm a hostage in a city of creeps
They've got mercenary guards that watch me sleep
They'd like to kill me slow and bury me deep-
In the heart of Texas
I'm a martyr I'm a sadist
I might be the Saviour her to save us all
I'm a friend of Sammy Davis (casually)

He's a model citizen
I think I've got them fooled again
He's an ultra-sweetie guy
I won't let down my disguise
He's a model citizen
Just keep believin' that, my friends
I'm a model citizen

I'm a model citizen
I'm a model citizen
I'm a model citizen
I'm an All-American!

I'm a model citizen
I'm a model citizen
I'm a model citizen
I'm an All-American!

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

Model CitizenAlice Cooper

Alice Cooper

Flush the Fashion