Alice Cooper

Released: April 28, 1980

Songwriter: Sean Bonniwell

Producer: Roy Thomas Baker

I got me a complication
And it's an only child
Concern my reputation
As something more than wild
I know it serves me right
But I can't sleep at night
I have to hide my face
Or go some other place

No!
I won't cry out for justice
Admit that I was wrong
Stay in hibernation
'Til the talk subsides and gone
My social life's a dud
My name is really mud
I'm up to here in lies
I guess I'm down to size
To size

I can't seem to talk about
The things that bother me
Seems to be what everybody has
Against me! (ooh! ooh! ooh! yeah!)

Now here's my situation
And how it really stands
I'm out of circulation
I've all but washed my hands
My social life's a dud
My name is really mud
I'm up to here in lies
I guess I'm down to size
To size

Talk, talk
Talk, talk
Talk, talk
Talk, talk

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

Talk TalkAlice Cooper

Alice Cooper

Flush the Fashion