Alice Cooper

Released: November 17, 1979

Songwriter: Dick Wagner Bernie Taupin Alice Cooper

Producer: David Foster

I got my name and number
I got my bed assigned
I got a dog in the city pound
That I left behind
I'm strapped down and wild-eyed
She's locked up in a pen
She needs somebody to feed her
And I'm her only friend

So for Veronica's sake I gotta get out of here
Yeah for Veronica's sake, she can get pretty weird
Yeah for Veronica's sake I gotta get myself out of here

We both been put in cages
We got our shots and tags
I got my sweatin' fist to shake
She's got her tail to wag
She has to bark and whimper
While I could scream and shout
The clock above the psycho ward
Says time is running out

So for Veronica's sake I gotta get out of here
Yeah for Veronica's sake, she can get pretty weird
Yeah for Veronica's sake I gotta get myself out of here

And I can see her howling all night at the lonely moon
They're going to give her the gas if I don't get there soon
I gotta get there soon

For Veronica's sake I gotta get out of here
Yeah for Veronica's sake, she can get pretty weird

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.

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