Alice Cooper

Released: July 2, 1991

Songwriter: Bob Pfeifer Jack Ponti Vic Pepe Alice Cooper

Producer: Peter Collins

Voices come from down the hall
In my room all painted white
I have my bat and rubber ball
I like to sleep with them at night

But now I'm all smiles
The good little shots must be winning
Yes, they crank my dial
My motor is stalled but my wheels are still spinning

Daddy won't discuss me
What a state I must be
Mommy couldn't stand living with a wind-up toy

All my friends live on the floor
Tiny legs and tiny eyes
They're free to crawl under the door
And, and someday soon so will I

But now I'm all smiles
These good little shots must be working
I'm so happy now
Look, my fingers don't shake and my head isn't jerking

Daddy won't discuss me
What a pain I must be
Mommy couldn't stand having such a wound-up boy

Doctors want to check me
Poke me and dissect me
What do they expect?
Feelings from a wound-up toy?
I don't think so
I'm just a wound-up toy
I'm just a wind-up toy

I'm lost in a nightmare
Shiny white halls
Drawing rats on the wall
Solitary confinement
Chained in a cell
Got my own private hell

Preacher crucifies me
Warden wants to fry me
I was never young
Never just a little boy

Daddy won't discuss me
What a pain I must be
Mama couldn't stand having such a wound-up boy
I'm just a wind-up toy
I'm a wind-up toy
I'm just a wind-up toy I'm just a wind-up toy

"They come here every night
I see them. Don't you see them?
Hmm, that's odd, isn't it?
I'm so tired, I'm winding down
You'll have to go now, it's bedtime!"

"Steven..."

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

Hey Stoopid

From the album

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