Alice Cooper

Released: April 29, 1977

Songwriter: Bob Ezrin Dick Wagner Alice Cooper

Producer: Bob Ezrin

By day I'm a workin' man
Layin' bricks or layin' pipe
I don't stand out in a crowd
Just look like one of the guys
Little do they know
When I'm alone in bed at night
I become the King of the Silver Screen

I stare at the ceiling there;
I know where I belong
I two step with Fred Astaire or
Fighting old King Kong
I can be any hero at all;
Zorro or Don Juan
I know I'm the King of the Silver Screen

Hollywood movies keep flashin' across my mind
I could've been Valentino if I was born in another time

I might be solving a case or swinging from a tree
Share a joke with Crosby and Hope
We're such good friends, you see
Even dazzle the Academy with my versatility
'Cause I'm the King of the Silver Screen

Hollywood movies keep flashin' across my mind
I could've been Errol Flynn
If I was born in another time

I could've been a star
I could've been a star
I could've played that part
But Hollywood movies keep flashin' before my eyes
I could've been Greta Garbo
If I was born in another time

I wake the very next day
Go on back to work
I'm just a face in a crowd
Another average jerk
And all the guys on the building site look at me flirt
Because I'm the Queen of the Silver

Yes, I'm the Queen of the Silver Screen
I admit it to all my fellow workers
I don't care any more. I'm tired of closets
I'm gonna eat my makeup for lunch today
Just stop hittin' me again. All right guys?
I'm going to Hollywood to be a starlet
I know I'm 240 pounds and play center
For the Detroit Lions
I don't care any more
I like makeup and dresses and Hollywood
I'll make somebody a great little wife
"Frankly, Scarlet, I don't give a damn."

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

Lace and Whiskey

From the album

Lace and Whiskey (1977)

Alice Cooper popular songs

King of the Silver ScreenAlice Cooper

Alice Cooper

Lace and Whiskey