Alice Cooper

Songwriter: Alice Cooper Kane Roberts

Producer: Michael Wagener

[Verse 1]
An angel fell one stormy night
From Heaven's Glory
He split the earth to reign in Hell
He fears the light
He fears the truth
He fears what's going to be
He spits on life
He spits on God
He spits up death for you and me

[Chorus]
Prince of Darkness
Studies the world with hungry eyes
Prince of Darkness
Ready to baptize you in lies
Heart of evil, soul of blackness
Prince of Darkness

[Verse 2]
He saw that man was just a boy
With a baby's mind
He swore damnation of God's creation
He lives for hate
He lives for tears
He lives up to his name
He knew the light
He knew the one
Who was crucified in pain

[Chorus]
Prince of Darkness
Studies the world with hungry eyes
Prince of Darkness
Ready to baptize you in lies
Heart of evil, soul of blackness

[Pre-Chorus]
He fears the light
He fears the truth
He fears what's going to be
He spits on life
He spits on God
He spits up death for you and me

[Chorus]
Prince of Darkness
Studies the world with hungry eyes
Prince of Darkness
Ready to baptize you in lies
Prince of Darkness

[Outro]
He smells the breath
Of sweet human sin
And deeply breathes it in
Prince of Darkness

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

Raise Your Fist and Yell

From the albums

Raise Your Fist and Yell (1987)
Prince of Darkness (1989)
The Life and Crimes of Alice Cooper (1999)

Alice Cooper popular songs

Prince of DarknessAlice Cooper

Alice Cooper

Raise Your Fist and Yell