Alice Cooper

Songwriter: Alice Cooper Davey Johnstone Fred Mandel

Producer: Roy Thomas Baker

I'm hidden in the scream
When the virgin dies
I'm the ache in the belly
When your baby cries
And I'm the burnin' sensation
When the convict fries

I'm pain
I'm your pain
Unspeakable pain
I'm your private pain

And I'm the compound fracture
In the twisted car
And I'm the lines on the face
Of the tramp at the bar
And I'm the reds by the bed
Of the suicide star

You know me- I'm pain
I'm your pain
Your own private pain
Unfathomable pain

And it's a compliment to me
To hear you screamin' through the night
All night
Tonight

I'm the holes in your arm
When you're feeling the shakes
I'm the lump on your head
When you step on the rake

And I'm the loudest one laughing
At the saddest wake

Yes I'm pain
I'm just pain
Dear old pain
You need your pain

And I'm the loudest one laughing
At the saddest wake

I'm the salt in the sweat
On the cuts of the slaves
I was the wound in the side
While Jesus prayed
I was the filthiest word
At the vandalized grave

Yes, pain
Don't love me pain
I love my pain
I'm your pain

It's a compliment to me
To feel you screamin' through the night
All night
Tonight

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

Roadie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

From the albums

Roadie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1980)
Flush the Fashion (1980)
The Life and Crimes of Alice Cooper (1999)

Alice Cooper popular songs

PainAlice Cooper

Alice Cooper

Roadie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)