Alice Cooper

Released: July 12, 1994

Songwriter: Mark Hudson Steve Dudas Bob Pfeifer Alice Cooper

Producer: Andy Wallace

I don't know but I've been told
The streets of hell are paved with gold
Crazy, crazy
You told me that nothing's free
Except my own insanity
Crazy, maybe
Wake me, shake me
Wake me, shake me

You offer me the world and all its wealth
All for myself
You promised me a life eternally
And drink to my health
I may seem only half-glued
But I can see right through you

Burn it up, burn it down
Burn this sucker to the ground
Oh yeah, oh yeah
Going, going, going, gone
There's a party going on
And on, and on, and on

Do you think I don't know who you are
A fallen star
When I feel my soul scream out at night
I know you're not far
You need a better disguise
This one won't win any prize

Burn it up, burn it down
Burn this sucker to the ground
Oh yeah, oh yeah
Going, going, going, gone
There's a party going on
And on, and on, and on

Cleansed by fire
Cleansed by fire
I may seem only half-glued
But I can see right through you

What about dark, what about light?
What about wrong, what about right?
What about death, what about sin?
What about the web you're trying to spin?
What about truth? What about life?
What about glory? What about Christ?
What about peace? What about love?
What about faith in God above?
What about war? What about Hell?
What if I stumble? What if I fell?
What about blood? What about greed?
And all of these things you're offering me

Yeah, what about me, little me
You lose and I win
You couldn't suck me in
It's over, you have no power
You're lost And I'm found
And I'm Heaven bound
Go back to where you belong
To where you fell
Go to hell

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

The Last Temptation

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The Last Temptation (1994)

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