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Dead BabiesAlice Cooper

Released: November 27, 1971

Songwriter: Neal Smith Dennis Dunaway Michael Bruce Glen Buxton Alice Cooper

Producer: Bob Ezrin

[Verse 1]
Little Betty ate a pound of aspirin
She got them from the shelf up on the wall
Betty's mommy wasn't there to save her
She didn't even hear her baby call

[Chorus]
Dead babies, can't take care of themselves
Dead babies, can't take things off the shelf
Well, we didn't want you anyway
Lalala-la, lalala-la, la la la

[Verse 2]
Daddy is an agrophile in Texas
Mommy's on the bar most every night
Little Betty's sleeping in the graveyard
Living there in burgundy and white

[Chorus]
Dead babies, can't take care of themselves
Dead babies, can't take things off the shelf
Well, we didn't love you anyway
Lalala-la, lalala-la, la la la

[Bridge]
Goodbye, Little Betty
Goodbye, Little Betty
So long, Little Betty
So long, Little Betty
Betty, so long

[Instrumental break 4:03-4:54]

[Chorus]
Dead babies, can't take care of themselves
Dead babies, can't take things off the shelf
Well, we didn't need you anyway
Lalala-la, lalala-la, la la la

[Outro]
Goodbye, Little Betty

Alice Cooper

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.

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