Alice Cooper

Released: August 25, 1982

Songwriter: Dick Wagner Alice Cooper

Producer: Erik Scott Alice Cooper

When I was a boy
I never played with toys
Never had a friend
Never laughed or cried much
And when I was a boy
My father was a man
With a strict and sturdy hand
No soft touch

Make that money, make that money
Make that money run like honey
On your tongue
Gotta make that money
Make that money, listen sonny
Learn to sting before your stung

Now that I'm a man
Every penny has been planned
I'm financially grand
And perfectly greedy
Sentimental fools
I make all your rules
I've got your cash, got your jewels
They're all mortgaged to me

Make that money, make that money
Make that money run like honey
On your tongue
Gotta make that money
Make that money, listen sonny
Learn to sting before your stung

And I know
'Cause he told me so
Told me so I believe him
I still believe...
Give me that money

Controlling all your cash
I could make you live in trash
I eat pheasant, you eat hash
No philanthropy
But when it's time for me to croak
Bury me with all my dough
And where there should've been an oak
My private money tree will grow

Make that money
Said make that money
Make that money run like honey
On your tongue

Told me so
Told me so
He told me so

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

Zipper Catches Skin

From the album

Zipper Catches Skin (1982)

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Make That Money (Scrooge’s Song)Alice Cooper

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Zipper Catches Skin