Originating in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1964, "Alice Cooper" was originally a band with roots extending back to a band called the Earwigs, consisting of Furnier on lead vocals and harmonica, Glen Buxton on lead guitar, and Dennis Dunaway on bass guitar and backing vocals. By 1966, Michael Bruce on rhythm guitar joined the three and Neal Smith was added on drums in 1967. The five named the band "Alice Cooper", and Furnier eventually adopted it as his stage pseudonym. They released their 1969 debut studio album with limited chart success. Breaking out with the 1970 single "I'm Eighteen" and the third studio album Love It to Death, the band reached their commercial peak in 1973 with their sixth studio album, Billion Dollar Babies. After the band broke up, Furnier legally changed his name to Alice Cooper and began a solo career in 1975 with the concept album Welcome to My Nightmare. Over his career, Cooper has sold well over 50 million records.
Cooper has experimented with a number of musical styles, mainly hard rock, glam rock, heavy metal, and glam metal, but also new wave (1980–1983), art rock on DaDa (1983), and industrial rock on Brutal Planet (2000) and Dragontown (2001). He helped to shape the sound and look of heavy metal, and has been described as the artist who "first introduced horror imagery to rock 'n' roll, and whose stagecraft and showmanship have permanently transformed the genre". He is also known for his wit offstage, with The Rolling Stone Album Guide calling him the world's most "beloved heavy metal entertainer". Away from music, Cooper is a film actor, a golfing celebrity, a restaurateur, and, since 2004, a radio disc jockey (DJ) with his classic rock show Nights with Alice Cooper.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Cooper
Band studio albums
Pretties for You (1969)
Easy Action (1970)
Love It to Death (1971)
Killer (1971)
School's Out (1972)
Billion Dollar Babies (1973)
Muscle of Love (1973)
Solo studio albums
Welcome to My Nightmare (1975)
Alice Cooper Goes to Hell (1976)
Lace and Whiskey (1977)
From the Inside (1978)
Flush the Fashion (1980)
Special Forces (1981)
Zipper Catches Skin (1982)
DaDa (1983)
Constrictor (1986)
Raise Your Fist and Yell (1987)
Trash (1989)
Hey Stoopid (1991)
The Last Temptation (1994)
Brutal Planet (2000)
Dragontown (2001)
The Eyes of Alice Cooper (2003)
Dirty Diamonds (2005)
Along Came a Spider (2008)
Welcome 2 My Nightmare (2011)
Paranormal (2017)
Detroit Stories (2021)
Road (2023)
Dance Yourself To Death
Alice Cooper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They are gonin' out tonight
They read the hippest magazines
They've loosened their uptights
Dad's wearin' real tight Levis
And some Gucci Tennis shoes
He's got a T-shirt custom made for him
Saying "Give me pot not booze"
I get a kiss good-bye
I get all numb and high
From all the smoke left on their breath
I smile and wish them well
Then I pray like hell
They go and dance themselves to death
Mom's hair's all green and dirty
She wears a high tech Devo Suit
She changed her name to Xerox
She hides Quaaludes in her boots
Oh, me, I'm all real embarrassed
When I hear the things they do
They kinda compromise my social position
And my cool-ativity is suffering too!
I get a kiss good-bye
I get all numb and high
From all the smoke left on their breath
I smile and wish them well
Then I pray like hell
They go and dance themselves to death
Ahh dance, real hard
I get a kiss good-bye
I get all numb and high
From all the smoke left on their breath
I smile and wish them well
Then I pray like hell
They go and dance themselves to death
Come on momma
Come on daddy
Come on skinny
Come on fatty
Shake it Martha
Shake it Larry
Shake it Mr. Coronary
You gotta dance dance
Come on and dance dance
Dance til you're outta breath
The lyrics of Alice Cooper's song "Dance Yourself To Death" describes the singer's parents who've overhauled their image and attitudes, and are ready to hit the town for a night out. The parents are depicted as countercultural figures, who've departed from the uptight norms, and embraced the alternative ways of living. Dad is wearing tight Levis and Gucci tennis shoes coupled with a t-shirt that reflects his preference for pot over booze; while mom has green hair and is sporting a high tech Devo Suit with Quaaludes hidden in her boots. The singer is, however, embarrassed by his parents' antics, which compromise his social position and coolness.
In the chorus, the singer describes his farewell moments with his parents, as they leave for their night of dancing. He bids them goodbye, and as he inhales the smoke left on their breath, he feels numb and high. Nonetheless, he wishes them well and prays they dance until they're out of breath. Interestingly, this song captures the phenomenon of the counterculture movement of the 1970s – a time when society was at a crossroads, and subcultures were emerging.
Line by Line Meaning
My liberated parents
My parents who are free from traditional values and beliefs
They are gonin' out tonight
They are going out tonight
They read the hippest magazines
They read the most fashionable magazines
They've loosened their uptights
They have become more relaxed and easy-going
Dad's wearin' real tight Levis
Dad is wearing very tight jeans made by Levi's
And some Gucci Tennis shoes
Dad is also wearing sneakers by Gucci
He's got a T-shirt custom made for him
Dad has a personalized T-shirt designed especially for him
Saying "Give me pot not booze"
The T-shirt bears a statement that he prefers marijuana to alcohol
I get a kiss good-bye
I receive a goodbye kiss
I get all numb and high
I experience a feeling of physical and mental numbness and intoxication
From all the smoke left on their breath
The numbness and intoxication is caused by the smoke from their breath
I smile and wish them well
I show a happy expression and wish them good luck
Then I pray like hell
After they leave, I pray fervently
They go and dance themselves to death
I hope they dance so hard they die
Mom's hair's all green and dirty
Mom's hair is dyed green and looks unkempt
She wears a high tech Devo Suit
Mom wears a futuristic suit inspired by the American rock band Devo
She changed her name to Xerox
Mom changed her name to Xerox, like the photocopying brand
She hides Quaaludes in her boots
She conceals a type of sedative pills called Quaaludes in her boots
Oh, me, I'm all real embarrassed
I feel extremely ashamed and embarrassed
When I hear the things they do
When I learn about their actions
They kinda compromise my social position
Their actions negatively impact my social status
And my cool-ativity is suffering too!
The situation affects my level of coolness
Ahh dance, real hard
Oh, dance with great effort
Come on momma
Come on, mom
Come on daddy
Come on, dad
Come on skinny
Come on, skinny person
Come on fatty
Come on, fat person
Shake it Martha
Shake your body, Martha
Shake it Larry
Shake your body, Larry
Shake it Mr. Coronary
Shake your body, Mr. Coronary
You gotta dance dance
You must dance, dance
Come on and dance dance
Come on, let's dance, dance
Dance til you're outta breath
Keep dancing until you can't breathe anymore
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Phil
on Former Lee Warmer
Interesting. I like it! I am surprised someone covered that lesser known song of Cooper’s. I will have to check out more of Valery’s work.