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)
Former Lee Warmer
Alice Cooper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's my brother, Former Lee
All the mops and brooms keep him company
Misconceived of the family
Former Lee Warmer pulls up the covers to hide in his wrinkled bed
No dreams go in, no dreams go out of the hole in his wrinkled head
When I hear him play in his twisted key
That's the way he calls to me
On a silver tray, I keep the master key
In every way, he depends on me
Former Lee Warmer; an old smoking jacket, holes in his satin sleeves
Candle-lit puddles, arthritic fingers, yellow stained ivory keys
In an upstairs room, under lock and key
It's my brother, Former Lee
And after all these years, I've never heard him speak
I wonder what he thinks of me
Former Lee Warmer peeks out the window
When he feels really brave
Former Lee Warmer waves at his father
Out in the family grave
He's flesh and blood to me
I love him brotherly
But, I don't want to be Former Lee
Cooper's "Former Lee Warmer" lyrics tell the story of a man - the singer's brother - who is held captive in an upstairs room, kept company only by mops and brooms. The family misjudges him, and he's abandoned, living alone to the point where he's disconnected from reality even to the extent of his dreams. He hides in his bed under the covers, and his mind has ceased to roam. The song suggests that Former Lee is disturbed, and likely diagnosed with some sort of mental illness or disability.
The lyrics reveal Cooper's emotions of love and responsibility towards his brother. He keeps a master key to his prison and considers him flesh and blood, despite Former Lee no longer having an independent life. There are candle-lit puddles and yellow stained ivory keys which create a vivid picture of Former Lee's reality.
There are no vocal harmonies or drum kits, and the song keeps a mournful mood, which leaves the listener thinking of Former Lee's story even after the song ends. We can still hear the piano echoing and Lee's story being told. “Former Lee Warmer” is a poignant and tender masterpiece, one of Cooper's most unique songs.
Line by Line Meaning
In an upstairs room, under lock and key
Former Lee Warmer is confined to an upstairs room, held captive by someone.
It's my brother, Former Lee
The person who has Former Lee Warmer captive is his brother.
All the mops and brooms keep him company
The only company that Former Lee Warmer has in his confinement are the cleaning tools in the room.
Misconceived of the family
The family has misunderstood or mistreated Former Lee Warmer, leading to his current situation.
Former Lee Warmer pulls up the covers to hide in his wrinkled bed
Former Lee Warmer retreats to his bed and avoids the outside world.
No dreams go in, no dreams go out of the hole in his wrinkled head
Former Lee Warmer is unable to dream or think properly due to his confinement and mistreatment.
Former Lee Warmer, when I hear him play in his twisted key
Former Lee Warmer is able to play music despite his condition.
That's the way he calls to me
The music played by Former Lee Warmer is a form of communication to his brother.
On a silver tray, I keep the master key
The brother holds the key to Former Lee Warmer's confinement on a silver tray, giving him complete control over his brother's fate.
In every way, he depends on me
Former Lee Warmer is completely dependent on his brother for his well-being and release.
Former Lee Warmer; an old smoking jacket, holes in his satin sleeves
Former Lee Warmer is dressed in shabby clothing that has worn out over the years.
Candle-lit puddles, arthritic fingers, yellow stained ivory keys
Former Lee Warmer's surroundings are poorly maintained and he is suffering from physical ailments that prevent him from playing music properly.
And after all these years, I've never heard him speak
Despite being confined for many years, Former Lee Warmer has never spoken to his brother.
I wonder what he thinks of me
The brother is unsure of how Former Lee Warmer truly feels about him or his actions.
Former Lee Warmer peeks out the window when he feels really brave
Former Lee Warmer only dares to observe the outside world when he has moments of bravery.
Former Lee Warmer waves at his father out in the family grave
Former Lee Warmer has no living relatives except for his brother, who is responsible for his confinement.
He's flesh and blood to me
The brother loves Former Lee Warmer as family.
I love him brotherly
The brotherly love that is felt is purely platonic.
But, I don't want to be Former Lee
The brother struggles with the fear of becoming like Former Lee Warmer in his own life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Spirit Music Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: COOPER, EZRIN, WAGNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Phil
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.