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)
I Just Wanna Be God
Alice Cooper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'm full of self-esteem
I invented myself with no one's help
I'm a prototype supreme
I sit on my private throne
And run my lifestyle all alone
Me, myself and I agree
We don't need nobobdy else
I never learned to bow, bend or crawl
To any known authority
I really want to build my statue tall
That's all
I'm just trying to be God
I only want to be God
I just want to be God
Why can't I be God
I got no time to take advice
I want to gamble with my eternity with loaded dice
I don't need a preacher in my face
When I'm the omnipresent ruler of the human race
Ain't gonna spend my life being no one's fool
I was born to rock and I was born to rule
But if I'm wrong on judgement day
I'm royally screwed with hell to pay
I never learned to bow, bend or crawl
To any known authority
I really want to build my statue tall
That's all
I'm just trying to be God
I only want to be God
I just want to be God
Why can't I be God
I'm just trying to be God
I only want to be God
I just want to be God
Why can't I be God
I'm just trying to be God
I only want to be God
I just want to be God
Why can't I be God
I'm just trying to be God
I only want to be God
I just want to be God
Why can't I be God
The lyrics of Alice Cooper's song I Just Wanna Be God depict a persona who is fully in control of their life and destiny, and refuses to bow down to any authority or take advice from anyone else. The character claims to have a "bulletproof soul" and high self-esteem, and has invented themselves without help from anyone else. The persona believes they are the best of the best and a "prototype supreme," sitting on their throne and running their own lifestyle alone with no need for anyone else.
The character's ultimate goal is to be God, and they are frustrated that no one will allow them to be so. They claim that they do not need a preacher or anyone else to tell them how to live their life, as they are the omnipresent ruler of the human race. They also do not want to spend their life being someone else's fool, and instead want to live their life fully in control.
Overall, the song is a commentary on the desire for power and control, and the persona's belief that they can achieve ultimate power on their own. However, it also shows the potential pitfalls of such a mindset, as the persona acknowledges that they may be "royally screwed with hell to pay" if they are wrong on "judgment day."
Line by Line Meaning
I'm in control, I got a bulletproof soul
I have complete control over my life and emotions, and nothing can bring me down.
And I'm full of self-esteem
I have a high opinion of myself and my abilities.
I invented myself with no one's help
I have forged my own path in life without assistance or guidance from others.
I'm a prototype supreme
I am the ultimate and unparalleled model of perfection.
I sit on my private throne
I am the ruler of my own world and domain.
And run my lifestyle all alone
I control every aspect of my life without relying on anyone else.
Me, myself and I agree
My thoughts and opinions are the only ones that matter.
We don't need nobody else
I don't need anyone else to validate my worth or existence.
I never learned to bow, bend or crawl
I refuse to submit to the authority or expectations of others.
To any known authority
I do not recognize any established or recognized figures of power or influence.
I really want to build my statue tall
I want to cement my legacy and leave my mark on the world.
That's all
That is my sole ambition and purpose in life.
I got no time to take advice
I do not value or seek the opinions of others on how I should live my life.
I want to gamble with my eternity with loaded dice
I am willing to take risks and challenge fate in order to achieve my goals and desires.
I don't need a preacher in my face
I reject any attempts by others to influence or preach to me.
When I'm the omnipresent ruler of the human race
I view myself as the all-powerful and all-knowing ruler of humanity.
Ain't gonna spend my life being no one's fool
I refuse to be taken advantage of or manipulated by anyone.
I was born to rock and I was born to rule
I was destined for greatness and to lead others.
But if I'm wrong on judgement day
If I were to be judged and found lacking in any way,
I'm royally screwed with hell to pay
I will face severe consequences and punishment.
I'm just trying to be God
I aspire to attain god-like power and status.
I only want to be God
Being God is the only thing I truly desire.
Why can't I be God
I do not understand or accept any limitations on my power or abilities.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: COOPER, MARLETTE
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.