Novocaine
Alice Cooper Lyrics


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When I was 10, fell out of bed
Got three stitches in my head
It hurt like hell
I saw the blood, I felt the pain
I'd like to feel it once again
'Cause I don't feel it

Then I got stung, right on the face
I screamed and ran around the place
It hurt like hell
I swoll right up, I burned for days
I'd like to feel it once again

'Cause when you touch me
When you hold me
When you kiss me
I don't feel anything
When you touch me
When you hold me
When you kiss me
It's just like Novocaine

I remember every cut and scrape
I've been numb so long
Something's wrong
So I'll take anything

I slap my face, I pull my hair
Just to see if something's there
It should hurt like hell
I miss the pinch, I miss the pain
That shock sensation in my brain

'Cause when you touch me
When you hold me
When you kiss me
I don't feel anything
When you touch me
When you hold me
When you kiss me
I don't feel anything

When you touch me (when you touch me)
When you hold me (when you hold me)
When you kiss me
I don't feel it
When you touch me (when you touch me)
When you hold me (when you hold me)
When you kiss me
It's just like Novocaine
I don't feel anything
I don't feel it
I don't feel it
I don't feel it
Well, I don't feel it




No, I don't feel it
I don't feel it

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of this song revolve around the idea of desensitization towards feeling pain. Alice Cooper describes how, as a child, he experienced pain from injuries such as falling out of bed and being stung but longs to feel the sensation again. He feels like he has been numb for too long and something is wrong, hence he's willing to take anything to experience pain again, even slapping his face and pulling his hair. However, the pain he experiences from being touched, held or kissed by his partner is compared to the sensation of Novocaine - a local anesthesia that numbs the area it is applied to, thus making it hard for him to feel anything.


The lyrics could be interpreted metaphorically as Cooper's personal experience of losing emotional connection or passion in his relationship, which has made him emotionally numb. The comparison of the pain he longs for to Novocaine also suggests the idea of addiction, where the person is willing to go to great lengths to feel the sensation they crave, but it only numbs them further.


Line by Line Meaning

When I was 10, fell out of bed
The artist recalls a specific event from his childhood where he fell out of bed and received stitches for the injury.


Got three stitches in my head
The artist received three stitches in his head as a result of his injury.


It hurt like hell
The pain experienced from the injury was excruciating.


I saw the blood, I felt the pain
The artist saw the blood resulting from his injury and was able to physically feel the pain associated with it.


I'd like to feel it once again
Despite the negative experience associated with his injury, the artist has become numb over time and longs to feel the sensation of pain again.


'Cause I don't feel it
The artist has become desensitized and numb to physical pain to the point where he no longer feels it.


Then I got stung, right on the face
The artist was stung in the face by an unknown object.


I screamed and ran around the place
The pain from the sting caused the artist to scream and react dramatically.


It hurt like hell
The pain experienced from the sting was excruciating.


I swoll right up, I burned for days
The sting caused the artist's face to swell and feel hot for days after the initial injury.


I'd like to feel it once again
The artist longs to feel the sensation of pain again, despite the negative experience associated with it.


'Cause when you touch me When you hold me When you kiss me I don't feel anything When you touch me When you hold me When you kiss me It's just like Novocaine
The artist compares the lack of feeling in response to physical touch to the sensation of being under the influence of Novocaine - a pain relief medication.


I remember every cut and scrape
The artist recalls every injury he has experienced, even the minor ones like cuts and scrapes.


I've been numb so long
The artist has been desensitized and numb to physical pain for an extended period of time.


Something's wrong
The artist recognizes that his lack of feeling and numbness to physical pain is abnormal and concerning.


So I'll take anything
The artist is willing to try anything in order to regain the sensation of pain.


I slap my face, I pull my hair Just to see if something's there It should hurt like hell
The artist physically tests himself by slapping his face and pulling his hair to see if he can feel any sensation of pain.


I miss the pinch, I miss the pain That shock sensation in my brain
The artist misses the sensation of pain and the corresponding reaction in his brain that he used to experience.


I don't feel it
The artist still lacks the sensation of pain that he longs for.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RYAN ROXIE, ALICE COOPER, ERIC J. DOVER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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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.