The Awakening
Alice Cooper Lyrics

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I wake up in the basement
I'm so hungry
I'm dry
I must be here sleep walking
Musn't I?

Huh
Getting up from my easy chair

Looking for my wife
Following a trail of crimson spots
That lead into the night
Suddenly I realize
I see it all through real eyes
These crimson spots are dripping
From my hand

And ooh
It makes me feel like a man

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Alice Cooper's song "The Awakening" paint a picture of confusion and horror as the singer awakens in a basement, hungry and dry. He questions whether he must be sleepwalking, but soon realizes that the crimson spots he sees lead him to the realization that he has been involved in an act of violence, as the spots are dripping from his hand. "And ooh, it makes me feel like a man" suggests that he feels empowered despite the horror of his actions.

The lyrics effectively capture the sense of disorientation and terror that can come from a traumatic experience. The use of first-person point of view creates a sense of personal connection and empathy for the singer, while the imagery of dripping blood adds a visceral quality to the lyrics.

Line by Line Meaning

I wake up in the basement
I regain consciousness in a subterranean room

I'm so hungry
I feel famished

I'm dry
I'm parched

I must be here sleep walking
I suspect that I'm sleepwalking while in this location

Huh
An interjection indicating the artist's confusion or uncertainty

Getting up from my easy chair
Rising from my comfortable chair

Looking for my wife
Searching for my spouse

Following a trail of crimson spots
Tracing a path marked by dark red stains

That lead into the night
That extend into the darkness beyond

Suddenly I realize
I immediately comprehend

I see it all through real eyes
I perceive reality with clarity