After hiring C.C. DeVille, they changed their name to the more edgy ''Poison'' and started working their way up the L.A. Club scene. In 1986 they recorded their debut album ''Look What the Cat Dragged In'', which was made successful by their massive hit ''Talk Dirty to Me'', whose video was played on a constant rotation on MTV. Poison's next album, the fan favorite ''Open Up and Say... Ahh!'' was carried on the shoulders of the chart topping ballad ''Every Rose Has Its Thorn'', written by Bret Michaels about his girlfriend cheating on him with Quiet Riot frontman Kevin DuBrow. Poison's third album, Flesh & Blood, showed Poison's more mainstream side. After Flesh & Blood came out, Poison started going downhill. C.C. DeVille was in a constant drug binge and couldn't be found. When Poison was slated to play Unskinny Bop for the MTV Movie Awards, C.C. forgot what song to play and ripped into Talk Dirty To Me on live television. He was fired on the spot.
Guitarist Ritchie Kotzen was brought in to record the album Native Tongue, which showed a new creative turn for the band. Ritchie was a good guitarist, but was thrown out of the band for sleeping with drummer Rikki Rocketts fiance. Poison then brought in Blues Saraceno as guitarist, with whom they recorded ''Crack A Smile...And More!'', one of Poison's lost gems.
After years of disconnection, C.C. DeVille came back to Poison for a full reunion. They have since toured with many acts, including KISS. They are currently planning a summer tour with fellow hair metal elite Cinderella and have just released a new 20th anniversary greatest hits cd.
In the 2007 game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, the track "Talk Dirty to Me" is featured.
There are other artists with the same name:
2) Poison is a German Death/Thrash Metal band, formed in 1982.
Named "Poison (ger)" on Last FM
3) Poison was a Japanese hardcore punk band formed in 1982. Their sound is a mix of traditional Japanese hardcore and metal. The band later changed their name to Poison Arts.
4) Poison is an American Heavy/Speed Metal band, formed in 1983.
5) Poison is an American funk group formed in the '70s
6) Poison was a Finnish band formed by Albert Järvinen
7) For the Garage punk/blues rock band formed in 1984 in Austin, Texas. Originally active from 1984 to 1987, the band played a reunion show in 2000. See Poison 13
Stay Alive
Poison Lyrics
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Yeah, I do
You don't see it coming
hear it coming
Acting like you know nothing
About that strange rumor going on around here
Take me back to the land of the living
Take me back, things be different
You get it, got it, oh, you better get it now
[Chorus]
Stay alive, let your soul rise up from the bottom
Stay alive, don't let it take you down for the very last time
Stay alive, It don't do you no good looking up from the bottom
Stay alive, don't let it take you down for the very last time
You talk about lies and pain
It don't do you no good with your face in the cocaine
Love, hate, watch that mother
She'll bring you down like no other I've seen
If you know what I mean
Take me back, got to face that demon
Take me down, don't play its fool
Take me back, things be different
You get it, got it, ooooh, you better get it now
[Chorus]
No, I ain't seen nothin'
No, I ain't seen nothin'
No, I ain't seen nothin' like you before
[Chorus]
The song "Stay Alive" by Poison is a cautionary tale about staying alive and not letting oneself be taken down by addiction or other demons in life. The song begins with the singer addressing a child, telling them that they need to pay attention to what's going on around them and not ignore the strange rumors. The verses are filled with advice about avoiding addiction, such as not getting involved with cocaine and not trusting certain people who can bring you down. The chorus emphasizes the importance of keeping one's soul and spirit alive, rising up from the bottom and not giving in to the darkness.
The song has an upbeat, rock and roll feel to it, with driving guitar riffs and energetic vocals. The lyrics are full of vivid imagery and metaphors, such as "Take me back to the land of the living" and "face that demon." The overall message is one of hope and perseverance, urging listeners to stay alive and keep fighting even in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Listen up, child, there's one thing I've got to make clear
Pay attention to what I'm saying, I need to clarify something important to you.
You don't see it coming
You're unaware of the trouble that's approaching.
Acting like you know nothing
Pretending to be unaware of the rumors and problems around you.
About that strange rumor going on around here
There's a strange rumor going around here that you should know about.
Take me back to the land of the living
Bring me back to a place where I feel alive and happy.
Take me down where the sun do shine
Bring me down to a place where the good times are always present.
Take me back, things be different
Things will be different if we can go back to a happier time.
You get it, got it, oh, you better get it now
You need to understand the situation now or else you'll regret it later.
Stay alive, let your soul rise up from the bottom
Don't give up and let yourself be consumed by negativity, rise up from the bottom.
Stay alive, don't let it take you down for the very last time
Don't let anything destroy you completely, keep fighting to stay alive.
Stay alive, It don't do you no good looking up from the bottom
Looking up from the bottom won't do you any good, you need to fight and move forward.
You talk about lies and pain
You mention lies and pain, which are causing problems for you.
It don't do you no good with your face in the cocaine
Using drugs won't help you escape your problems or improve your situation.
Love, hate, watch that mother
Be cautious of people who may seem friendly but can cause harm or bring you down.
She'll bring you down like no other I've seen
She's very skilled at bringing people down and causing problems.
If you know what I mean
If you understand what I'm trying to say.
Take me back, got to face that demon
We need to confront and overcome our problems head-on.
Take me down, don't play its fool
Don't let yourself be fooled or deceived by the challenges you're facing.
No, I ain't seen nothin'
I haven't seen anything like this before.
Stay alive, don't let it take you down for the very last time
Keep fighting to stay alive and don't give up, you still have a chance.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DALL, KOTZEN, MICHAELS, ROCKETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind