Alice’s 21st solo album, “Detroit Stories,” will be released on February 26, 2021. Inspired by Alice’s hometown, Detroit, MI, the album pays homage to “the birthplace of angry hard rock,” as the Coop defines it.

He also admits that the new LP includes “a lot of different flavors,” some of which we’ve already heard on The Breadcrumbs EP. Along with the EP tracks, “Rock and Roll” and “Our Love Will Change The World” have been released ahead of the album’s release.

Interestingly enough, “Our Love Will Change The World” fits perfectly into this week’s narrative, especially following last week’s “Dyslexia” post. If you haven’t read that one, be sure to check it out as well. “Our Love Will Change The World” is a much deeper, thought-provoking song than one may expect based on its sound and demeanor.

“I think ‘Our Love Will Change The World’ is one of the oddest songs I’ve ever done, and it was one that came to us by somebody else, another Detroit writer, and it was so strange because it was happy and what it was saying was anything but happy — it was merely a great juxtaposition.

And I got it immediately and said, ‘okay, this is going to be great.’ The music saying one thing and the lyrics saying something else, I love that song. It is totally different from anything else on the album.” – Alice Cooper

Where do we begin on this one? As Alice suggests, the song isn’t what you think. It’s actually a tale of just how warped and jaded we’ve become. Our “Love” has most definitely changed the world.

We have very little respect for everything
Very little regard for anything
We’ve got something against so much
And We’re only beginning

Our mind’s a cynical machine now
That’ll never run out of steam
We’re All Pessimistic Creeps
Or So it Seems

Or Any Illusion Of Synchronicity
Coz That’s Been Effective
To A Certain Degree

Ooh

Our Love Will Change The World
Our Love Will Change The World

Into A Strange Place
That You Won’t Recognize
When You Look Into Its Eyes

Our Love Will Change The World
Our Love Will Change The World

You May Not Like It Now
But You’ll Get Used To It
Somehow

Holy smokes! Does this not define our world? Humanity’s love for “Sex, Death, and Money” has brought us to this place. In this place, a happy-go-lucky song and “nothing to see here” attitude has replaced all normalcy with a politically charged façade of destruction and implosion.

The world calls for cooperation and unity yet divides us into stats and individual narratives. We are purposely divided and kept from the Truth – the basic tenet of our Faith.

As we discussed last week, we live in a dyslexic world – one where humanity wants to be god and believe our narrative is more important than HIS. However, the reality is quite simple. That narrative is a lie.

“Our Love Will Change The World” isn’t a declaration of love or a call to continue the status quo. It’s actually a cry for redirection and evaluation. It’s a warning and narrative leading us back to one basic principle – HIS Love is the ONLY thing that can and will positively change the world.

True LOVE only exists because of Him, by His Creation.

“We love because he first loved us.” – 1 John 4:19

 He commands us to walk in His LOVE.

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” – Matthew 22:37-40

That same LOVE from Him heals us.

 “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” – 1 Peter 4:8

Okay, quickly and easily said, but how on earth can this be accomplished? How can HIS narrative replace the narrative of a world gone mad? How can we, as Believers, focus and lead the way to True Love?

It’s a daily process and entails deliberate devotion. It also requires us to think differently and know that we fight NOT against flesh and blood..but instead against the spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12). The battle for LOVE begins with this:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. – Ephesians 6:10-20

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We have discussed God’s Armor before and the merits that come with the visualization of putting it on (and knowing its power and strength). But as we wage war on the enemy, we must remember, it is against the darkness – the spiritual evils of this world – NOT against our fellow neighbors.

The war is NOT waged against humanity but instead against the evil desires and spirits that sway our hearts. Such evil is slain by the Sword of the Spirit (God’s Word). Notice how all the other pieces of armor are defensive, but the application of God’s Word is what ultimately slays the enemy.

According to His Word, walking in faith, LOVING our neighbors (friends and foes) as ourselves, this is what truly changes the world. It’s what we’ve been called to do. It’s who we’ve been called to be.

Wrapping up this post, it’s Christmas time. A time when we celebrate the coming of our Lord into this world. A time when we honestly examine our hearts and minds – looking for joy, mercy, peace, kindness, and LOVE.

As we exam our hearts, what do we find? Narcissism? Joy? Disdain and contempt? Love? If we honestly observe our motives and actions, we may find that we are changing the world for worse instead of better. We may realize that we are sowing division instead of unity.

If we are not mindful of the battle and equipped for the war, we may find that our motives are selfishness and greed instead of humility and compassion. The battle for the souls of humanity is won by applying HIS Love, not ours.

For without HIS Love, we’re all just a bunch of ‘pessimistic creeps’ changing the world ‘into a strange place’ – an unrecognizable wasteland. In opposition to this, stop and think about this. If we apply HIS Love instead, are we really changing the world, or are we merely allowing it to operate how it was intentionally designed? HIS Kingdom Come. Here on Earth. Amen.

In conclusion, Alice never ceases to amaze when it comes to his song selection and performance. He masterfully delivers this song with complete conviction. At first listen, it seems the track is a happy tune about Love (almost early Beatles or Monkees-esque).

However, the lyrics paint a much darker, more sinister picture of humanity and the world we’ve created. The song forces the listener out of their comfort zone and into reality – posing questions that may be initially hard to swallow but ultimately lead us to the answer.

Life poses one question over and over – what is the concept of true happiness. How do we enjoy this life? It seems this song unlocks that answer. The less we focus on ourselves, the more we focus on Him. In turn, the more we also focus on others. Applying His LOVE, that’s the key that unlocks the door.

That’s it for this week. Be well and catch you next Friday.

In the meantime, Keep walkin’ in Faith and rockin’ with Alice!