Dyslexia (DaDa, 1983)

Alice’s 8th solo album, “DaDa,” was released in 1983. The last of four albums referred to as the “blackout” albums – it winds up being his final album for Warner Bros. Records. Interestingly enough, Alice doesn’t remember much about the writing process.

“The real Alice fans’ four favorite albums are the four blackout albums. The ones that I wrote totally subconsciously, and I go back now and listen to them and go, “For somebody who doesn’t remember writing that song, recording or touring it, that’s a pretty cool song!” (laughs). – Alice Cooper

The cover art, based on a painting by surrealist artist Salvador Dali, and the album’s name references Dadaism, an early 20th-century European avant-garde art movement. However, areas of the LP also focus on the word Dada having paternal roots – featuring a child or infant calling for their father.

“Dyslexia,” the fifth track on the album, is a witty tune dedicated to the side effects one in love might experience – that upside-down, inside-out emotional response a person head over hills in love may encounter. It’s a charming song.

Sometimes my world goes upside down
Sometimes I see things backwards
When I go walking in town, can’t get back home
Sometimes I see things right to left
And I know that’s not right at all
But since I bumped into you, I bump into walls
And no one knows what’s wrong with me
They think that I got dropsie

Is dis love?
Or is dyslexia
Dyslexia
Dyslexia

As mentioned above, the song details the thought process of someone who has fallen in love. It’s an emotional journey and often unpredictable. As feelings progress, there may also be hesitance, coupled with an uneasy feeling. Most of us don’t easily trust others with our heart or emotions.

At times, our faith may also experience similar unrest and uncertainty as we learn to trust and entirely rely on Him. We tend to believe that we are the only ones capable of making decisions and are the only ones with our best interests in mind.

For instance, in 2020, we have been presented with a staggering number of obstacles. Health concerns, financial strife, and contradicting reports don’t make it easy to understand the proper path forward. The futuristic “new normal” sometimes seems like a return to draconian methods and principles from the past.

We’ve mentioned the pros and cons of lockdowns, masks, and other precautionary steps in previous posts – this post isn’t about that. This song and its verses point us to something more.

What’s interesting about such ever-changing times is our perspective. It often shifts based on our surroundings and the actions of others. If we aren’t careful and mindful of what blessings God has given us and continues to bestow on us, we may overlook the bigger picture – what God is in the process of doing.

Even in an upside-down, disorder driven world, we find one constant – one Truth.

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” – Isaiah 40:8

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” – Hebrews 13:8

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” – Revelation 22:13

Notice the above-listed verses; there are hundreds of verses in scripture that reveal this reality. Humanity is mortal – in time, we wither away. However, God and His Word are eternal. We find lasting solutions to life’s hurdles and the path to fulfillment unlocked within His Word.

It seems the reason why this world suffers from so much abuse and “dyslexia” stems from humanity’s hellbent intent on reversing His Will. We tend to change the order of creation, consistently placing ourselves before Him.

There’s nothing that surprises Him. He’s fully aware of the outcome. Therefore, it would be best for us to focus on diligently changing our perspective instead of trying to force Him to see and do things our way.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts; neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:8-9

Notice the thought process of humanity. We seek provision, answers, wisdom, and fulfillment as if they are easily attained and require no forethought. However, God’s Word directs us to seek Him first – standing faithfully, knowing that His promises are Truth.

Wrapping up this post, we’ve all struggled in 2020. As we work towards finding sanity in a world that has lost its mind, take a look around. Why are things so backward? Why does nothing make any sense? Who are we trusting to solve life’s problems? What is our first line of defense?

Is it God and His Holy Word? Or is it by and through our own devices?

When we place ourselves ahead of our Creator, we design a dyslexic world – one where we create our problems and try fixing them as well. If we apply a little reverse engineering, it’s simple to notice our mistake. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.

Life is much simpler and more orderly, more straightforward once we’ve recognized the designer and his plans. Once we’ve realized that the world does not revolve around us; instead, we are part of a vast creation of life, the picture becomes more evident.

Once we trust Him and place Him first in our lives, our world becomes right side up, and we move forward out of the darkness and into the Light. Instead of seeing right to left, we learn to look up. His Love solves our problems rather than creating new ones.

In conclusion, as stated at the beginning of this post, Alice was subconsciously writing the songs on the DaDa LP. It’s widely known and accepted that this was most likely the darkest period of his life and career. However, it also became the brightest as well.

Divine intervention and our acceptance of it are a powerful combination. While it’s evident Alice was never an evil man, he admits that he was misguided on several occasions. Interestingly enough, misdirection often has a way of leading us back to the beginning – back to our roots and our core beliefs.

Alice’s journey to fortune and fame led him back to where he started – back to the Light. Where are you and where are you headed – the darkness or the Light?

As we celebrate Christ’s birth (Merry Christmas!) and the end of the year (Woo Hoo!), let us take some time to ask ourselves how well we know Him. Have we placed our full trust in Him and His Word?

Even through life’s darker moments (looking at you 2020), have we found rest and peace in Him? Are we spiritually dyslexic, or have we learned to see things in their proper order?

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

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