Go Away (Road, 2023)

Road, Alice Cooper’s 22nd solo LP, was released on August 25, 2023, and features Cooper’s touring band – a solid group of musicians who, collectively, have been with him for nearly a decade.

“I’ve said for years that we as a band have such a unique perspective on Alice’s music because we play songs from his whole catalog year after year for fans all over the world, and we get to experience not only what fans love and react to but what Alice has fun singing and performing.

With Bob Ezrin at the helm, we made an album about the road, written and recorded WHILE we were on the road. The writing and recording process was completely different than any other album I’ve ever been a part of, and it was an amazing learning experience.

The music was recorded in the round – all five band members in a circle in the same room, playing live together. It’s raw, it’s real – some of these solos are rough first takes that made the final record, which is crazy to me – and that’s what makes it unique. It’s not like every other modern rock album out there. “- Nita Strauss, Guitarist

The current band lineup is arguably the best group of musicians Alice has ever assembled. Seriously, they are impeccable. As Nita suggests, each member brings their own unique vibe and skillset to the table; it’s truly a masterpiece watching them perform.

Each track on the LP offers a view from the Road. The roadies, the groupies, the band, the truckers, etc., are all covered in a song-after-song marathon about life on the Road.

Overall, the album is stellar – one of Alice’s best. And “I’m Alice,” “Welcome To The Show,” “White Line Frankenstein,” “Road Rats Forever,” and “100 More Miles” are all standouts on the LP.

“Go Away,” the 5th track on the LP, has a Southern Rock vibe and fits perfectly on the LP. It has that certain pedal-to-the-metal ambiance attached to it – an ideal song for a Road trip.

The song’s story finds Alice (or perhaps a band member) stalked by a deranged fan. This woman is relentless; she won’t take no for an answer.

She spams me every night
She calls, she texts, she writes

No matter what I do, no matter what I say
That girl just won’t go away
Why won’t she understand? I’ll never be her man
That girl just won’t go away!
Why won’t she just go away?

She’s a thorn stickin’ in my shoe,
Like a kidney stone that just won’t pass through… torture
I met her once back in ‘92
At a Detroit show, now she sticks like glue… that’s her

Has this ever happened to you or anyone you know? It doesn’t necessarily have to be a stalker or someone looking for love (or a relationship). It could just be someone who annoys you, makes demands, expects you to see things their way, etc.

Let’s face it. We will never get along with everyone or even like everyone (we aren’t requested to do so either). However, we are called to love everyone. How and what on earth does that look like?

The word “Love” is overused and underrated. We love cars, houses, music artists, TV shows, movies, actors/actresses, food, etc. The term is thrown around and carries various weights according to context. Unfortunately, we have no variation for the word love or its meaning in English.

However, the Greek language uses multiple words to define love. The three most commonly referred to in the Bible are Eros, Philia, and Agape.

Eros (romantic love) – The love reserved for marriage in the Bible is derived from the Greek mythological god of romance, love, and sexual desire. The word erotic stems from Eros.

Eros is most commonly referenced in the Bible book Song of Solomon.

“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—
    for your love is more delightful than wine.
3 Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes;
    your name is like perfume poured out.
    No wonder the young women love you!
4 Take me away with you—let us hurry!
    Let the king bring me into his chambers.” – Song of Solomon 1:2-4

Philia (or Phileo) (brotherly love) – The love or bond seen in long-standing friendships. It is derived from the Greek term philos, meaning “beloved, dear; a friend held in close affection. Example: Philadelphia, the city of “brotherly love.”

Philia is referenced often in the scriptures; Christians are called to love one another as brothers and sisters in the Faith. Christ shows us an example of this in the book of John when he refers to His disciples as friends.

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name, the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.” – John 15:12-17

Agape (unconditional love) – God’s incomparable, immeasurable Love for humanity. It’s the perfect love.

Agape is referenced in the Bible as the highest form of love. It is God’s sacrificial, divine love – the Love of Christ. The most common reference to this is also found in the book of John.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” – John 3:16-18

Looking at these three terms (while realizing there are also more terms for love (i.e., Storge, Xenia, etc.), it’s easier to understand that love is very complex. Love covers a multitude of meanings and interactions – some occur naturally, others are more difficult and require focus and determination.

Eros is relatively easy and uncomplicated when a married couple meets each other’s needs in mutual reciprocation. Phileo takes on a similar ease because we see someone as a brother or sister – we like them. That brings us to Agape, the primary focus of this post.

Agape is the most challenging form of love to give. There is a list of verbs and adjectives that describe it – patient, diligent, determined, focused, unyielding, etc. Agape love is given and asks for nothing in return.

All forms of Love are essential to our lives. However, at the base of them all is Agape. If we were to visualize eros, phileo, and agape as a stacked pyramid, we would find eros at the top, phileo in the medium, and agape at the bottom. Agape is the cornerstone of Love.

”Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this, the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” – 1 John 4:7-12

As the above-listed verses discuss, God is Love, and the highest form of Love is Agape. Therefore, it’s safe to say God’s Love is Agape Love. When we think about loving others, it’s Agape Love that we strive for – a Love that is authentic, deliberate, and even difficult.

If it were easy to Love others, the world would be perfect. We’d all walk around with bright smiles, perfect lives, and no worries. But that’s what makes Agape Love so beautiful. It’s asking us to Love despite annoyances, bad habits, differing ideologies, personalities, behaviors, etc., you get the picture. 

We haven’t been called to like everyone around us. It may be tough enough to tolerate some family members, let alone a random stranger, but we’ve been called to share His Light in a darkened world (1 John 1:5-7).

Wrapping up this week’s post, who do we love? How do we love? What form of love do they receive from us? If we look at love from the context of the Greek language, we discover a whole new meaning to God’s Word and what is asked of us.

That said, it’s obvious the woman in “Go Away” needs to be restrained. Love isn’t asking us to allow ourselves to be mistreated or abused. Love doesn’t ask us to become doormats and never disagree with others.

Instead, Christ asks us to know it will be challenging – that loving others will not be easy. He wants us to know that disagreements, confusion, differences in opinion, harsh words, etc., are no reason to negate Love. And honestly, there may come times when politely saying, “Go Away” is the perfect form of Love.

In a world that doesn’t love Christ, we are asked by Him to Love them. There are no parameters placed on Agape Love. That same love offered to us is extended to all. We are called to pray for everyone (even our enemies) and do good for them (Luke 6:27-28).

God’s Love (Agape) was offered to the world. A world that didn’t (and still doesn’t) accept Him. Even so, God still gifted His Son, Jesus Christ to all humanity – a chance for salvation. Christ asks us to Love those we see because of the One we can’t see (1 John 4:12).

Are we willing to love everyone? Our enemies? Those that annoy us? The unlovable? Do we only love others when it’s easy, or are we willing to give the greatest Love of all – Agape Love, God’s Love?

In conclusion, “Go Away” is a great track from the Road LP. Imagine how hard it must be for famous folks like Alice to be stalked and chased because of their music, role on stage, etc.

This LP has so many songs that would be great performances on stage. It will be exciting to see which songs from this LP make the set list on tour. In the meantime, it’s a great LP for a Road trip. Turn it up to eleven and take a joy ride!

That’s it for this week. Catch you next Friday.

Until then, Keep Walkin’ in Faith and Rockin’ with Alice!​