How You Gonna See Me Now (From The Inside, 1978)

From The Inside was released in 1978. The LP is an expressive, autobiographical album that recalls Alice’s time spent in the Cornell Medical Center located in Westchester County, New York.

“From The Inside was ten songs making up a concept album of all the characters I met in the insane asylum when I went in for my alcohol in New York; they put me in this really sort of rich sanatorium. I ended up realizing I was the only one in there for alcohol.

Everybody else was in there because they were so bloody rich, and they had committed some crime and got committed here instead of going to jail. So all of those characters were real characters. I just named them something else.” – Alice Cooper

Alice’s battle with alcohol started gradually – a drink here, a drink there. But like any vice or trap, what seems harmless becomes more and more dangerous. Luckily Shep Gordon, his manager, and Sheryl Cooper, his wife, took note and intervened, even though that decision was not easy.

It’s worth noting that Alice gives full credit to God for his transformation and healing – a modern-day miracle. To this day, Alice admits that if a glass of alcohol and a glass of arsenic were before him, he would touch neither. They are both poisons.

It’s been said he must have great discipline, yet he would admit he actually has none. This is because God removed the want and need to drink. Alice admits, “I don’t have a sponsor; I have a SAVIOR!” Amen.

“How You Gonna See Me Now?” was a love song written by Alice to his wife, Sheryl.

Prompted by the realization that Sheryl had never seen him completely sober, he wrestled with the insecurities that she may not love him for who he is, minus the alcohol.

Would his sober persona be just as appealing? Would she love the new “man when he gets home?”

We know this love story continues today – fiercer than ever. However, this song is such a beautiful portrait of the admission of this man’s faults and apprehensions. Anxieties regarding how the love of his life would see him stripped to his core – a reformed soul.

The human condition leaves us tattered and torn at times. “How You Gonna See Me Now” does a fantastic job displaying Alice’s heart and mind. It is a poetic sonnet full of truth and raw emotion.

How you gonna see me now
Please don’t see me, ugly babe
‘Cause I know I let you down
In oh so many ways
How you gonna see me now
Since we’ve been on our own
Are you gonna love the man
When the man gets home
Listen darlin’; now I’m heading for the west

Straightened out my head, but my old heart is still a mess
Yes, I’m worried, honey
Guess that’s natural though
It’s like I’m waiting for a welcome sign
Like a hobo in the snow

Reread those lines; it’s never easy admitting when we’ve failed. How many times do we come to our senses? Only to find the mess we’ve made for ourselves or others around us?

“I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” – Galatians 2:20

Redemption is always possible. Once we’ve excepted Christ, we find revitalization in Him. We are made new through Him. We must remember that even when life takes unexpected turns and detours.

SIDE NOTE: Before we go any further, I have a bit of a confession to make. It’s a little embarrassing, but I feel the need to address it.

One of the things that bugs me most about Religion is the hypocrisy of it all. The “I’m so much better than you” attitude, mindset, and perception.

With that being said, none of us are perfect. We all struggle and strive to find our way on this journey. Therefore, sharing our experience is essential and a needed part of it.

Long story short, since the beginning of COVID, it became easier and easier to have a drink here and a drink there. Until after a few months in, I noticed that the drinking was more and more prevalent. After that, it was easy to rationalize things; “I’m not too fond of how things are going, I’ll have a drink, etc.”

Being open and honest with who we are and where we are is so important. The enemy wants nothing more than for us to conceal our pain, our hurt, our guilt, our shame, etc.

He doesn’t want us to share or confess that we need help. Instead, he wants us to believe the lies he claims about us as truth – that we are somehow lost, irredeemable, and worthless. Please don’t give in or believe him.

I don’t say these things to bring attention to myself or for any other reason than this, YOU, US, WE are God’s children. Our Father wants nothing more than to see us healthy, happy, and blessed by His Mercy and LOVE.

Be ever mindful of where you are on this journey, surround yourself with those that love you and be willing to examine your heart, mind, and soul – as painful as that may be. Much Love, let’s continue the post.

This post will focus on Transformation, Transition, and our Relationships In Life.

Transformation.
What’s amazing is how God reveals himself through process and time – a somewhat unnerving and frightening yet transformational mission. As we become a new creation in Him, we find new meaning in much of what we thought we already knew.

A concept, a thought, certain scriptures, etc., take on new meaning as His Spirit directs us. For instance, our pastor often speaks about fear. But maybe not in the same fashion you might expect to hear.

“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” – Genesis 3:8-10

Fear is more than a thought – it’s a feeling. Fear was never present until sin reared its ugly head. Then, the enemy stole fear and used it against us. Much like the beasts of this earth fear us (Genesis 9:2), the enemy persuades us into thinking we should also succumb to such fears as well.

In turn, we often allow those uncertainties to control us and our every move. However, the transformation process into a new creation, one in Christ, makes us different. Therefore, we must learn to respond differently.

Continuing to use fear as a transformative example, reverence for the Lord (learning to stand in awe of Him) is part of healthy fear. But it’s more than that.

“The prudent see danger and take refuge,
    but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.” – Proverbs 27:12

Stop and think about that passage for a second. Through transformation, a prudent, or wise, man/woman learns to avoid evil, yet one that doesn’t know any better walks right into it and suffers the consequences.

Fear takes on new meaning through transformation and experience (knowing who you were before vs. who you are now). You don’t fear evil as being some taboo; “I’m scared of the boogeyman” sort of thing. Instead, it’s a fear of life without the presence of God.

It’s something that leads you to avoid evil, fearing you may reside once again in a place without Him. Wrapping up transformation, know that He is not looking for perfection. He only wants us to come to Him.

When Adam was naked and afraid, God didn’t slay him for his actions. While Adam did pay the penalties for his sins, God did NOT desert or leave him. As your life transforms anew, don’t expect perfection – expect something different. Expect Him to show you life in a new Light.

Transition.
A certain amount of transformation automatically occurs when we accept Christ – supernaturally, we become new in Him and through Him. However, that is only the beginning; we continually transition as we seek Him and His Will.

If we are caught in the snares of sin, have made the conditions around us volatile, need a complete overhaul in our life, etc., a completely different mindset has to occur.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

As we transition into life anew, we must learn to rely on His Word, His love, and His promises. As the old is replaced by Him, we must learn to see things differently and trust that they will be better when walking in His Light.

The transition also requires grace. Not so much His grace – that’s been provided and is overwhelmingly evident. However, we must also learn to offer grace to ourselves and each other. We are often willing to give it so quickly yet forget we must be willing to accept it as well.

“Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. 8 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” – Deuteronomy 31:7-8

These verses focus on the transition of leadership from Moses to Joshua, which was taking place. But it was more than that; it was a transition from old to new. Seeing the mistakes made under the rule of Moses, Joshua was in a better position to rule and had witnessed how he should (and should not) govern and follow the Lord’s lead.

Joshua also knew of the grace the Lord had shown Moses – this was important. Walking through life with others and learning from others is a vital part of our faith. As we transition and grow, we must be willing to rely not only on our Lord but also on others that have gone before us.

We must be willing to accept that they may have already learned the best ways to navigate this life with Him and the detriments of doing it without Him, which leads us to our final point.

Relationship.
Relationship encompasses so much of our life. It starts with our parents, siblings, families, friends, etc., and then spills over into our working and professional careers and experiences.

How we handle our relationships defines much of who we are in this life. However, all other relationships stem from our relationship with our Creator.

In the song, Alice is apprehensive about the man he’s become. He wonders if he will still captivate the attention of his wife, Sheryl. It’s easy to be anxious about transformation and transition through Him.

But stop and think about what that means. The truth is, knowing Christ, embracing His plan, and striving to be like Him improves our relationship with everyone around us.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22-23

The characteristics, or fruit, of the Spirit, are appealing qualities – even to the standards of this world. As we transform, allowing Him to help us and move within us, these characteristics begin to take shape and mold us into the new creation Christ has created us to be.

Think about how much more appealing this looks instead of the opposites of the fruit. While it is imperative that we rely on the Word for transformation, we must also be willing to walk, share, and learn from others.

Don’t be afraid to mentor and minister to others when given the opportunity, but also be ready for others to mentor and minister to you as well – for even pastors need to be led not only by our Lord but by other men and women as well (Hebrews 13:17, Jeremiah 3:15).

Wrapping up this week’s post, our Lord is so amazing. Stop and think about the marriage of Alice and Sheryl Cooper. By all standards of this world, their marriage should have never lasted.

Instead of spending 45+ years of life together, they could have easily called it quits after 1-2 years. Instead, however, they decided to do things differently.

By relying on God and His Word (instead of the world), they have been blessed by Him. That blessing has spilled over and allowed them to make “everlasting differences” in the lives of many they’ve met as well. The Coopers are an example of the faithfulness God gives to those that accept Him.

Allow Him to transform your life (Romans 12:2). Don’t be hesitant during the transition (Proverbs 3:5-6). And surround yourself with those that will strengthen you and your walk (Proverbs 27:17).

In conclusion, From The Inside has become one of our favorite LPs during the Fridays With Alice journey. There’s so much to learn and ponder from those songs and lyrics. Not to mention the incredible versatility Alice displays from a musical perspective.

“How You Gonna See Me Now” may be one of, if not the most beautifully written ballad in Alice’s catalog. As we grow, mature, and walk through life’s narratives, we are bound to have victories, losses, and stagnant areas we celebrate, mourn, or wish would change.

However, when “we walk through that door, there’s no place to hide,” and we must trust that if we are willing to commit and love others, we will be accepted for who we are – by Him and by those we love.

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

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