It’s Me (The Last Temptation, 1994)

In 1994, Alice Cooper released The Last Temptation, the 20th Alice Cooper LP (and Alice’s 13th solo studio album). Along with the album, a three-part comic book series accompanies its release. The record also included various guest artists, including Chris Cornell, lead singer of Soundgarden.

The 3-part comic book series and the album were a collaborative effort between Neil Gaiman (author of The Sandman comics) and Alice. The two of them together introduced us to The Showman, Mercy, and Steven, characters found in the story. The concept was also influenced by Ray Bradbury’s “Something Wicked This Way Comes.”

“(Alice) wrote the songs; I wrote the story. I was there for some of the songwriting, but my most vivid memories are of a storm coming in and knocking out the hotel power, and so sitting out on the balcony, watching the lightning, while Alice told us about the night he met Elvis.” – Neil Gaiman, author of The Sandman

The LP is arguably one of Cooper’s best, if not the best. The concept is pure Alice Cooper, the music is hard-hitting, and the message embraces the reality of the battle being waged for our souls. The entire album is stellar. However, the last two tracks on the record, “It’s Me” and “Cleansed By Fire,” close the LP flawlessly.

The second to last track on the LP, “It’s Me,” was co-written by Tommy Shaw (Styx) and Jack Blades (Night Ranger), both members of the Damn Yankees in 1994. The song is issued as a single from the album and is also featured as a music video.

And if someday you realize just where you belong
I’m the man that’ll take you in
When all your luck’s gone, yeah

It’s me; it’s me
When you need something more
Something you’re dying for
It’s me; it’s me
When you can’t see too clear
Baby, I’m always near
It’s me; it’s me
What are you searching for
I know you can find my door
It’s me; it’s me
I know you’ve sinned every sin
But I’ll still take you in
It’s me

It’s easy to find the love song within the lyrics – a man chasing after the woman that doesn’t realize her worth or that there’s someone that loves her for all that she is (and isn’t). However, it also carries a much grander meaning. Not only is it a love song from a man to a woman, but from our Creator to humanity as well.

Looking at the song from humanity’s point of view and our Creator’s point of view, we must ask some questions. Do we truly know what Love is? Have we honestly witnessed Love here on earth? Some of us have, some think we have, and some of us have not.

There’s no Love like the Love shown by our Creator. The most remarkable example known to humanity was observed on the cross. A man willing to die for a world that would not receive Him.

Can we completely comprehend that? Christ’s willingness to set aside all authority, honor, and glory at that one moment –  to die and accept the penalties of our sin.

His actions allow us to be cleansed and renewed by His majesty, grace, and wonder. Through His sacrifice, He bestowed upon us Righteousness – something we could never obtain on our own. His Righteousness, a gift passed down from our Father through His Son now residing in us through the Holy Spirit.

One more look at the above lyrics leads us to God’s Word. With those lyrics, we find specific passages that define Christ.

“When you need something more, Something you’re dying for, It’s Me; It’s Me”

“For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.” – Romans 6:5-7

“It’s Me; It’s Me. What are you searching for? I know you can find my door.”

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” – Matthew 7:7-8

“I know you’ve sinned every sin, But I’ll still take you in; it’s Me.”

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.” – Romans 8:1-3

As the song points out, He yearns for us all to embrace Him and the sacrifice He made on that cross, and while the cross is the ultimate example of His Love – his willingness to lay down His life for us (John 15:13), Christ left us other examples of that Love as well. Here are a few of those:

· Jesus Feeds The Hungry – Jesus feeds 5,000 people (Matthew 14:13-21) and later 4,000 people (Matthew 15:29-32). These verses reference Christ providing for them out of compassion. He was motivated by LOVE.

· The Little Children And Jesus – Jesus shows us that, as God’s children, we must come to Him (Matthew 19:13-15) – willing to accept His forgiveness through His Righteousness which leaves us cleansed and renewed. He was motivated by LOVE.

· Jesus Prays In The Garden – Even though Jesus knew what must be done, he struggled with what was yet to come (Matthew 26:36-45). He knew that the weight of humanity’s sins would soon crush His earthly body, yet He remains faithful and accepts the task. He was motivated by LOVE.

· Jesus Is Betrayed And Arrested – Even as Christ was being arrested and taken away, we find Him commanding His disciples not to fight (Luke 22:49-51, John 18:10-11). Christ’s disciples and His assailants witnessed His commitment to the Great Commandment found in Matthew 22:37-39. In the end, He remained motivated by LOVE.

Wrapping up this week’s post, we can’t help but believe Alice knew what he was doing when he wrote this song. It, of course, carries the pursuit of love between a man and a woman but perfectly parallels the Love our Creator offers us as well.

May we all come to know and understand that His Love is absolute and unrestricted. He only asks that we accept it. Accept Him and the sacrifice that was made – knowing it to be a completion of our hearts, minds, and souls.

That acceptance makes us righteous, holy, and made new by His Love – the Love of a man that was fully human and fully God – willing to give His life so that we might obtain it. That man was Jesus Christ.

In conclusion, it’s no secret “Fridays With Alice,” and so many of his fans love “The Last Temptation” LP. Alice makes no bones about where he stands in his faith. He spells that out perfectly on this record.

As the LP started appearing on the shelves of Christian bookstores, there was no doubt Alice had made his mark, and a new soldier in God’s Army had emerged on the scene. However, what was even more fascinating was how God would continue to use Alice.

The Alice Cooper character still lives on today, but Alice Cooper, the man, has been crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20). Therefore, he no longer lives; it is now Christ that lives within him.

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

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