Lullaby (The Last Temptation, 1994)

We’ve discussed so many songs from The Last Temptation. It’s genuinely one of the most remarkable albums of all time. The songs and lyrics combine perfectly with Neil Gaiman’s The Last Temptation comics (a collaborative effort with Alice). The concept works beautifully.

“…you can’t take a song off the album and let it stand on its own as it sounds out of place. So what I wanted to do was write the story first and then write the songs into the story. That way, when you read the comic book, you can see where the songs fit in.” – Alice Cooper

As Alice states, every song on this album is noteworthy in some form or fashion. However, there are ones that stand out just a little bit more than others. “Lullaby,” the eighth track on the LP, is one of those tracks.

In the song, we witness an altercation between the Showman (an agent of evil) and Steven. Steven laments for reprieve as he is confronted by darkness and evil tricks used by the enemy. The Showman’s major scheme is to instill fear – to haunt Steven’s soul.

I was the boy who said all of my prayers
Laid my clean face on the pillow
Tucked in real tight, so safe and secure
Through the night
I heard a noise; it was probably nothing
It pulled me right out of a dream
If I knew it was you
I’d have jumped out of bed with a scream

I am the one who growls in your closet
I am the one who lives under your bed

Get down – back where you started
Get down – back into hell
Your black soul, you know you’re
black-hearted
I smell your sulfurous smell

“Lullaby” is intense and denotes how the enemy works. Satan wants us to be fearful. Fearful of life, death, and everything in between. His game plan is to keep us focused on fear, so that we will never focus on Christ.

“So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10

Knowing God Loves us and Learning to trust in Him helps drown out the voices of darkness and fear. Christ’s perfect Love for humanity drives out the terror and dread of this world (1 John 4:18). His Spirit comforts us and gives us strength.

The book of Psalms is full of passages from many authors who learned to turn to God instead of succumbing to doubt and fear. Psalms 18 and 23 come to mind, along with many other verses guiding us to Him as our sanctuary from fright – teaching us to place our lives into His care and walk with Him without anxiety or worry.

As a child, we cry out to our parents or guardians for comfort and strength when the proverbial ‘boogeyman’ is after us. Children know when they are outmatched or need help. They are wise to seek comfort from the ones that love them most.

As adults, we tend to bury our fears deep within us and shamefully hide them from others. In reality, it would be best for us to expose them and lay them before the Lord (and others we trust). Bottling up fears and doubts only allows them to gnaw on our hearts, minds, and souls.

“All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” – John 14:25-27

Read those verses carefully. We’ve been given an “advocate” in the Holy Spirit. The Spirit bestows upon us the ability to leave fear behind – replacing it with the peace of Christ. However, pay close attention to those last lines – Christ requires us to rely on Him.

He tells us, “Do NOT be troubled” and “Do NOT be afraid.” “Doing” something requires action. As we study His Word, pray, and wait upon the Lord, we find Him showing up more and more. It becomes second nature for us to rely upon and trust Him. However, as Alice and Sheryl Cooper would say, we must keep “Showing Up!”

Looking at “Lullaby” and scripture a little deeper, let’s view them from two different perspectives. One from a child’s viewpoint and the second from an adult’s.

A Child’s Perspective.

A child learns and mimics (for the most part) their surroundings. How were you raised? Did you come to know the faith at an early age? Later in life? Are you still searching?

According to George Barna Research reports, 32% of professing Christians chose their faith between the ages of 5 and 12. However, that number drastically drops between the ages of 13 and 18, with only an additional 4% claiming Christ during the stages of adolescence.

Those numbers show us that almost 2/3 of the Christian population walked without Him during some of their most formidable years. Stop and think about that. Think about the lies, thievery, fear, doubt, shame, etc., that were implanted into those souls during such a vulnerable time.

“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” – James 1:26-27

As a body of believers, it’s our job to find avenues for these children. The above-listed verses call us to care for the widows and orphans of this world. Many might read this and think this only means providing for their physical needs – shelter, food, etc. But what about their spiritual needs?

We need to find ways to share with them, educate them, and help them to rely on Him and His Word. We need to give them the tools needed to stand up to the enemy and not be absorbed with fear and the other lies he wants them to believe.

Charities, organizations, and churches must stand firm in their faith – knowing that the freedoms of this country are still available for the church and Believers to share their faith with all who want to hear and know Him.

An Adult’s Perspective.

As adults, we tend to believe the lies of this world more often than children. Children look up all the time – up at the sink, up at the refrigerator, up at the television, up at their parents, up to their Creator.

Children inherently know that there’s something greater than themselves. Only with time do they start to see the world is NOT so big, NOT so beautiful, and NOT so simple.

Instead of looking upwards, adults start looking forward with time and age – at themselves in the mirror, at each other, at social media, at what they have and don’t have, etc. But what we fail to see is the enemy’s lies. Unfortunately, when we refuse to look up, it’s easy to believe those lies.

As Believers, we have to apply the wisdom of His Word and know the difference between lies and truth. The truth is we all have a certain amount of garbage we deal with in ‘life.’ Things in our past, circumstances in our present, and events still to come that will hinder and test our faith.

“I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.” – John 17:11-12

The truth is God’s plan has us walking together – sharing the garbage, sharing our faith, sharing His Love. The same Spirit that dwells within one Christian also dwells in another. Through that spirit, the Holy Spirit, we are one.

In the above-listed verses, Jesus called for believers to unite as one – meaning the pains and joys of one Believer should be shared with other Believers. We should allow the Holy Spirit together in unison heal us, rejoice with us, and praise His Holy name.

The enemy fears us. Believers walking lockstep in unison are powerful, and He knows it. The enemy would rather have us believe we are alone – isolated and set apart; it’s much easier for him to attack us that way. But, together, we can and will turn the tables on him as Believers. Then, it’s his turn to walk in fear.

Wrapping up this week’s post, do you share your fears and doubts? With who? Are you wrestling with something? Have you found others you can trust? Can you confide in them?

We must work on turning whatever is holding us back over to the Lord and earnestly ask Him to send others we can trust. Our Creator wants us to work together through Him to help heal those hurts, right the wrongs, and bring Glory to Him.

The more we share, the more we know that perfection is impossible, nor is it the goal. Instead, the goal is to have the name of Christ ringing out as Lord over all nations (Matt. 28:16-20). To do this, we’ve been called to Love God, Love People, and live according to His Word (Matt. 22:36-40).

In conclusion, The Last Temptation is magnificent – no exaggeration, it’s that good. From a teenage perspective, constantly curious about which path to take and which is best, the LP is straightforward and hard-hitting – the streets of hell are NOT “paved with gold,” and the Showman is not our friend.

Throughout Alice’s career, he’s found ways to continue the story of Steven, even with a few gaps in between and a few changes to the narrative. But, they all come together and coincide perfectly.

It’s easy to see Steven as the same character, whether it’s songs from Welcome To My Nightmare, Alice Cooper Goes To Hell, Hey Stoopid’s “Wind-Up Toy,” The Last Temptation, Along Came A Spider, or Welcome 2 My Nightmare.

For instance, although not directly linked to Cooper’s Welcome To My Nightmare LP, the listener may flashback to the song “Steven” as they listen to The Last Temptation’s “Lullaby.”

Alice has found a way to use Steven in multiple scenarios and storylines, but for so many, The Last Temptation affects them most. Coop was able to not only address the temptations and dilemmas of a teenager “Lost in America,” but he was also able to express his beliefs and faith on an unforgettable LP.

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

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