Make That Money (Scrooge’s Song) (Zipper Catches Skin, 1982)

Released in 1982, Zipper Catches Skin is Alice’s fourteenth studio LP. The album is a forcefully driven display of comical sarcasm, something Alice masters like no other. The music on the record is a combination of Hard Rock and Punk.

Like most Alice albums, this LP has bits and pieces of ‘do this, not that’ flavor and appeal. One of the “blackout albums,” Zipper Catches Skin, is met with mixed reviews, and for some, it’s considered an obscure record. But, obscure or not, it’s innovative and different – something the early 80s was lacking.

“There are no clichés on this album, and I did that for a specific reason. Rock’ n’ Roll right now is jammed with clichés.” – Alice Cooper, Hit Parader Magazine (March 1983)

Tracks like “Tag, You’re It,” “I Better Be Good,” and “I’m Alive (That Was the Day My Dead Pet Returned to Save My Life)” highlight the record’s tracklist.

“Make That Money (Scrooge’s Song)” is a tale of generational greed and power passed down from father to son. The song closely resembles “The Black Widow” from the Welcome To My Nightmare LP.

Controlling all your cash
I could make you live in trash
I eat pheasant; you eat hash
No philanthropy
But when it’s time for me to croak
Bury me with all my dough
And where there should’ve been an oak
My private money tree will grow

Think about the above-listed lyrics and what it must be like to be ruled by money and financial authority – both father and son’s willingness to devour their fellow brethren (humanity) because of the evil desire to amass more than anyone else. It may seem fulfilling, but it’s actually a curse.

“For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” – 1 Timothy 6:10

Taking a more in-depth look, we better understand why the ‘love’ of money is the root of all evil. Looking back at the lyrics, we see the evils of greed and the willingness to take it all, leaving nothing behind to better a world in need.

Before going too much further, as we have in many posts, let’s be sure to state that wealth does NOT make one evil or an enemy to the Christian faith (or Christ). On the contrary, the Bible speaks highly about many individuals who had vast fortunes and many possessions. However, such things come with responsibilities.

Those same individuals, who were highly regarded, gave generously to others and preserved the dignity of those around them by providing work, salaries, and careers. Through their actions, we are shown that our financials allow us to give back and serve others with the proper mindset and spirit-filled attitudes. Yet, this isn’t always the case.

More often than not, money makes a person never satisfied with what they have (Ecclesiastes 5:10) nor fully allows them to trust our Lord with their every need (Hebrews 13:5). Jesus, himself, addressed this concern and told parables about the foolishness of the rich and selfish.

Let’s take a quick look at two of those:

The Parable of the Rich Fool

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” – Luke 12:13-21

Make sure to read those verses carefully. This parable is thought-provoking, to say the very least. Christ is challenging us to think beyond the goals of this world and to use what we’ve been given for God’s Kingdom and purposes.

Now that I’m a man
Every penny has been planned
I’m financially grand
And perfectly greedy
Sentimental fools
I make all your rules
I’ve got your cash, your jewels
They’re all mortgaged to me

Looking again at the lyrics from this week’s song, is this not the same attitude found in Luke 12:13-21? With no intention to better their fellow man, both the music and the parable provide a cautionary tale of what a hardened heart looks like (Psalms 62:10).

Accumulating wealth only to enrich ourselves, with no concern for helping others, is a grave mistake (pun intended). The good life has nothing to do with the things and possessions of this world (Hebrews 13:5).

The truth is, happiness isn’t purchased. Instead, it’s found within a loving relationship with Christ and by doing His work (Romans 14:17-18).

Instead of boasting about wealth and how we can spend our money, let us look towards investing in God’s kingdom (Proverbs 16:8). May we aim to be faithful to Him and those around us, serve Him and those around us, and obey His Word while creating a better place for brothers and sisters (all humanity) in the process (Proverbs 22:9).

The Rich Man and Lazarus

19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 “The time came when the beggar died, and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue because I am in agony in this fire.’

25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you, a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

30 ” ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” – Luke 16:19-31

Again read these verses carefully. The parable is meant to show that there are ‘no second chances’ – nothing allowing us to cross over from Heaven to Hell and vice versa, and there is no way to warn or communicate with others about how they should live differently.

We have ample means to know and understand God’s Word before our death. But that requires us to place our value in things unseen, not the assets of this life (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Also, during this time, the Pharisees considered a person’s wealth as something linked to their righteousness. So Jesus stumped them by showing that Lazarus’s reward in Heaven was greater than that of the rich man (who ultimately inherited eternal damnation).

Jesus wanted those listening to know that the amount of money and wealth isn’t the goal – it’s instead what we do to help and support others with our blessings. It’s a matter of the heart, not the pocketbook.

Make that money run like honey on your tongue
Gotta make that money
Make that money, listen, sonny, learn to sting before your stung

One more glance at the lyrics to “Make The Money (Scrooge’s Song)” alludes to greed being a family trait or generational curse.

While not much is said about the rich man’s family in Luke 16:19-31, we do know that the rich man wanted God to send Lazarus back to warn his five brothers of his demise. Therefore, we can surmise that his family must be closely akin to the father and son in the song – only concerned with money and greed.

It’s true, our parents and families have a certain amount of sway over our thinking – especially in our youth. However, the void left without God in our hearts cannot be ignored forever and does not have to be a generational curse.

Our Father wants all His children (all humanity) to realize His presence (1 Timothy 2:4). While this doesn’t require us to walk away from all earthly desires, possessions, and lifestyles, it does require a redirection of the heart and the willingness to leave it all and follow Him (Matthew 19:21).

One last tidbit from this parable, notice how the rich man is nameless, yet Lazarus, the leper, is named. Isn’t it interesting how God calls those that are His by name yet doesn’t give a name to those that work against Him (Philippians 4:3)?

Wrapping up this week’s post, where do we stand? Are we only about ourselves and making those Benjamins? Do the thoughts of money and earthly possessions take up the majority of our time and thought?

Like all “Fridays With Alice” posts, this isn’t meant to scold or tell anyone how they should spend their money or live their life. Instead, it’s aimed at accessing what’s been given to us – what our Creator has freely given us (1 Peter 4:10).

His Word and Salvation through Christ are gifts directly from Him to all of us, and we must know that asking Him to redirect our minds and way of thinking will lead us to a new financial approach – one that has us looking for ways to give rather than receive – a fascinating and refreshing perspective (Acts 20:35).

In conclusion, the “blackout” albums and era are bittersweet. To think of an unhinged Alice estranged from reality and lost in addiction is tough to imagine and hard to believe. However, knowing Alice today testifies even more to who our Creator is – and the salvation He truly offers us.

Even more fascinating is the road we walk. Even as Alice lived life on cruise control, he subconsciously offered us that Good vs. Evil narrative – still pointing out that evil is not the way to go.

“I listen to those songs now and go, “Wow, these are good songs (laughs). I wish I would have been there for this session; I would’ve done a better version of it.” In fact, I always toyed with the idea of taking twelve songs from that era and going in and rerecording them as just a unique album, Songs from the Blackout.” – Alice Cooper

Wouldn’t that be interesting? A whitewashed Alice hashing out the “Blackout albums.” Dare we dream of this one day happening?

That’s it for this week! Enjoy the weekend and catch you next Friday.

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