Sister Sara (Dragontown, 2001)

Dragontown, released in 2001, remains one of “Fridays With Alice’s” favorite Alice Cooper LPs. The real-life issues and struggles in Dragontown are intense. Each song gives an in-depth look at the characters that inhabit that place.

Dragontown goes a few steps further than Brutal Planet, its predecessor. With Bob Ezrin’s help, he and Alice successfully placed a microscope on the issues surrounding Brutal Planet. They creatively personified the vices of society into characters that live in Dragontown, the worst part or place of Brutal Planet.

One of the characters in Dragontown includes “Sister Sara,” a nun that lost her way.

“The notion that even highly religious figures who should be beyond temptation are susceptible to following the darkness of Dragontown instead of upholding the light is the subject matter for “Sister Sara,” with its description of a nun’s spectacular and complete fall from grace.” – Ian Chapman, Experiencing Alice Cooper: A Listener’s Companion

“Sister Sara” boldly addresses how even those placed in a higher calling must remain focused and vigilant – determined to walk by faith, not by sight.

Oh, come O ye faithless, Get in line
You’re gonna drown in the water; turned to wine
And you’re all going to wallow in your sin and shame
You had every opportunity to call His name
Don’t look surprised, Don’t be in shock
You’ll be a lovely little demon in my private stock
I’m just doing my job to pull you down
Cuz it’s a one-way ticket down to Dragontown

(Whatever happened to me)
You got caught in my web
(Can’t remember my name)
You made your own bed here
(Flying so high on angelic wings)
And now you must keep me well fed
(Flew too close to the flame)
You’re mine, Too bad
You’re here for me; You’re just here for me

The above-listed lyrics are written from the enemy’s perspective – the devil’s thought process and sinister desires. He wants nothing more than to watch us fall and reside with him in misery.

Religious overtones are also included in the song. Unfortunately, a certain amount of hierarchy and artificial nuance created by man can often replace the true meaning of salvation, grace, and mercy – things Christ offers us through His Spirit. Christ warned us of these things.

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

5 “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.

8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. – Matthew 23:1-12

Jesus challenged society’s norms. Notice how He describes the hierarchal order of religion and then calls attention, not to leadership but to stewardship. Christ calls us to serve, which in turn leads us to Love. Assisting others places someone else’s needs above ours and keeps us from focusing solely on ourselves.

It’s easy to get trapped in the snares of dogma and religion, and we must be mindful of their ill effects. Worshipping and following manufactured constructs leads us further from Christ instead of closer to Him. Instead of focusing on creeds and doctrines, we should focus on relationships – with Him and others.

Free will places us in complete control of our lives. We alone are responsible for our actions and decisions. And, when we put Him first, surrendering our all, we also begin yielding to others. We learn that love and submission is not a weakness but a strength.

The word submission is often demonized. However, at its core, we find “Trust.” Trust isn’t something we should blindly give, but when we submit to the Lord, we learn that there is power in that act. Relationship (and submission) to Him guide us away from evil and closer to Him (James 4:7-10).

Relationship and submission to our Lord. How does that look? How do we achieve that?

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” – Matthew 22:36-40

Fellowship and connection stem from Christ’s call for us to Love (not only Him but one another). 

Do we earnestly realize the magnitude of those above-listed verses?

Love God, Love People – Upon these hang ALL the law and the prophets. When we concentrate on those two things, all other goodness, righteousness, selflessness, holiness, etc., surfaces and bears fruit within our hearts.

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is made complete in us.

13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them, and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world, we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. – 1 John 4:11-21

Loving God means Loving People and vice versa – the two are entwined. Therefore, our actions against others directly correlate to our acts towards or against God.

Stop and look at the actions of “Sister Sara.” Fornication, greed, pride, and debauchery have all gotten the best of her. Sins that are forgiven when we take the “opportunity to call His name.” But they are acts of malice and hatred.

The things we do without love in our hearts usually stem from hate. Hate towards others. Hate towards ourselves. Hate towards God. If there’s ever a doubt about our actions and whether they are based on love, we must ask if they uplift and are actions Christ would take?

Christ calls us to be humble, gentle, and patient with each other (Ephesians 4:2). “Above all, love each other deeply because love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).

Possessions, power, status, etc., all mean nothing in the Kingdom of God. Instead, we should focus on making an ‘everlasting difference’ (a term used by Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock) in the lives of all those you cross paths with in this life. When you show others love, you also show them that God loves them.

Wrapping up this week’s post, we all face temptation. No one part of the body is more or less vulnerable to the things of this world. Whether pastor, elder, worship leader, layperson, etc., each role carries the same significance (the same abilities to minister) – it’s our response to the temptation that matters.

Do we choose the things of this world – separating us from God? Or do we accept His will and ways – bringing us everlasting life, abundant with His love and grace?

The world offers lust for the flesh, lust for possessions, and pride attached to status. Yet, God calls us to value self-control, generosity towards our fellow man/woman, and a commitment to stewardship (1 John 2:14-16).

What things do we consider the most important to us? Do they reflect the world or God and His Love? These are questions we must continually ask ourselves throughout our lives.

In conclusion, if you’ve been following “Fridays With Alice,” you know that we love the Dragontown and Brutal Planet LPs. They are very well done and unique concepts Alice had never covered before.

“After living with Alice for 30 years now, he’s actually taken a position on certain things, which he never did before: Interesting although still apolitical…He never really had much interesting to say before…then all of a sudden more things got caught in his craw. They were things that people were not expecting him to say, like what this whole planet needs is a shot of morality (laughs). You never expected him to say that, but you have to agree with him!” – Alice Cooper

It’s interesting that Alice Cooper, the villainous character who shocked the world, understands the need for morality and civility. The sarcasm and cynicism of ‘right and wrong’ have defined Alice for years – he was society’s villain.

However, with Dragontown and Brutal Planet, it’s as if Alice has turned the tables on his critics – the media, the government, religion, and the general public. As if to say, “you thought I was bad? Take a look in the mirror. You all are worse than I ever was” – the truth presented in pure Alice fashion.

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

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