Spirits Rebellious (The Eyes of Alice Cooper, 2003)

The Eyes of Alice Cooper LP, released in 2003, embraces a return to Alice’s musical roots. Honestly, there’s not much information about this album, and it’s only listed and available on a small number of sources and sites.

Alice’s Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, and other sources do not list this album. We’ve still not been able to find any references to the reasons why that is (if anyone knows, please comment ?).

Honestly, this LP is one of our favorite Alice records. It’s raw, fun, and a hat tip to garage bands nationwide (and a return to his nostalgic origin).

“I found that there was much more humor in this album than any of the other albums. I haven’t had real fun with an album for quite a while.” – Alice Cooper

After Brutal Planet and Dragontown, dark-themed albums confronting the darker side of humanity, it was as if Alice wanted to do something a little more upbeat and “bare-boned.” In fact, the album tour was named the “Bare Bones Tour.”

This week’s focus is the eighth track on the LP, “Spirits Rebellious” – an incredibly well-written song both musically and lyrically. The intro, chorus, riffs, beat, etc. fit together perfectly like Beauty and the Beast (charming yet edgy.)

My spirits rebellious, you tell us everything OK
No way
Spirits rebellious, we won`t do anything you say

It`s a hard, hard world with a black corroded heart
There`s a livin’, breathin’ devil trying to tear my soul apart
In a cold, cold grave on a dark, dark night
Eternity is black; I’ll never see the light

The lyrics cut deep and open up the soul of a person striving for change yet consumed by the spiritual warfare taking place for their heart. All of us, in some form or fashion, can relate.

We are caught in the middle of the eternal battle between good and evil. Torn between two different masters and two different worlds, yet we can only serve one. That choice may seem easy, but choosing isn’t what makes it hard.

NOTE: The embedded video features the band, Sinful Lily, covering the song “Spirits Rebellious.” We know nothing about the band ‘Sinful Lilly’ and do not endorse or promote their music.

However, their version is 1) an excellent cover of the song (doing Alice’s version justice), and 2) we really couldn’t find any other versions of the song in a shareable format.

This topic is a deep one, and it can be oversimplified or made too complicated. Let’s try to meet in the middle somewhere and hash it out a little. We will be looking at several scriptures that will help define this and help guide anyone struggling in the proper direction

First of all, it’s important to note that, like any part of our faith, working through these things as a body of believers is always better than walking alone. Do your best to find a small group, a pastor, a trusted friend, etc. to help you wage war against the spirits that push you towards rebellion against our Lord.

“No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.”

– Isaiah 54:17-

As we discuss this topic, keep the above verses in mind. Know the Lord’s declaration for us all – “NO weapon formed against us shall prosper.” In other words, choosing Christ and accepting Him as Lord declares you as righteous and a victor over the evils of this world.

It may not be easy to understand from an earthly perspective, and the enemy deceives and distorts the truth. However, as we learn to replace the enemy’s narrative with God’s Word, we find victory is attainable – victory over death and sin.

We are made anew through Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). However, after we’ve accepted Him, the enemy’s lies and attacks do not seize. As the song states, “there’s a livin’, breathin’ devil trying to tear my soul apart.”

The enemy uses multiple tactics and devices to hinder our walk – keeping us stagnant, backsliding, or unwilling to carry out God’s will.

As we deal with vices such as depression, pride, procrastination, addiction, and shame, to name a few, we must stand firm in our faith and in HIS truth.

As 2020 comes closer and closer to an end, how are you doing? Has the year stifled or crippled your faith? Do you find yourself feeling helpless – less and less in control?

The bigger question for us all is, are we prepared? Are we taking the proper steps to defeat the enemy and his lies, attacks, and schemes? Are we equipped for battle?

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. – Ephesians 6:10-18

As you read the above-listed verses, can you visualize them? Do you properly prepare yourself for spiritual battle? Do you only see Ephesians 6:10-18 figuratively? Or literally as well?

Honestly, we should wake up every day ready to fight the good fight. We must learn to not only visualize these scriptures but earnestly know them as truth.

• Put on your belt of Truth.
• Put on your breastplate of Righteousness.
• Cover your heels with the peace of the Gospel.
• Handle your shield of Faith.
• Be ready to draw the sword of His Spirit.
• Protect your head (and mind) with the helmet of Salvation.

Visualization and truth are imperative parts of our walk. We most know that scripture is not to be taken only figuratively but literally applied.

A life walked with the full armor of God will withstand the enemy and win battles, but it’s an uphill climb. Many battles are won or lost due to the mind.

Self-control, willpower, strength, and stamina are needed as we walk with Him and stand our ground, and while one person fighting alone (with Him) can win. It’s not recommended.

“Iron sharpens iron; so a man/woman sharpens the countenance of his/her friend.” – Proverbs 27:17

In fact, walking alone can, and most likely will, produce an undue amount of strife and toll on any person’s life. Instead, we should turn to the above-listed verse.

God’s design is perfect, and He’s spelled out who and what we are. He has created us as beings in need of companionship, fellowship, and connection. Not only with Him, but one another as well.

Through faithful relationships and friendships, we see things with more clarity, a refined vision, and an openness to the Lord. He often speaks and uses other people to guide us, affirm us, and show us where we are wrong or a better way to approach things.

Another way to look at this is, once again, through God’s full armor, but instead of one person equipped for battle against the enemy, there are instead two or more equipped believers fighting the same enemy.

Stop and think about that. Doesn’t walking together further shift the odds in our favor? Not only are you standing with Him (fortified in His armor), but you are also standing with others equipped in His armor as well. That’s an impressive vision.

One last point. This song also does a beautiful job illustrating the mindset of a person that is under attack. The words “I,” “I’m,” and “mine” are used more than 15 times in that song.

We often look at Spiritual Warfare as some sort of personal battle. Why me? Does God hate me? Why am I the target?

“For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.”- Romans 8:5

We were all born with a target on our backs. The battle is real for every single person on this earth. Don’t allow the enemy to convince you that the battle is only against you and your flesh.

Romans 8:5 calls us out and asks us to focus on the Holy Spirit (and what Christ would do). For us NOT to rely on what our emotions tell us seem legitimate, but instead, search for the answers He provides. Use prayer, discernment, and scripture as your basis for focus and reality, NOT the world and what seems fair.

Wrapping this up, this post only scratches this topic’s surface, but it should provoke some thought. When going into battle, you wouldn’t go ill-equipped. Life should be lived the same way. Use the tools and resources God has given you to fight the good fight and ultimately win through His timing and plan.

Put on His armor daily. Don’t walk it alone. Find a group of other believers – whether at your church, online or with like-minded family and friends. The battle against the enemy should be waged by you walking with Him and a body (army) of other believers willing to daily dress for combat as well.

Finally, don’t take the battle personally – feeling as if you are abandoned by God. This point accentuates the reasons why finding a group of other believers is so important. 

The more you learn that others are targeted as well – the more empowered you become to fight the good fight together. Again, use the peace of the gospel as your foundation – knowing that, as stated in Isaiah 54:17, ‘no weapon formed against us shall prosper.’

In conclusion, if you haven’t checked out The Eyes of Alice Cooper, you must. Not only is the LP a fun, high energy record. It’s life spun out in a variety of tales and songs that are solidly written.

“I thought, if there’s going to be anything that holds this album together lyrically, it’s going to be the fact that every song is just a little ironic slice of life.” – Alice Cooper

This is what we’ve come to know and love about Alice Cooper and his music. His ability to not only rock but also tell relevant stories. Stories that relate to everyone, and help connect the dots, interlacing each of us together in this crazy thing we call life.

That’s it for this week. Catch you next Friday!

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