Sun Arise (Love It To Death, 1971)

In 1971, Alice Cooper released the breakthrough album, Love It To Death. It has become one of the greatest albums of all time – a quintessential Classic Rock record.

Songs such as “I’m Eighteen,” “The Ballad of Dwight Fry,” “Second Coming,” “Hallowed Be My Name,” and “Caught In A Dream” are masterpieces that not only helped them advance their reputation but also defined Alice Cooper for many decades to come.

“At that time, I’ve got to be honest with you, Love It To Death was a really hard record to make…We sat in Detroit in a barn, ten hours a day, and we learned how to play. I developed a sound, Alice’s vocal sound, Dennis developed a bass sound, Glen had a guitar sound, Neal had a drum sound. So when Love It To Death came out, it was the first time people heard it and said, “That’s Alice Cooper.” – Alice Cooper

With producer Bob Ezrin’s help, the Alice Cooper Group would soon be propelled into the upper echelons of notoriety and stardom. First, Frank Zappa had given them an opportunity. Now Ezrin’s guidance had given them direction, clarity, and purpose – a ‘Killer’ combination.

During this period, ”Sun Arise” was the opening song on the Love It To Death tour and the closing song on the Love It To Death LP. Aboriginal in nature, the song is a tale of the Sun (considered a deity to the Aborigines) and its significance to their tribal beliefs and traditions – “bringin’ back the warmth to the ground.”

The song was initially written and performed by Australian music-comic Rolf Harris with help from In The Wild’s, Harry Butler, a Western Australian naturalist. But, like any song covered by Alice Cooper, the band spun it in a different direction, adding their signature style and flair to the tune.

Their version of the song was less tribal and showcased more of who they were. “Sun Arise” (and the entire Love It To Death LP) could be depicted as their chrysalis – their new beginning, their discovery, their transformation.

With Love It To Death, they were about to embark on a journey few could ever understand or imagine – an endeavor that would forever change the face of Rock and Roll.

Many cultures, like the Aborigines, believe multiple gods are involved in maintaining the nature and order of the universe. For instance, they believe the Sun is one such deity that both gives and controls life – as if to say there’s no possible way one God alone could be responsible for everything.

Perhaps it’s the limited mind of humanity that can’t quite grasp the concept of such majesty and awe. It’s just too much to comprehend or fathom – that there is this incredible power from one All-knowing, All-powerful being that gives life to all creation.

However, on the contrary, many others have stated that the more one studies the sciences, nature, and the world around us, the more you find the fingerprints of one higher authority touching all facets of this life (Romans 11:36).

God’s Word lists verse after verse about Creation and its existence because of Him. Verses such as John 1:3, Psalms 96:11-12, Psalms 95:4-5, Romans 1:20, Isaiah 43:20 all define Creation and the natural flow of life by His design. However, let’s look at one particular passage closer.

7 “But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;
8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
or let the fish in the sea inform you.
9 Which of all these does not know
that the hand of the Lord has done this?
10 In his hand is the life of every creature
and the breath of all mankind. – Job 12:7-10

Read those verses carefully.

It’s as if we are being told; all we must do is stop. Stop, look, and listen to the magnificence of this world – the order of it all. While we, mere humanity, question the existence and acts of our Creator, the rest of Creation goes on doing what it was intended to do.

All of Creation continues to praise His name by merely living out its existence – by being what it was designed to be. Stop and think about that. It IS incredible, and so many of us don’t see it.

We can learn a great deal from the beasts on the land, birds in the air, and fish in the sea. Their existence glorifies Him by simply doing what they’ve always done and were created to do.

Now let’s look at the song from an even deeper level. We’ve often discussed the need to “die daily” and live as “new creations” through Him. If we were to look at this song from that perspective, changing the word ‘Sun’ to ‘Son,’ ‘Holy Spirit,’ or ‘Lord,’ “Sun Arise” takes on a new meaning – more than just the light of the Sun drowning out the darkness of night or warming up the cold earth.

Breaking down the lyrics stanza by stanza, we instead find the meaning of life – a depiction and reference of those verses listed in Job.

Sun Arise come every mornin’
Bringin’ back the warmth to the ground

Couldn’t we change those first lines in the song to, “Son arise come every mornin’…bringin’ back life to my soul”? Echoing daily 2 Corinthians 5:17, which reads, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Sun Arise fillin’ up the hollow
Bringin’ back the warmth to the ground

Similarly, the second stanza could read, “Holy Spirit arise, fillin’ up the hollow…bringin’ back fullness to my soul.” Bringing life to Romans 15:13, which reads, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

She drive away your darkness everyday
Bringin’ back the warmth to the ground

And finally, the last stanza could read, “Lord drive away the darkness every day…bringin’ back the light to my soul.” A daily declaration of John 1:5, which reads, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (Also see John 3:19-21.)

It’s as if this song gives new meaning to Job 12:7-10. As all of His creation carries out the tasks set before it – being and existing as it was created to be, we are also given an assignment. As His children, we are called to “love one another” as He loved us. (John 13:35, Ephesians 5:2).

Wrapping this up, “Sun Arise” is simple and to the point. It gives clarity to what can otherwise become something much more complicated (or convoluted). Isn’t that what we often try to do? Complicate (or overcomplicate) things.

Why do we question every part of our existence and rebel against the elements of nature that we can’t explain or don’t want to agree with? There’s nothing wrong with anger, frustration, or stress – even towards God. He can handle it.

“A creature revolting against a creator is revolting against the source of his own powers–including even his power to revolt. It is like the scent of a flower trying to destroy the flower.” – C.S. Lewis

Doesn’t Lewis do a masterful job explaining humanity?  The quote above sums up our existence brilliantly.

As we learn to become what we were created to be, we will most likely find that there is a season for all things, and while we may not understand many of the events we see and experience, Our Heavenly Father has a perfect plan.

We must simply allow ourselves to do what comes honestly and naturally. We must learn to seek the architect if we are serious about better understanding the blueprints. By doing so, we allow Him to arise in us and bring His warmth to a dark, cold world.

In conclusion, on the surface, “Sun Arise” is a simple song about the sun and its responsibility to provide light and warmth to the earth. However, there’s always an extra nugget or two in every Alice Cooper tune. Sometimes it’s barely noticed; other times, it’s more obvious.

“Sun Arise” also leaves us with the reminder that each day is new. We are given a clean slate – leaving the past in the past and focusing on what’s ahead. We were not created to dwell in darkness. Instead, we were made to embrace the Light – a daily reminder often helps us remember that.

Interestingly enough, Alice Cooper’s Love It To Death image and style is alive and well today. All of the elements of that LP still apply even now. There’s no denying the LP’s significance.

The songs from that album also touch on all aspects of our humanity. We see examples of emotion (“Caught In A Dream”), mental (“Ballad of Dwight Fry”), physical (“Is It My Body?”), and spiritual (“Second Coming”) attributes embraced by songs on the LP.

Alice continues to inspire us the same way he has for the past 5 decades. And, for many of us, even more so today than in the past.

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

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