No More Mr. Nice Guy
Unveiling the Dark Transformation: No More Mr. Nice Guy by Alice Cooper
Lyrics
I used to be such a sweet, sweet thing
I used to be a kind and gentle person.
'Til they got a hold of me.
My demeanor changed when they influenced or controlled me.
I opened doors for little old ladies,
I used to perform courteous acts like opening doors for elderly women.
I helped the blind to see.
I assisted visually impaired individuals.
I got no friends 'cause they read the papers.
Due to negative media coverage, I've lost friends who don't want to associate with me.
They can't be seen with me and I'm gettin' real shot down
People avoid being seen with me, and I'm experiencing rejection.
And I'm feeling mean.
I'm becoming resentful and aggressive.
No more Mister Nice Guy,
I'm abandoning my nice-guy persona.
No more Mister Clean,
I won't uphold a squeaky-clean image anymore.
No more Mister Nice Guy,
I'm rejecting the role of the nice guy; society deems me sick and obscene.
They say he's sick, he's obscene.
The public perceives me as morally corrupt and offensive.
I got no friends 'cause they read the papers.
Similar to line 5, reiterating the loss of friends due to negative publicity.
They can't be seen with me and I'm gettin' real shot down
Reiteration of social rejection and feelings of meanness.
And I'm feeling mean.
Emphasizing the negative emotions arising from societal alienation.
No more Mister Nice Guy,
Reiteration of the decision to abandon the nice-guy persona.
No more Mister Clean,
Repeating the rejection of a pristine image.
No more Mister Nice Guy,
Further emphasis on rejecting the nice-guy role.
They say he's sick, he's obscene.
Reinforcing society's negative perception of the speaker.
My dog bit me on the leg today.
A literal event where the speaker's dog bit them.
My cat clawed my eyes.
The speaker's cat attacked their eyes, symbolizing internal conflict or suffering.
Ma's been thrown out of the social circle,
The speaker's mother has been ostracized from social circles.
And dad has to hide.
The speaker's father is compelled to hide, possibly due to shame.
I went to church incognito.
The speaker attended church without revealing their identity.
When everybody rose, the Reverend Smith,
The Reverend Smith noticed the speaker's presence.
He recognized me,
The speaker was recognized by the church community.
And punched me in the nose.
The Reverend Smith physically confronted the speaker.
No more Mister Nice Guy,
Reiterating the abandonment of the nice-guy persona.
No more Mister Clean,
Repeating the rejection of a clean and moral image.
No more Mister Nice Guy,
Further emphasis on discarding the nice-guy role.
They say he's sick, he's obscene.
Restating society's perception of the speaker as sick and obscene.
Comment