Anywhere But Here - Alice Cooper Editon

“Anywhere But Here (Nightmare Version)” [Verse 1] They ask me how I’ve been, I flash a crooked smile Say I’m clean, say I’m good—haven’t slept in quite a while Every barstool’s got a story, every glass reflects a face But the man behind the mirror… ain’t the one I used to be [Pre-Chorus] Every streetlight hums your name in neon glow And the shadows whisper things I don’t wanna know [Chorus] So when they ask me where I’m going I say anywhere but here But the highway’s like a noose around me Pulling tighter every year I scream “Get me outta this town!” But it’s all insincere— ’Cause I can run, but I can’t outrun What’s already here [Verse 2] Your sister stopped me cold in aisle number three Said, “You look like hell—what happened to ‘we’?” I told her my phone was dead, yeah, I lied through my teeth Truth is I hear you talking… every time I try to sleep There’s a map inside my glovebox, but the roads all fade to black Every line I try to follow just keeps leading me back [Pre-Chorus] Yeah, I’m writing postcards from a place I can’t escape Every word dissolves before I seal the fate [Chorus] So when they ask me where I’m going I say anywhere but here Somewhere the sky ain’t watching me Somewhere you disappear I’m shouting “I’m finally leaving!” But it don’t sound sincere— ’Cause the further that I get The more you reappear [Bridge – spoken / slow build] Maybe I never left… Maybe I never moved at all… Maybe the road’s just circling Like a dead-end in my skull (voice rising) Or maybe I’m the stranger That they warned you about… The ghost in your doorway— The one you couldn’t shut out… [Breakdown] I see you in the windows I hear you in the walls Every step I take away Is a step back to your call [Final Chorus – big, dramatic] So when they ask me where I’m going I say anywhere but here But the town’s got teeth and it’s holding on And it feeds on every fear I’m begging for a new life But it’s perfectly clear— I ain’t leaving this place alive… ’Cause I am the “here” [Outro] They ask me at the bar how I’ve been lately… I just laugh— Yeah… I laugh a little too loud.