Bed of Nails

The song begins with an almost perverse pleasure in pain as Alice Cooper sings about the way his love interest causes him emotional pain which he interprets as an intense form of affection. This sets the stage for a thrilling, if not somewhat disturbing, narrative of passion and hurt. The mention of tears as wine and the lack of distinction between pleasure and pain signal a deep emotional connection that thrives on the highs and lows, captivating the listener with its raw intensity.

As the song progresses, Alice Cooper describes the love affair as a battleground, with fighting, scratching, and biting that both partners seem to find exhilarating. This intense interplay highlights the theme of passionate conflicts being an integral part of this love story. It is a classic case of opposites attracting, creating a volatile yet addictive dynamic. In this relationship, the very acts that could be destructive are instead fueling their connection, suggesting a love that is as hurtful as it is enchanting.

In the chorus, Alice Cooper likens their love to a 'bed of nails,' a powerful image of the pleasure-pain paradox central to the song. By offering to lay his partner down on this metaphorical bed, he is vowing to embrace and even celebrate the agony that the relationship brings, alluding to a fatalistic acceptance of their shared fates. This image cements the sense that their love is both torturous and deeply satisfying.

The following verse and pre-chorus repeat the theme of being the only one who can fulfill or reach deep inside the other, reinforcing the exclusivity and depth of their connection. Here, dirty talk, loud nights, and uproarious reactions emphasize the physical intensity of the relationship. But it is not just physical; it is also emotional, as seen in their desire to break boundaries and their mutual understanding of the both destructiveness and indispensability of their love.