Only Women Bleed

Trivia note: Alice Cooper, "Vincent Damon Furnier"---has been married to the same woman (Sheryl Goddard) since 1976. I agree with JohnnysCousinSteve that it's a catchy title with a double meaning.

Typical of feminist groups- they protest anything and everything without knowing the facts.

Johnnys Cousin Steve: How about: Love Reign O'er Me? Oh lord I need a drink of cool, cool rain....

IT'S JUST A CATCHY TITLE FOR THE SONG!! LOL! I think some of you are over-thinking the "period" thing. The song is clearly about domestic violence with no mention of a tampon...but, being that women do bleed in a way men don't, it makes for a catchy title with a double meaning. There are lot's of titles that do that in music....and right now...I can't think of one...can you?

This song was remade by a one-hit wonder called Favorite Angel in 1990, and it was played on WGTZ/Dayton in the Summer of '90 for a brief time. Awesome, touching tune.

I was "THAT WOMAN " Back then for to many years. I claimed it as MY song as if it had been written just for me. I still cry alot when I listen to it. Today I'm not Her anymore.

No this song does not reference menstruation. It came apparently clear that wife beating was everywhere. In the 70's it was becoming socially aware and this is about beating your wife. Actually, it is a take of man and womans view of the wife or relationship beatings that happened a lot. First it focus on her view then it focuses on his view. Only women bleed is because they dont fight back and take one in the eye or in the nose..

You can't deny that this song does reference menstruation - it's one of the key differences between men and women. I think that what the song is commenting about is how much women suffer and deal with trouble this life, and some are willing to suffer even more through abusive relationships. Women have to deal with a very unpleasant aspect of life once they hit puberty, and in that they become mature and used to some amount of suffering. Then you add to that, the plight of women throughout history as being treated as second-class citizens and the property of their fathers and husbands, and the abuse that stems from that. I think this song is a commentary on how those things were tied together in many women's lives: they had a capacity for suffering just by nature and design. And quite often tolerated more pain because of circumstances beyond their control, or by choice.
I think it's quite a sympathetic song toward women.

Alice Cooper was my first concert that I remember (don't remember Sha-Na-Na when i was 8), and he will always be one of my very favorite artists. A musical genius.

Alice cooper is an amazing artist clearly writes in this song about domestic violence cheers to cooper

When "Only Women Bleed" first came out, I recall being very deeply moved by both the lyrics and the production of the song; for years I was unable to listen the song without crying. To me, this song encapsulates and gives eloquent voice to the terrible plight of women around the world, and throughout history, who have suffered the horrors of abusive relationships, domestic violence, and who are often the most innocent victims of the wars men have visited upon humanity. Thanks to Alice for keeping us aware of this continuing crime against the most spiritual half of the human race.

Damn Right, Will, it is such a sensitive song that shows how women are often left alone or hurt in many ways.... and seriously, before being on this page, I never thought it could have something to do with periods... seriously, you must be really wise to make a connection here, and seriously f--ked up to actually believe Cooper would do a song about that... Welcome to My Nightmare is a great concept album and I wouldn't see a joke-song on it, I purchased it recently and it completely rocked me out, soft rock with meaningful lyrics and this theatrical way Alice Cooper has to tell a story through songs.... Nice album, nice song.

I cant believe that feminist groups protested this song, if they would actually listen to it rather than read the title, they would c what it is about

Boy.. this is a really classic one. As with many other sad songs I listen to, this one made me cry alot. I still cry alot whenever I listen to it because it's so sad. It talks about how easy it is for women to fall victim to an abusive husband/boyfriend. :( Now to me, that's really sad.

But... anyways.... that's just my scoop on this.

Posted on 11/1/2007. I don't know how pertinent this is, but maybe there's a bonafide songfact in here somewhere. I don't know. I just wanted to add a comment that on the "Welcome To My Nightmare" album Vincent Price lends his distinctive voice for this great narration leading into the song "The Black Widow". Well, some years later in 1982 Vincent Price also lends his voice in a similar way on the title track to Michael Jackson's "Thriller". You think Michael was inspired by this 1975 Alice Cooper classic when deciding to use Vincent Price in making his own?

Posted on 10/30/2007. This is one beautiful song! In the 70's I was a little kid listening to more G-rated soft-rock stuff like The Bee Gees, ABBA, Olivia Newton-John, P.M. & Wings, Elton John, etc. Normally Alice Cooper would've been a little too hardcore for my tastes back then, but in 1975 my older sister got the "Welcome To My Nightmare" album and would let me listen to it with her. I gotta tell you, this is one really good album! Despite his schlocky-horror shtick he displays a lot of good intelligence, sensitivity, imagination, and sense of humor. This song is especially beautiful. Always knowing it was about abuse it never had occurred to me in all this time to make a connection to menstruation until I read these songfact comments just now. Unbelievable.

THIS SONG REALLY HITS TO THE HEART FOR ME AFTER BEING IN THIS KIND OF RELATIONSHIP. THIS SONG HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PERIODS FOR GOD'S SAKE. ARE SOME OF YOU REALLY THAT LAME?

This song was originally written and dedicated to Alice's good friend Tina Turner ( she played it in several live shows) because of her violent mariage with Ike.

I suppose maybe this song does have a bit to do with "that time of the month", but I think it mainly is about domestic violence.

Alice is a very talented artist and this is a great song by him and anyone who thinks this is abuot hte Menstrual cycle should actually listen to the lyrics instead of just reading the title

Alice was another great rocker I grew up too. This song has always moved me & I never thought
once about the female cycle! Cooper wasnt as well---who was?
Ruth in Mass.

Wes. Look at the songfacts. It not about the Menstrual cycle.

Etta James did a version. As I've gotten older, I understand this song a lot better. It could be looked at in terms of domestic violence; in fact, the actual lyrics suggest that rather obviously

I can't believe anyone would think this about menstruation! This is one of Alice's more thoughtful
songs, don't diss it! I love it, Alice Cooper is so diverse!

This is Alice's most covered song. Lita Ford and even Tina Turner covered it! I would say it was perfect for her with all of her previous troubles with Ike.

This song is the first in a series of songs relating to domestic violence: Awakenings, You Took it Like a Woman, and Every Woman Has a Name.

Shortly before releasing the single, Atlantic Records shortened the title to "Only Women" primarily because of feminist activisim at the time - mid 70's. Management polled the office secretarial staff (the majority of the women in the office), and they had several long high-level pow-wows to discuss what to do. Finally, based on reaction from the office staff, and of fear of retribution from feminist groups, they shortened it! They wanted a hit single, and didn't want to deal with any possible controversy. True story!

When I first saw the title of this song I also thought it might have been some vile reference to menstruation, but then I listened to it. Then I looked up the lyrics. This song is far more meaningful than taking a jab at "that time of the month." Alice Cooper has been known for doing things that some consider questionable (especially onstage) but I think there are some things that he simply won't do, and being blatantly disrespectful to all women is one of them. To say that this song should be used for Tampax ads etc. is missing the point entirely.
~Amy

Ah, yes, Alice Cooper's menstrual song. Look how sensitive I am. Makes me think of a really offensive tee-shirt I once saw in a theme park: "Anything that can bleed for three days and not die isn't human." (Worn by a female, yet.) When I saw that this song popped into my head. So... how come this one isn't being used for Tampax ads? Perhaps there is a limit to the bad taste of the American public.

At the time, I thought it was about menstrual
cycles......

It's composed by Alice Cooper/Dick Wagner, so yes it's Cooper's song.

I've heard a version of this song sung by an african american blues woman. I was always certain that this was cooper's song. Is everybody else certain?