Discover the story of the song > Public Animal 9 – Alice Cooper

The protagonist and his friend cheated on a math test and carved dirty words into their desk. Now it's recess and an old man is waiting by the monkey bars, trading ball cards. They promised him a gold star and told him he could go far. The protagonist feels like he is in a state penitentiary, always being watched and restricted. He feels like he is living as a public animal, always under scrutiny. He mentions license plates running out of his ears and would give up cigarettes for a few beers or cheap wine. He feels like his romantic partner wanted someone smart like Einstein, but got someone like Frankenstein instead. The song ends with the repeated phrase "public animal number nine," emphasizing the feeling of being constantly observed and restricted.