"Ballad of Dwight Fry" by Alice Cooper
Words and music by Michael Bruce and Alice Cooper
From the album Love it to Death (1971)
Tabs transcribed by Brian Gaddis.
Corrections to Brian Gaddis.
#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#
#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
#song. You may use this file only for private study, scholarship, or research. #
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
/= slide up \=slide down b= bend rb=reverse bend x= mute
Intro (Main rythm)
E G D
E-|--0--0-----------0------------3--3-----------3------------2--2-------------|
B-|--0--0-----------0------------3--3-----------3------------3--3--3--3--3----|
G-|--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--0---0--0--0--0-----0--0--0------2--2--2--2--2----|
D-|--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--0---0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0---0--0--0--0--0----|
A-|--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--0---2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--------------------|
E-|--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0---3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--------------------|
C
E-|--2------------0--0-----------0--------------------------------------------|
B-|--3--3--3--3---1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1-----------------------------------|
G-|--2--2--2--2---0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0-----------------------------------|
D-|--0--0--0--0---2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2-----------------------------------|
A-|---------------3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3-----------------------------------|
E-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Note: After the last verse, use chorus number two under Alice's ad libs.
Then go to End.
1. "I was gone for fourteen days. I could have been
2."I think I lost some weight there and I, I'm sure I
3."I grabbed my hat, then I got my coat, then I, I ran into the
E-|--0--0-----------0------------3--3-----------3------------2--2-------------|
B-|--0--0-----------0------------3--3-----------3------------3--3--3--3--3----|
G-|--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--0---0--0--0--0-----0--0--0------2--2--2--2--2----|
D-|--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--0---0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0---0--0--0--0--0----|
A-|--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--0---2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--------------------|
E-|--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0---3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--------------------|
"gone for more. Held up in in-
"need some rest. Sleeping don't come
" street. I saw a man that was
E-|--2----------------0--0-----------0------------0--0-----------0------------|
B-|--3---3---3---3----1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1---0--0-----------0------------|
G-|--2---2---2---2----0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0---1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1------|
D-|--0---0---0---0----2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2---2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--0---|
A-|-------------------3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3---2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--0---|
E-|-----------------------------------------------0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0---|
"tensive care ward. Lying on the floor."
"very easy in a straight white vest."
"choking there. I guess he couldn't breath."
E-|--3--3-----------3------------2--2-----------2------------0--0-----------0-|
B-|--3--3-----------3------------3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3---1--1--1--1--1--1-|
G-|--0--0--0--0-----0--0--0------2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2---0--0--0--0--0--0-|
D-|--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0---0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0---2--2--2--2--2--2-|
A-|--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2-------------------------------3--3--3--3--3--3-|
E-|--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3------------------------------------------------|
"I was gone for all those days, but I was
"Sure'd like to see that little children. She's
"Said to myself, "This is very strange. I'm
E-|------------0--0-----------0------------3--3-----------3------------2--2---|
B-|--1--1--1---0--0-----------0------------3--3-----------3------------3--3---|
G-|--0--0--0---1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--0---0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0------2--2---|
D-|--2--2--2---2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--0---0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0---0--0---|
A-|--3--3--3---2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--0---2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2----------|
E-|------------0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0---3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3----------|
"not all alone. I made friends with
"only four years old, old. I'd give her back
"glad it wasn't me." But, now I hear those
E-|-----------2------------0--0-----------0------------0--0-----------0-------|
B-|--3--3--3--3--3--3--3---1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1---0--0-----------0-------|
G-|--2--2--2--2--2--2--2---0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0---1--1--1--1--1--1--1----|
D-|--0--0--0--0--0--0--0---2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2---2--2--2--2--2--2--2----|
A-|------------------------3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3---2--2--2--2--2--2--2----|
E-|----------------------------------------------------0--0--0--0--0--0--0----|
" a lot of people in the danger zone."
"all of her play things. Even, even the ones I stole."
" sirens calling. And, so, I am not free."
E-|---------3--3-----------3------------2--2-----------2----------------------|
B-|---------3--3-----------3------------3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3-------------|
G-|--1--0---0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0------2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2-------------|
D-|--2--0---0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0---0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0-------------|
A-|--2--0---2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2-----------------------------------------|
E-|--0--0---3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3-----------------------------------------|
E-|--0--0-----------0------------0--0-----------0-----------------------------|
B-|--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1---1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--------------------|
G-|--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0---0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--------------------|
D-|--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2---2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--------------------|
A-|--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3---3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--------------------|
E-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|Guitar two after first verse (8)= hold note |
E-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B-|--------------8--------(8)-----8-------(8)---------------------------------|
G-|-------------10b-----------------------10b---10rb---8\---------------------|
D-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Guitar two after second verse <10>= strike note while bent
E-|----------8----------------------------------------------------------------|
B-|-----8-------------------8-------8----------8\-----------------------------|
G-|----10b------10b---10b------10b-----10b---<10\>----------------------------|
D-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Guitar two after last verse
E-|---8-----8----------8-----------8--8------------8--------------------------|
B-|--11b--------11b---------11b-------------11b---------11b\------------------|
G-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Chorus (An acoustic plays same chords as first electric.)
1."See my lonely life unfold. I see it every day."
2."See my lonely life unfold I see it every day."
3."See my lonely life unfold I see it every day."
E-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G-|--5---5--5/7--7---7--7--7/9--9--9-9-9-9-9-9-9\---5--5--5/7--7--7--x---9----|
D-|--5---5--5/7--7---7--7--7/9--9--9-9-9-9-9-9-9\---5--5--5/7--7--7--x---9----|
A-|--3---3--3/5--5---5--5--5/7--7--7-7-7-7-7-7-7\---3--3--3/5--5--5--x---7----|
E-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|Guitar two |
E-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G-|-----------------------------9-9-9-9-9--9-9-9\-----------------------------|
D-|----2---------4--------------9-9-9-9-9--9-9-9\------2---------4-------9----|
A-|-/3---3--3/5-----5------5/7--7-7-7-7-7--7-7-7\---3----3---3/5---5-----7----|
E-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
1. "See my only mind explode.Since I've gone away."
2. "See my lonely mind explode.When I've gone insane."
3. "See my lonely mind explode, blow up in my face."
E-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G-|--9-9-9-9-9-9\---5--5--x-x--5/7--7--x-x--9--7--4--2---5--5-------7---------|
D-|--9-9-9-9-9-9\---5--5--x-x--5/7--7--x-x--9--7--4--2---5--5-------7---------|
A-|--7-7-7-7-7-7\---3--3--x-x--3/5--5--x-x--7--5--2--0---3--3-------5---------|
E-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|Guitar two |
E-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G-|------------------------------------------------------5--5-------7---------|
D-|--6--7--9\--------2-------------4---------------------5--5-------7---------|
A-|---------------/3---3-------3/5---5------7--5--2--0---3--3-------5---------|
E-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
(After second chorus)
E-|--------------|
B-|--10rb(slow)--|
G-|--------------|
D-|--------------|
A-|--------------|
E-|--------------| Acoustic plays main rythm throughout this part.
"I wanna get out of here. I, I wanna get out of here. I, I've gotta, I've
"gotta get out of here! I, I gotta get out of here! I, I gotta get out of
"here, I gotta get out of here, I gotta get out of here! I gotta get out
"of here! They gotta let me out of here! Let me out of here! I gotta get
"out of here! Let me out of here! I gotta get out of here, gotta get out
"of here, I gotta get out of here...." (Go to third chorus)
This part comes after the third verse. It starts with the explosion.
{}= delayed notes. (A good way to imitate this is to start with the
volume on the guitar turned all the way down. Hammer-on to the chords shown
below then slowly turn the volume up while still holding the notes.)
E-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B-|-------------------------{7}\----------------------------------------------|
G-|--{9}\-------{12}\-------{7}\-------{5}\-----------------------------------|
D-|--{9}\-------{12}\-------{7}\-------{5}\--Repeat this phrase three times.--|
A-|--{7}\-------{10}\-------{5}\-------{3}\-----------------------------------|
E-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Strange sliding-like solo not transcribed. I got some of it, but not
enough to put down. The main rythm comes in towards the end on an
acoustic guitar.
End
Guitar one (Acoustic)
E-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G-|--7/9--x--x--9--x--9--9--x--x--9--9--9-------------------------------------|
D-|--7/9--x--x--9--x--9--9--x--x--9--9--9---Basically repeat something like---|
A-|--5/7--7--7--7--x--7--7--x--x--7--7--7---this four times.------------------|
E-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|Guitar two (Comes in after above phrase is played twice.) |
E-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G-|--9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9----------|
D-|--9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9----------|
A-|--7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7----------|
E-|--0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0----------|
This part repeats three times. On the fourth time, don't play the
second E chord.
<15>= strike note while bent
Hold these notes
E-|--12-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
B-|-<15>----------------------------------------------------------------------|
G-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|(An acoustic guitar plays same chords, but with slighly different rythm.) |
E-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G-|--5----------/7----------9---------------9---------------------------------|
D-|--5----------/7----------9---------------9---------------------------------|
A-|--3----------/5----------7---------------7---------------------------------|
E-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| |
E-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G-|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D-|-----2-----------4-------9---------------9---------------------------------|
A-|--3-----3---3/5-----5----7---------------7---------------------------------|
E-|-------------------------0---------------0---------------------------------|