Alice Cooper - The Ballad Of Dwight Fry

Ballad of Dwight Fry is a song by Alice Cooper, released on his 1971 album Love It to Death.
The song is a dramatic narrative about a man confined to a psychiatric ward, portraying his descent into mental instability and his desperate desire to escape.
It opens with a child's voice asking, "Mommy, where's daddy? He's been gone for so long. Do you think he'll ever come home?"
, setting a haunting tone that reflects the impact of the man's institutionalization on his family.
The lyrics detail the protagonist's experience, including being held in an intensive care ward for fourteen days, feeling isolated yet surrounded by other patients in the "danger zone," and suffering from sleeplessness and weight loss while wearing a straight white vest, likely indicating a straitjacket.
He expresses a longing to see his young daughter and return her stolen toys, revealing a sense of guilt and a fractured connection to his past life.
The recurring chorus, "See my lonely life unfold / I see it every day / See my lonely mind explode / Since I've gone away," underscores his deteriorating mental state.
The song's character is named Dwight Fry, a tribute to actor Dwight Frye, known for his roles as Renfield in the 1931 Dracula and Fritz in the 1931 Frankenstein, both iconic portrayals of maniacal figures in Universal horror films.
Alice Cooper dropped the "E" from Frye's name to avoid potential legal issues.
The song was co-written by Cooper and guitarist Michael Bruce, an original member of the Alice Cooper Group.

Lyrics:
[Intro]
Mommy, where's daddy?
He's been gone for so long
Do you think he'll ever come home?

[Verse 1]
I was gone for fourteen days
I could've been gone for more
Held up in the intensive care ward
Lyin' on the floor
I was gone for all those days
But I, was not all alone
I made friends with a lot of people
In the danger zone

[Chorus]
See my lonely life unfold
I see it every day
See my lonely mind explode
Since I've gone away

[Verse 2]
I think I lost some weight there
And I, I'm sure I need some rest
Sleepin' don't come very easy
In a straight white vest
Sure'd like to see that little children
She's only four years old... old
I'd give her back all of her playthings
Even, even the ones I stole

[Chorus]
See my lonely life unfold
I see it every day
See my lonely mind explode
When I've gone insane

[Bridge]
I want to get out of here
I want to 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
IgottagetoutahereIgottagetoutahereIgottagetoutahere
Ya gotta let me out of here
Let me outta here
(Incoherent rambling shouts continue and fade as next verse starts)

[Chorus]
See my lonely life unfold
I see it every day
See my lonely mind explode
Blown up in my face

[Instrumental break 3:56-4:55]

[Verse 3]
I grabbed my hat and I got my coat
And I, I ran into the street
I saw a man that was choking there
I guess he couldn't breathe
Said to myself this is very strange
I'm glad it wasn't me
But now I hear those sirens callin'
And so I am not free
I didn't want to be
I didn't want to be
I didn't want to be
[Chorus]
See my lonely life unfold
(I didn't want to be)
I see it every day
(Leave me alone
I didn't want to be
Don't touch me!)
See my lonely mind explode
When I've gone Insane