Ballad of Hollis Brown

Hollis Brown
He lived on the outside of town
Hollis Brown
He lived on the outside of town
With his wife and five children
And his cabin broken down
Oh he looked for work and money
And he walked a ragged mile
Oh he looked for work and money
And he walked a ragged mile
And your children are so hungry
That they don't know how to smile
Your baby's eyes look crazy
They're a-tuggin' at your sleeve
Your baby's eyes look crazy
They're a-tuggin' at your sleeve
You walk the floor and wonder why
With every breath you breathe
Hey, hey!
The rats have got your flour
Bad blood it got your mare
Oh
The rats have got your flour
Bad blood it got your mare
If there's anyone that knows
Is there anyone that cares?
And oh, you prayed to the Lord above
Oh please send you a friend
And oh, you prayed to the Lord above
Oh please send you a friend
Your empty pockets tell you
That you ain't a-got no friend
Your babies' eyes are crying
It's pounding on your brain
Your babies' eyes are crying
It's pounding on your brain
Your wife's screams are stabbin' you
Like the dirty drivin' rain
Your grass it is turning black
There's no water in your well
Your grass is turning black
There's no water in your well
You spent your last lone dollar
On seven shotgun shells
Way out in the wilderness
A cold coyote calls
Way out in the wilderness
A cold coyote calls
Your eyes fix on the shotgun
That's hangin' on the wall
Your brain is a-bleedin'
And your legs can't seem to stand
Your brain is a-bleedin'
And your legs can't seem to stand
Your eyes fix on the shotgun
That you're holdin' in your hand
Woah oh oh oh, oh oh oh, Woah oh oh oh, oh oh oh
There's seven breezes a-blowin'
All around the cabin door
There's seven breezes a-blowin'
All around the cabin door
Seven shots ring out
Like the ocean's pounding roar
There's seven people dead
On a South Dakota farm
There's seven people dead
On a South Dakota farm
Somewhere in the distance
There's seven new people born