The 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 all broken down
 You looked for work and money
 And you walked a ragged mile
 You looked for work and money
 And you walked a ragged mile
 
 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
 
 Rats have got your flour
 And bad blood has got your mare
 Rats have got your flour
 And bad blood has got your mare
 Is there anyone who knows?
 Is there anyone who cares?
 ♪
 You to pray to the lord above
 Please send you a friend
 You to pray to the lord above
 Please send you a friend
 Your empty pockets tell you
 No that you ain't got no friends
 ♪
 Your baby's crying loud
 And now it's pounding at your brain
 Your baby's crying loud
 And now it's pounding at your brain
 ♪
 Your wife's screams are stabbin' you
 Like the dirty drivin' rain
 ♪
 Your grass is turning black
 No water in your well
 Your grass is turning black
 No water in your well
 ♪
 You spent your lone last 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 your wall
 ♪
 Your brain is a-bleeding
 And your legs can't seem to stand
 Your brain is a-bleeding
 And your legs can't seem to stand
 Your eyes fix on the shotgun
 That you're holdin' in your hand
 ♪
 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
 ♪
 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