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
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
They're rats that got your flower,
bad blooded got your mare
They're rats that got your flower,
bad blooded got your mare
If there's anyone that knows,
is there anyone that cares?
You pray to the Lord above,
oh please send you a friend
You pray to the Lord above,
oh please send you a friend
Your empty pockets tell you that you ain't got no friend
Your baby's a-cryin' louder now,
it's a-pounding on your brain
Your baby's a-cryin' louder now,
it's a-pounding on your brain
Your wife screams a-stabbin' you like the dirty drivin' rain
Your grass is turnin' brown,
there's no water in your well
Your grass is turnin' brown,
there's no water in your well
You spent your last long dollar on seven shotgun shells
Way out in the wilderness a cold coyote calls
Way out in the wilderness a cold coyote calls
Your ass picks 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 ass picks on the shotgun that you're holdin' in your hand
There's seven breezes blowin' all around your cabin door
There's seven breezes blowin' all around your cabin door
Seven shots ring out like the ocean's poundin' 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