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 The rats have got your flour, bad blood, it got your mare The rats have got your flour, bad blood, it got your mare If there's anyone that knows, is there anyone that cares? You prayed to the Lord above, oh please send you a friend 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 baby's a-cryin' louder now, it's a-poundin' on your brain Your baby's a-cryin' louder now, it's a-poundin' on your brain
Your wife screams are stabbing you like the dirty driving rain Your gra** is turnin' black, there's no water in your well Your gra** is turnin' 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 a 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 a shotgun that you're holdin' in your hand There's seven breezes blowin' all around the cabin door There's seven breezes 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