The Ballad of Hollis Brown

[Verse 1] 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 [Verse 2] 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 [Verse 3] Your baby's eyes look crazy They're a-tugging at your sleeve Your baby's eyes look crazy They're a-tugging at your sleeve You walk the floor and wonder why With every breath you breathе [Verse 4] Rats have got your flour And bad blood has got your mare Rats have got your flour And bad blood has got your marе Is there anyone who knows? Is there anyone who cares? [Verse 5] You prayed to the Lord above Please send you a friend You prayed to the Lord above Please send you a friend Your empty pockets tell you No, that you ain't got no friends [Verse 6] Your baby's crying louder now It’s pounding at your brain Your babies are crying louder now It's pounding at your brain Your wife's screams are stabbin' you Like the dirty drivin' rain [Verse 7] Your grass is turnin' black No water in your well Your grass is turnin' black No water in your well You spent your lone last dollar On seven shotgun shells [Verse 8] 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 hanging on your wall [Verse 9] 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 [Verse 10] 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 poundin' roar [Verse 11] 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