Hollis Brown, he lived on the outside of town Hollis Brown, he lived on the outside of town With his wife, his five children and his cabin broken down
He looked for work and money and he walked a ragged mile He looked for work and money and he walked a ragged mile But your children are so hungry that they don't know how to smile
The rats got your flour, bad blood, it got your mare The rats got your flour, bad blood, it got your mare Is there anyone that knows? Is there anyone who 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 got no friends
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, you wonder why with every breath you breathe
Your grass 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 lone last dollar on seven shotgun shells
And away out in the wilderness a lone coyote calls Away out in the wilderness a lone coyote calls Your eyes fix on the shotgun that's a-hanging on the wall
And 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 your 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 rang 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