The Ballad of Hollis Brown Songtext
von Paula Cole

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