Hollis Brown he lived on the outside of town x2
With his wife and five children
And his cabin falling down
He looked for work and money and he walked a ragged mile x2
His children are so hungry
That they don't know how to smile
Your baby's eyes look crazy they're tugging at your sleeve x2
You walk the floor and wonder why
With every breath you breathe
The rats have got your flour now bad blood it got your mare x2
If there's anyone who knows
Is there anyone who cares?
You prayed to the Lord above to please send you a friend x2
Your empty pockets tell you
That you don’t have any friends
Your babies are crying louder it's pounding on your brain x2
Your wife's screams are stabbing you
Like the dirty driving rain
Your grass it is turning black there's no water in your well x2
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 the shotgun
That's hanging on the wall
Your brain is a-bleeding, and your legs can't seem to stand x2
Your eyes fix on the shotgun
That you're holding in your hand
There's seven breezes a-blowing, all around the cabin door x2
Seven shots ring out
Like the ocean's pounding roar
There’s seven people dead, on that south Dakota farm (x2)
Somewhere in the distance
There are seven new people born
