Hollis Brown, he lived on the outside of town   Hollis Brown, he lived on the outside of town   With his wife and five children in 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   Your children are so hungry that they don't know how to smile      Your baby's eyes look crazy and they're tuggin' at your sleeve   Your baby's eyes look crazy, now, they're tuggin' at your sleeve   You walk the floor and you wonder why   With every breath that you breathe      The rats, they've got your flour, bad blood, it got your mare   The rats, they've got your flour, bad blood, it got your mare   Is there anyone that knows? Is there anyone that cares?      You prayed to the Lord above to please, send you a friend   You prayed to the Lord above to please, send you a friend   Your empty pockets tell you that you ain't got no friend      Your baby's a cryin' louder now, it's poundin' on your brain   Your baby's cryin' louder now, it's poundin' on your brain   Your wife's screams are a stabbin' you, like dirty, drivin' rain      Your grass is turning black and there's no water in your well   Your grass is turning black, there's no water in your well   You spent your last, lone dollar on them 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 your shotgun that's hangin' on the wall      Your brain, it is a bleedin' and your legs can't seem to stand   Your brain, it is a bleedin' and your legs just can't seem to stand   Your eyes fix on the shotgun that you're holdin' in your hand      There's seven breezes blowin' all around the cabin door   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   Seven people dead on a South Dakota farm   Somewhere in the distance, there's seven, new people born