[Verse 1]
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

[Verse 2]
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

[Verse 3]
The rats have got your flour
Bad blood it got your mare
The rats have got your flour
Bad blood it got your mare
Is there anyone that knows
Is there anyone that cares

[Verse 4]
You pray to the Lord above
Oh, please send you a friend
You pray to the Lord above
Oh, please send you a friend
Your empty pockets tell ya that
You ain’t got no friends
[Verse 5]
Your babies' eyes look crazy
They're a-tuggin' at your sleeve
Your babies' eyes look crazy
They're a-tuggin' at your sleeve
You walk the floor, you wonder why
With every breath you breathe

[Verse 6]
Your grass is turnin' black
There’s no water in your well
Your grass is turnin' black
There’s no water in your well
You spent your lone last dollar
On seven shotgun shells

[Verse 7]
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-hangin' on the wall

[Verse 8]
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 you’re holdin' in your hand
[Verse 9]
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 poundin' roar

[Verse 10]
There’s seven people dead
On a South Dakota farm
There’s seven people dead
On a South Dakota farm
Somewheres in the distance
There’s seven new people born