The Ballad Of Hollis Brown - Leon Russell

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 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

And children are so hungry

That they don’t know how to smile

Your baby’s eyes look crazy

They’re a-tugging at your sleeve

Baby’s eyes look crazy

And they’re a-tugging at your sleeve

You walk the floor and wonder why

With every breath you breathe

Your babies are crying louder now

It’s a-poundin' on your brain

Your babies are crying louder now

It’s a-poundin' on your brain

Your wife’s screams are stabbin' ya'

Like the dirty drivin' rain

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

There’s seven breezes blowin'

All around the cabin door

There’s seven breezes blowin'

All around the cabin door

Seven shots ring out

Like the ocean’s poundin' roar

Seven people dead

On a South Dakota farm

Seven people dead

On a South Dakota farm

Somewhere’s in the distance

There’s seven new people born