The Ballad of Hollis Brown Songtext
von Nina Simone

Hollis Brown
He lived on outside of town
Hollis Brown
He lived on outside of town
With his wife and five children
And his cabin btoken down

Where you looked for work and money
And you walked a rugged mile
You looked for work and money
And you walked a rugged 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


The rats have got your flour
Bad blood it got your mare
The rats have got your flour
Bad blood it got your mare
If there's anyone wno knows
Is there anyone to cares?

So you prayed to the Lord above
Please send you a friend
Yes, you prayed to the Lord above
Please send you a friend
But your empty pockets tell yuh
That you ain′t a-got no friend

Your babie's crying louder now
It′s pounding in your brain
Your babie's crying louder now
It′s pounding in your brain
Your wife's screams are stabbin' you
Like the dirty drivin′ rain

Your grass is turning black
There′s no water in your well
Your grass is turning black
There's no water in your well
You spent your 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 the wall

Your brain is a-bleedin′ now
Your legs can't seem to stand
Your brain is a-bleedin′ now
Your legs 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
There′s 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
There′s seven people dead
On a South Dakota farm
Somewhere in the distance
Seven new people are born