Ballad Of Hollis Brown Nina Simone
Lyrics
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 rugged mile
Yes, he looked for work and money
Walked a rugged mile
His children are so hungry
They don't know how to smile
The rats have got your flour
Bad blood it's got your mare
The rats have got your flour
Bad blood it's got your mare
Is there's anyone that knows
Is there anyone that 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 grass it 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 lone dollar
On seven shotgun shells
Your baby's eyes look crazy
It's a-tuggin' at your sleeve
Your baby's eyes look crazy
It's 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's got your mare
The rats have got your flour
Bad blood it's got your mare
Is there's anyone that knows
Is there anyone that cares?
So you prayed to the Lord above
Please send you a friend
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
So your babies are screaming louder
Now it's pounding in your brain
Your babies are screaming louder now
It's pounding in your brain
Your wife's screams are stabbin' you
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 hangin' on the wall
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
There's seven new people born
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 rugged mile
Yes, he looked for work and money
Walked a rugged mile
His children are so hungry
They don't know how to smile
The rats have got your flour
Bad blood it's got your mare
The rats have got your flour
Bad blood it's got your mare
Is there's anyone that knows
Is there anyone that 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 grass it 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 lone dollar
On seven shotgun shells
Your baby's eyes look crazy
It's a-tuggin' at your sleeve
Your baby's eyes look crazy
It's 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's got your mare
The rats have got your flour
Bad blood it's got your mare
Is there's anyone that knows
Is there anyone that cares?
So you prayed to the Lord above
Please send you a friend
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
So your babies are screaming louder
Now it's pounding in your brain
Your babies are screaming louder now
It's pounding in your brain
Your wife's screams are stabbin' you
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 hangin' on the wall
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
There's seven new people born
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