| Hollis Brown
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| He lived on the outside of town
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| Hollis Brown
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| He lived on the outside of town
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| With his wife and five children
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| And his cabin brokin' down.
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| You looked for work and money
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| And you walked a rugged mile
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| You looked for work and money
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| And you walked a rugged mile
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| Your children are so hungry
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| That they don’t know how to smile.
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| Your baby’s eyes look crazy
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| They’re a-tuggin' at your sleeve
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| Your baby’s eyes look crazy
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| They’re a-tuggin' at your sleeve
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| You walk the floor and wonder why
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| With every breath you breathe.
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| The rats have got your flour
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| Bad blood it got your mare
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| The rats have got your flour
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| Bad blood it got your mare
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| If there’s anyone that knows
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| Is there anyone that cares?
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| You prayed to the Lord above
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| Oh please send you a friend
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| You prayed to the Lord above
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| Oh please send you a friend
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| Your empty pocket tell you
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| That you ain’t a-got no friend.
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| Your babies are crying louder now
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| It’s pounding on your brain
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| Your babies are crying louder now
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| It’s pounding on your brain
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| Your wife’s screams are stabbin' you
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| Like the dirty drivin' rain.
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| Your grass is turning black
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| There’s no water in your well
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| Your grass is turning black
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| There’s no water in your well
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| Your spent your last lone dollar
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| On seven shotgun shells.
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| Way out in the wilderness
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| A cold coyote calls
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| Way out in the wilderness
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| A cold coyote calls
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| Your eyes fix on the shortgun
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| That’s hangin' on the wall.
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| Your brain is a-bleedin'
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| And your legs can’t seem to stand
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| Your brain is a-bleedin'
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| And your legs can’t seem to stand
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| Your eyes fix on the shortgun
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| That you’re holdin' in your hand.
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| There’s seven breezes a-blowin'
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| All around the cabin door
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| There’s seven breezes a-blowin'
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| All around the cabin door
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| Seven shots ring out
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| Like the ocean’s pounding roar.
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| There’s seven people dead
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| On a south Dakota farm
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| There’s seven people dead
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| On a south Dakota farm
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| Somewhere in the distance
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| There’s seven new people born |