Ballad of Hollis Brown
Bob Dylan
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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 fallin' down You looked for work and money And you walked a ragged mile You looked for work and money And you walked a ragged 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 that knows Is there anyone that cares? You prayed to the Lord above Oh, please send you a friend You prayed to the Lord above Oh, please send you a friend Your empty pockets tell ya That you ain't a-got no friend Your babies are crying louder It's pounding on your brain Your babies are crying louder It's pounding on your brain Your wife's screams are stabbin' you Like the dirty drivin' rain 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 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' 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 There's seven breezes a-blowin' All around the cabin door There's seven breezes a-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 Somewheres in the distance There's seven new people born
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Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
12 facts about this song
Artist Classification"Ballad of Hollis Brown" is a song by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan.
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Album InclusionThe song was originally featured on his third studio album, "The Times They Are a-Changin", which was released in 1964.
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Genre CategorizationThis song is typically classified as folk and protest music. Dylan's stark lyrics engrossed with bitter tales of poverty and desperation fit well with the genre.
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Song ReceptionThe song didn't receive much individual attention at the time of release because the album had other major hits, but over the years, it has been recognized for its exceptional storytelling through lyrics.
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Dark NarrativeThe song narrates a dark and tragic story of a poor farmer named Hollis Brown, who, out of desperation and inability to support his family, ends up murdering them and commits suicide.
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Stirring ImageryThe song is well-known for its starkly powerful imagery. Dylan narrates the story in a gripping, cinematic style that is sparing yet evocative.
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Instrumentation“Ballad of Hollis Brown” is an excellent example of Dylan’s early guitar proficiency. He repeats a minor chord progression that glides along with his austere and sobering tale.
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Cover VersionsMany artists have covered this song, including Nina Simone, The Stooges, and The Neville Brothers, amongst others, showing its impact and influence over the generations.
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Live PerformancesDespite its dark story, the song was performed live by Bob Dylan several times during the 1960s and featured less frequently in his concerts later on.
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Songwriting TechniqueIn addition to narrating a gripping story, "Ballad of Hollis Brown" also exhibits Dylan's ability to write songs in a simple traditional ballad form while maintaining strong originality and impact.
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Lineage InfluenceThe song echoes the lineage of folk and blues ‘murder ballads,’ a type of song that tells a story about a crime or a tragic event. However, Dylan puts his own twist on it through his hauntingly powerful lyrics.
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Social CommentaryThe song is often viewed as a vivid example of Dylan's ability to provide social commentary through his lyrics - highlighting the plight of poverty and rural desperation in this case.
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Citation
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"Ballad of Hollis Brown Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/21226111/Bob+Dylan/Ballad+of+Hollis+Brown>.
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