Rise Against - Ballad Of Hollis Brown lyrics

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Ballad Of Hollis Brown by Rise Against, Music Lyrics and Video

American punk rock band, Rise Against, has released an official video for Ballad of Hollis Brown from Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International.

Rise Against has said that they plan to play Bob Dylan's 1964 classic, "Ballad of Hollis Brown, on their upcoming U.S. tour, which kicks off at the Viejas Arena in San Diego, CA on April 15. A Day to Remember and Title Fight will support the band on all dates.

"The Ballad of Hollis Brown" was about one farmer who falls on hard times, but I don't think anyone from that time period could imagine how our entire agricultural system would fall on hard times. We wanted to make a video that would let the audience know that these problems aren't exclusive to the time period Bob Dylan was singing about, and in fact they've grown exponentially. A farmer's enemies aren't just drought or floods anymore, they are now everything from over-powerful corporations to short-sighted immigration policies."

The video paints the portrait of a modern-day independent farmer living in poverty and includes interview clips with farmers mixed with footage of the band performing the track.

Rise Against - Ballad Of Hollis Brown Video

Rise Against - Ballad Of Hollis Brown Lyrics and Video

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 brokin' down.

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 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 pocket tell you
That you ain't a-got no friend.

Your babies are crying louder now
It's pounding on your brain
Your babies are crying louder now
It's pounding on 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
Your 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 shortgun
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 shortgun
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
Somewhere in the distance
There's seven new people born

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Copyrights:

Author: Bob Dylan

Composer: Bob Dylan

Publisher: Interscope Records

Details:

Released in: 2014

Language: English

Appearing on: Long Forgotten Songs: B-Sides & Covers 2000-2013 (2013)

Submitted by Walter at Friday 17th of October 2014 08:17

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