After a short marriage which ended in 1992, Griffin began playing in Boston coffee houses and was scouted by A&M Records who signed Griffin on the strength of her demo tape. This resulted in her debut album Living With Ghosts -- a set of demos featuring only Ms. Griffin and her guitar -- which garnered critical acclaim in 1996. Her sophomore album, Flaming Red, demonstrated a more rocking, full-band sound. The ill-fated Silver Bell album was never released by her record label, however, and the label terminated her recording contract shortly after that. Many of the songs from Silver Bell were re-recorded for subsequent albums.
After switching to ATO Records Griffin brought out three albums in rapid succession: 1000 Kisses and Impossible Dream, which were both nominated for Grammy awards, and A Kiss in Time, a well-received live album. In March 2007, she released Children Running Through to great critical acclaim.
She has penned a wide variety of songs - Long Ride Home, Top of the World, Tony, Forgiveness, Chief, Mad Mission--that touch her listeners deeply. A number of high profile artists have covered Patty's songs, including the Dixie Chicks, Bette Midler, Emmylou Harris, The Wreckers, Solomon Burke and pop star Kelly Clarkson; these have brought her exposure in the more mainstream pop and country worlds outside of folk music circles. Upon hearing Solomon Burke's cover of one of her tunes, she said she almost didn't feel worthy of singing it anymore.
Following her collaboration with Mavis Staples on a tune for a compilation album Peter York, suggested Griffin make an album of gospel songs. Griffin agreed on the condition that Buddy Miller, a friend and bandmate, produced the record. Downtown Church was recorded at the Downtown Presbyterian Church in Nashville with a 2010 release date. The album features long-time friends Buddy and Julie Miller, as well as Shawn Colvin and Emmylou Harris. It also includes songs by Hank Williams, Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton, and "All Creatures of Our God and King," a song accredited to St. Francis of Assisi.
Griffin featured on Robert Plant's solo album, Band of Joy, which was released in September 2010
Griffin's album American Kid was released on May 7, 2013
Ballad Of Hollis Brown
Patty Griffin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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 pockets tell yuh
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
Somewhere in the distance
There's seven new people born
The lyrics of Hollis Brown, originally written by Bob Dylan but re-imagined by Patty Griffin, tells the tragic story of a man named Hollis Brown and his family who, due to poverty and desperation, couldn't overcome the challenges of living on the outskirts of society. The song depicts the struggle of a family trying to survive in a dilapidated cabin with no work or money. Their daily battle is compounded by the fact that they have to contend with the constant hunger of their children.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that Hollis Brown is struggling on multiple fronts: his horses are sick, his food is gone, and his children are crying. The chorus of the song drives home the agony and despair that Hollis Brown is experiencing. When the family's situation becomes unbearable, Hollis Brown gets hold of his shotgun and takes the lives of his family and himself. The song succinctly describes the devastation - seven people are dead on a South Dakota farm, while seven new people are born far away.
Hollis Brown explores themes of poverty, desperation, and survival. The song is a commentary on the difficulties that working-class families faced in America in the 1960s and 70s, and still resonates to this day. The haunting melody is a perfect accompaniment to the story, which is masterfully woven into the lyrics. Overall, the song is a testament to the power of folk music to convey lessons on the human condition.
Line by Line Meaning
Hollis Brown
Introduction to the character Hollis Brown
He lived on the outside of town
Hollis Brown lived in poverty, outside of the wealthy areas of society
With his wife and five children
Hollis Brown had a large family to support
And his cabin fallin' down
Hollis Brown's living situation was dire and his home was in disrepair
You looked for work and money
Hollis Brown was actively trying to provide for his family
And you walked a rugged mile
Hollis Brown had to work hard to find work
Your children are so hungry
Hollis Brown's family was suffering from extreme poverty and lack of food
That they don't know how to smile
The children's basic needs were not being met, and as a result they were unable to experience joy
Your baby's eyes look crazy
Hollis Brown's youngest child was exhibiting signs of malnourishment and distress
They're a-tuggin' at your sleeve
The baby was reaching for Hollis Brown in need of comfort and care
You walk the floor and wonder why
Hollis Brown was experiencing an overwhelming sense of helplessness and despair
With every breath you breathe
His struggles were a constant presence in his life
The rats have got your flour
Hollis Brown's food supplies were being depleted by pests
Bad blood it got your mare
The family's livestock was also unwell
If there's anyone that knows
Hollis Brown was seeking support and help from others around him
Is there anyone that cares?
He was unsure if anyone was willing or able to help him and his family out of their difficult situation
You prayed to the Lord above
Hollis Brown turned to religion in search of aid
Oh please send you a friend
He was deeply in need of someone close to him who could offer support and assistance
Your empty pockets tell yuh
Hollis Brown's lack of wealth spoke volumes about his situation
That you ain't a-got no friend
He felt alone and unsupported in his struggles
Your babies are crying louder
The children's distress was only increasing
It's pounding on your brain
The emotional strain of his family's situation was weighing heavily on Hollis Brown
Your wife's screams are stabbin' you
His wife was likely in a great deal of pain or emotional distress
Like the dirty drivin' rain
The situation was unrelenting and exhausting
Your grass it is turning black
The drought had taken a toll on the family's land and their ability to provide for themselves
There's no water in your well
The family had limited access to basic necessities like clean water
You spent your last lone dollar
Hollis Brown had exhausted all his resources trying to provide for his family
On seven shotgun shells
He turned to violence in desperation
Way out in the wilderness
Hollis Brown was isolated from others and left to his own devices
A cold coyote calls
The harshness and isolation of his situation is emphasized
Your eyes fix on the shotgun
Hollis Brown is fixated on the weapon as his last resort
That's hangin' on the wall
The shotgun's presence is ominous and ominous
Your brain is a-bleedin'
Hollis Brown is in a state of intense emotional distress and pain
And your legs can't seem to stand
He is physically weakened and unable to withstand the weight of his struggles
There's seven breezes a-blowin'
The atmosphere is tense and unsettling
All around the cabin door
Hollis Brown is trapped and surrounded by his problems
Seven shots ring out
Hollis Brown has taken violent action
Like the ocean's pounding roar
The violence is loud and unrelenting
There's seven people dead
Hollis Brown's desperation and violence has led to tragedy
On a South Dakota farm
The location adds realism and weight to the tragedy
Somewhere in the distance
Despite the tragedy, life goes on in other places
There's seven new people born
Even as seven people die, the circle of life continues elsewhere
Contributed by Amelia R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@chuckstrough
I didn’t hear any rumors. Did I miss something?
@dennylutz
Clickbait
@mikeslater6246
There was one rumor I heard mentioned was that he had been a very strict and tough Marine Corps Di. This was not true. But it has gone on for years.
@tyrone7609
They were good one's 🥳 yeah
@SKILLED521
Didn't mention Don's role in No Time For Sergeants, his first major gig. It's also where Andy hooked with him. This video is rubbish.
@mikeslater6246
@@SKILLED521 I wouldn't call the video total rubbish because it had a lot of good information. I mentioned the No Time for sergeants connection in another comment string. That is Andy and Don's first work together. But the video was poorly produced. Except for his role as Mr Limpet, not a single picture matched any of the comments and then it suddenly stopped in the middle of the conversation about his marriages. Poorly done!
@robertsmith9156
I grew up in Morgantown WV, his home town. I graduated from his high school as well. He was so well loved that they renamed University Boulevard, "Don Knotts Boulevard" after his passing. He was a great contribution to entertainment and a well loved character. It makes me proud to have grown up in the same environment and experienced the same small town life that he did. He was one of the greatest!
@michaelhowell7275
My father grew up with him. Don was 1 year younger. They were so poor back then doing whatever they could to survive. My father lost his dad in the coal mine. at 1 year old. I met Don at my fathers 40th reunion. What a cool guy.
@johnrencheck2283
Thats why he liked to keep his life private coming from the northern panhandle of west virginia i find we that live here like it that way,were fine with that, id have left barn have more than one bullit for his gun,forever deputy fife
@Instantpower332
That had to be a great place to grow up. My guess was it was a small town where folks
didn’t lock there’d doors. I had that in Illinois. Not the same now but it had to be very nice..