The band spent its first four years signed to the independent record label Fat Wreck Chords, on which they released two studio albums, The Unraveling (2001) and Revolutions per Minute (2003). Both the albums were met with underground success, and in 2003 the band signed with the major label Dreamworks, which was absorbed by Geffen. Rise Against's major label debut Siren Song of the Counter Culture (2004) brought the band mainstream success, largely in part to the popularity of the singles "Give It All" and "Swing Life Away". The band's next album, The Sufferer & the Witness (2006), peaked at number ten on the Billboard 200 in the United States, and was Rise Against's first album to chart in countries outside of North America.
With the release of Appeal to Reason (2008), Rise Against's music shifted toward a more accessible and radio-friendly sound, with greater emphasis on production value. The album's third single, "Savior", broke the record for the most consecutive weeks spent on both the Hot Rock Songs and Alternative Songs charts. Rise Against's popularity grew with the release of Endgame (2011), which peaked at number two on the Billboard 200, and charted highly worldwide. The band's seventh and eighth albums, The Black Market (2014) and Wolves (2017) continued the trend of commercial success, and both peaked with the top ten on the Billboard 200. Their ninth and most recent album, Nowhere Generation, was released in 2021.
Rise Against is also known for their advocacy of progressivism, supporting organizations such as Amnesty International and the It Gets Better Project. The band actively promotes animal rights and most of the members are straight edge, PETA supporters and vegetarians.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rise_Against
Studio albums
The Unraveling (2001)
Revolutions per Minute (2003)
Siren Song of the Counter Culture (2004)
The Sufferer & the Witness (2006)
Appeal to Reason (2008)
Endgame (2011)
The Black Market (2014)
Wolves (2017)
Nowhere Generation (2021)
Ballad Of Hollis Brown
Rise Against 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
"Ballad of Hollis Brown" is a song by Rise Against that tells the story of a man named Hollis Brown who is living on the outside of town with his wife and five children. His cabin is falling down, and he is unable to find work or feed his family. He is at the end of his rope when he prays to the Lord for a friend, but his empty pockets tell him that he has no one.
The lyrics describe the despair and hopelessness that Hollis Brown is feeling. His children are hungry, and his baby's eyes "look crazy." The rats have taken his flour, and bad blood has taken his mare. He has spent his last dollar on shotgun shells, and he is contemplating using the gun to end his and his family's suffering.
The haunting melodies and lyrics of "Ballad of Hollis Brown" draw attention to the plight of people suffering from poverty and homelessness. The song is a powerful commentary on a pressing issue that has plagued society for many decades.
Line by Line Meaning
Hollis Brown
Referring to the singer of the song, a man named Hollis Brown.
He lived on the outside of town
Hollis Brown resided in the outskirts of the town.
With his wife and five children
Hollis Brown lived with his spouse and five offspring.
And his cabin fallin' down
The residence Hollis Brown inhabited was deteriorating.
You looked for work and money
Hollis Brown tried to find employment and income.
And you walked a rugged mile
Hollis Brown had to put in arduous effort to find work.
Your children are so hungry
Hollis Brown's children were starving.
That they don't know how to smile
The children were deprived of basic needs such as food and living in poverty made them unable to be happy.
Your baby's eyes look crazy
Hollis Brown's infant looked deranged.
They're a-tuggin' at your sleeve
The baby was clinging to Hollis Brown's sleeve.
You walk the floor and wonder why
Hollis Brown was confused and worried about his predicament.
With every breath you breathe
Hollis Brown was constantly preoccupied with distressing thoughts.
The rats have got your flour
Rodents had infested Hollis Brown's home and consumed his flour.
Bad blood it got your mare
Hollis Brown's mare or female horse was diseased or injured.
If there's anyone that knows
Hollis Brown was searching for someone who understood his plight.
Is there anyone that cares?
Hollis Brown was asking whether anyone had compassion for his situation.
You prayed to the Lord above
Hollis Brown asked for divine intervention.
Oh please send you a friend
Hollis begged for a companion to comfort him.
Your empty pockets tell yuh
Hollis Brown had no money as indicated by his lack of possessions.
That you ain't a-got no friend
Hollis Brown had no friends or allies.
Your babies are crying louder
Hollis Brown's infants were crying more loudly.
It's pounding on your brain
The loud cries were causing Hollis Brown immense mental distress.
Your wife's screams are stabbin' you
Hollis Brown was driven to his breaking point by his wife's anguished wails.
Like the dirty drivin' rain
The pain was described as being as relentless and turbulent as the rain.
Your grass it is turning black
The grass visible to Hollis Brown had died or withered away.
There's no water in your well
The well Hollis Brown depended on had run dry.
You spent your last lone dollar
Hollis Brown was so desperate that he exhausted his final dollar.
On seven shotgun shells
Hollis Brown used the last of his money to purchase seven shells for his shotgun.
Way out in the wilderness
The setting of the song shifts to the wilderness.
A cold coyote calls
A coyote in the wilderness begins to howl.
Your eyes fix on the shotgun
Hollis Brown is fixated on his firearm.
That's hangin' on the wall
The shotgun is mounted on the wall of Hollis Brown's cabin.
Your brain is a-bleedin'
Hollis Brown's mind is in agony.
And your legs can't seem to stand
Hollis Brown's body is weak and unsteady.
There's seven breezes a-blowin'
Winds are blowing through the wilderness.
All around the cabin door
The cabin where Hollis Brown previously lived is still present and visible.
Seven shots ring out
Hollis Brown fires all seven shells from his shotgun.
Like the ocean's pounding roar
The sound of the shotgun blasts was deafening and powerful, like the ocean's waves.
There's seven people dead
Hollis Brown has killed seven individuals.
On a South Dakota farm
This horrific event took place on a farm in South Dakota.
Somewhere in the distance
The song ends with the implication that life will continue despite the tragedy.
There's seven new people born
While seven people have tragically lost their lives, seven new individuals are born elsewhere - a reflection on the cycle of life and death.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sarah Naiman
I totally agree and that’s exactly what my project is about! If you love Rise Against, we’re looking to hear how music has created an impact in people and the world around them.
Like frontman Tim Mcilrath says, “Like us still believes in the power of music to change lives — to change everything.”
We’re looking for people to answer these questions for a new project in progress:
Q: How has Rise Against influenced you?
Q: How are you trying to make positive changes in your community?
Please write to the following if interested in helping:
To: postpositivediting@gmail.com
Subject: RISE - First, Last Name
Thank you!
Post Positive Media
postpositivemedia.com
Sarah Naiman
I totally agree and that’s exactly what my project is about! If you love Rise Against, we’re looking to hear how music has created an impact in people and the world around them.
Like frontman Tim Mcilrath says, “Like us still believes in the power of music to change lives — to change everything.”
We’re looking for people to answer these questions for a new project in progress:
Q: How has Rise Against influenced you?
Q: How are you trying to make positive changes in your community?
Please write to the following if interested in helping:
To: postpositivediting@gmail.com
Subject: RISE - First, Last Name
Thank you!
Post Positive Media
postpositivemedia.com
Sarah Naiman
I totally agree and that’s exactly what my project is about! If you love Rise Against, we’re looking to hear how music has created an impact in people and the world around them.
Like frontman Tim Mcilrath says, “Like us still believes in the power of music to change lives — to change everything.”
We’re looking for people to answer these questions for a new project in progress:
Q: How has Rise Against influenced you?
Q: How are you trying to make positive changes in your community?
Please write to the following if interested in helping:
To: postpositivediting@gmail.com
Subject: RISE - First, Last Name
Thank you!
Post Positive Media
postpositivemedia.com
Sarah Naiman
I totally agree and that’s exactly what this project is about! I’m so grateful you think it’s moving, too. If you love Rise Against, we’re looking to hear how music has created an impact in people and the world around them.
Like frontman Tim Mcilrath says, “Like us still believes in the power of music to change lives — to change everything.”
We’re looking for people to answer these questions for a new project in progress:
Q: How has Rise Against influenced you?
Q: How are you trying to make positive changes in your community?
Please write to the following if interested in helping:
To: postpositivediting@gmail.com
Subject: RISE - First, Last Name
Thank you!
Post Positive Media
postpositivemedia.com
Mike Jennette
50 years. This song is over 50 years old. The fact that it's message still rings true is disgusting
Moosi
+xXx xXx He means the original Song ^^
Andrew Mitol
Talha Zohor bahahahaha
Andrei Pricope
Are you by any chance from an ex-communist country (i somehow doubt someone in a communist country could watch this video now...)? If not, then let me trow some light over it: people were waiting for hours in order to buy a couple of bananas; they were trampling one another so they could be the first to buy a chicken (all this while the country was having a decent production, enough to feed them all properly)
Capitalism is by far the best economic system we (humans) have developed, allowing all people to prosper (or to fail), so you should think twice and learn more before talking about "eradicating" the capitalism
Negative Kelvin
Capitalism is good with common sense regulation, mixed in with some socialism in areas that shouldn't be for profit (healthcare, education, police and fire department, army).
Either of the extremes is bad
Jon Thurman
This song and video is amazing to me.. I'm a South Dakotan born and raised(20 y.o.) and last year just after this video was released, we had the worst summer in memory. None of our corn came in and what did was far under what was projected. It was the hottest year on record with no rain. My area was hit some of the hardest. I actually work on the outside of a building that depends on the harvest(Corn Palace, Mitchell SD) and this video rings true on many levels. Things were tough all over
typacsk
I remember that summer--was working in Wisconsin on a prairie-restoration job. Everything was dying, and one of our neighbors struck a spark off of a rock when he was harvesting wheat. By the time he turned around at the end of the row, about 10 acres were already burning; I don't know how much he lost in total.
Alex Sorenson
This is why Rise Against is amazing. A band with a cause, and lyrics with a reason. Keep doing your best Rise against, We all love you. <3
Rain Rain
This is one of the only songs that I can listen to over and over again, and I get chills every time.
SlutBomb_Cinci Official
Dear Rise Against, Thank you for opening more people's eyes to the injustices that take place in this world every day. And making great music along with it.