I was born and raised down in On a way back up in the woods I was so ragged that folks to call me Patches Papa used to me about it Cause down inside he was hurt he'd done all he could
My papa was a old man I can see him with a in his hands, see he never had He did when the times got bad The little money from the crops he Barely paid the bills we
For, life had him down to the ground When he to get up would kick him back down One day Papa me to his dyin' bed Put his on my shoulders And in his he said
He said, I'm on you, son To pull the family My son, it's all up to you
Two days later Papa away, and I a man that day So I told Mama I was quit school, but She said that was Daddy's strictest
So every 'fore I went to school I fed the chickens and I wood too Sometimes I felt that I go on I wanted to leave, run away from home But I would remember my daddy said With in his eyes on his dyin' bed
He said, I'm on you, son I to do my best It's up to you to do the
one day a strong rain came And washed all the crops And at the age of 13 I I was carryin' the of the world on my shoulders And you know, knew I was goin' through, 'cause
Every day I had to work the that's the only way we got our meals You see, I was the oldest of the And everybody else on me Every night I heard my Mama Lord, give him the strength to face day
So years have passed and all the kids are The angels took Mama to a brand new Lord knows, people, I tears But my voice kept me through the years
Sing, Patches, I'm on you, son To pull the family My son, all left up to you
Oh, I can hear Papa's voice sayin' Patches, I'm on you, son I've to do my best up to you to do the rest
I can still hear Papa, he said