I was and raised down in Alabama On a way back up in the woods I was so ragged that folks to call me Patches used to tease me about it Cause deep inside he was hurt Cause done all he could
My was a great old man I can see him a shovel in his hands, see Education he had He did wonders when the got bad The little from the crops he raised Barely paid the bills we
For, life had kick him to the ground When he to get up Life would kick him down One day called me to his dyin' bed Put his hands on my And in his he said
He said, I'm on you, son To pull the through My son, it's all up to you
Two days Papa passed away, and I became a man day So I told Mama I was quit school, but She said that was strictest rule
So mornin' 'fore I went to school I fed the chickens and I wood too Sometimes I that I couldn't go on I wanted to leave, just run away home But I would remember what my daddy With in his eyes on his dyin' bed
He said, I'm on you, son I tried to do my up to you to do the rest
Then one day a strong came And washed all the crops And at the age of 13 I I was the weight of the Whole on my shoulders And you know, knew What I was goin' through,
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 pray Lord, give him the to face another day
So years passed and all the kids are grown The angels took to a brand new home Lord knows, people, I shedded But my daddy's voice kept me through the
Sing, Patches, I'm on you, son To pull the family My son, it's all up to you
Oh, I can still hear Papa's sayin' Patches, I'm on you, son tried to do my best It's up to you to do the
I can hear Papa, what he said