I was born and raised 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 down inside he was hurt Cause he'd done all he
My papa was a old man I can see him with a in his hands, see he never had He did wonders when the got bad The little money the crops he raised Barely paid the bills we
For, life had kick him down to the he tried to get up Life kick him back down One day called me to his dyin' bed Put his on my shoulders And in his tears he
He said, I'm on you, son To pull the through My son, all left up to you
Two days later Papa away, and I became a man day So I told Mama I was quit school, but She said that was strictest rule
So every 'fore I went to school I fed the and I chopped wood too I felt that I couldn't go on I to leave, just run away from home But I would remember what my said With tears in his 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 all the crops away And at the age of 13 I I was the weight of the world on my shoulders And you know, Mama What I was through, 'cause
Every day I had to the fields Cause that's the way we got our meals You see, I was the oldest of the And everybody depended on me Every night I heard my Mama Lord, give him the to face another day
So years have passed and all the are grown The took Mama to a brand new home Lord knows, people, I shedded But my daddy's kept me through the years
Sing, Patches, I'm on you, son To the family through My son, it's all up to you
Oh, I can still hear Papa's voice Patches, I'm on you, son I've tried to do my It's up to you to do the
I can still Papa, what he said