I was born and down in Alabama On a way back up in the woods I was so ragged that folks to call me Patches Papa to tease me about it Cause deep inside he was hurt Cause he'd all he could
My papa was a old man I can see him with a in his hands, see he never had He did wonders the times got bad The little money the crops he raised paid the bills we made
For, life had kick him down to the he tried to get up Life would him back down One day called me to his dyin' bed Put his hands on my And in his tears he
He said, I'm on you, son To pull the through My son, all left up to you
Two later Papa passed away, and I a man that day So I told Mama I was quit school, but She said that was strictest rule
So every mornin' I went to school I fed the chickens and I wood too Sometimes I felt I couldn't go on I wanted to leave, run away from home But I would what my daddy said With tears in his 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, Mama What I was through, 'cause
Every day I had to the fields that's the only way we got our meals You see, I was the oldest of the And else depended on me Every night I heard my Mama Lord, give him the to face another day
So years have and all the kids are grown The angels took Mama to a brand new Lord knows, people, I tears But my daddy's voice kept me through the
Sing, Patches, I'm on you, son To pull the through My son, all left 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 still Papa, what he said