I was born and down in Alabama On a farm way back up in the I was so ragged that folks used to me Patches Papa used to me about it Cause down inside he was hurt Cause he'd done all he
My was a great old man I can see him a shovel in his hands, see he never had He did wonders when the got bad The little money the crops he raised paid the bills we made
For, life had him down to the ground When he to get up would kick him back down One day called 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 through My son, it's all up to you
Two days later Papa away, and I became a man day So I Mama I was gonna quit school, but She that was Daddy's 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 my daddy said With in his eyes on his dyin' bed
He said, I'm on you, son I tried to do my It's up to you to do the
Then one day a strong rain And washed all the away And at the age of 13 I I was the weight of the Whole world on my And you know, knew I was goin' through, 'cause
Every day I had to work the Cause the only way we got our meals You see, I was the oldest of the And everybody else on me night I heard my Mama pray Lord, him the strength to face another day
So years have passed and all the kids are The angels took to a brand new home knows, people, I shedded tears But my daddy's kept me through the years
Sing, Patches, I'm on you, son To the family through My son, all left up to you
Oh, I can still hear Papa's sayin' Patches, I'm on you, son I've to do my best up to you to do the rest
I can still Papa, what he said