I was born and raised in Alabama On a farm way up in the woods I was so that folks used to call me Patches used to tease me about it Cause down inside he was hurt Cause he'd all he could
My was a great old man I can see him with a in his hands, see he never had He did wonders the times got bad The money from the crops he raised Barely paid the we made
For, life had kick him to the ground 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 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' 'fore I to school I fed the and I chopped wood too Sometimes I that I couldn't go on I to leave, just run away from home But I would what my daddy said With in his eyes on his dyin' bed
He said, I'm on you, son I to do my best up to you to do the rest
Then one day a rain came And all the crops away And at the age of 13 I I was carryin' the of the world on my shoulders And you know, Mama What I was goin' through,
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 Every I heard my Mama pray Lord, give him the strength to face day
So years have passed and all the are grown The angels took Mama to a new home Lord knows, people, I tears But my daddy's voice kept me the years
Sing, Patches, I'm on you, son To pull the family My son, it's all up to you
Oh, I can still Papa's voice sayin' Patches, I'm on you, son tried to do my best It's up to you to do the
I can still hear Papa, what he