I was born and raised in Alabama On a farm way back up in the I was so ragged that folks used to call me Papa to tease me about it Cause deep down inside he was 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 when the times got bad The little money the crops he raised Barely the bills we made
For, had kick him down to the ground When he to get up Life would him back down One day Papa 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 family My son, all left up to you
Two days Papa passed away, and I a man that day So I told I was gonna quit school, but She said that was Daddy's rule
So every 'fore I went to school I fed the and I chopped wood too Sometimes I felt that I go on I wanted to leave, just run away from But I would remember 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 rain And washed all the crops And at the age of 13 I I was carryin' the 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 everybody else on me Every night I heard my Mama Lord, give him the strength to face day
So years have passed and all the kids are The took Mama to a brand new home Lord knows, people, I tears But my daddy's voice kept me through the
Sing, Patches, I'm on you, son To the family through My son, all left up to you
Oh, I can still hear 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, he said