I was and raised down in Alabama On a farm way up in the woods I was so ragged folks used to call me Patches Papa used to tease me it deep 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 the times got bad The little money the crops he raised Barely paid the we made
For, had kick him down to the ground When he to get up Life kick him back down One day Papa called me to his bed Put his hands on my And in his tears he
He said, I'm on you, son To pull the family My son, it's all up to you
Two days later passed away, and I a man that day So I told Mama I was quit school, but She said was Daddy's strictest rule
So every 'fore I went to school I fed the chickens and I wood too Sometimes I felt that I go on I wanted to leave, just run away 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 strong rain And washed all the away And at the age of 13 I I was the weight of the world on my shoulders And you know, knew What I was through, 'cause
Every day I had to work the Cause the only way we got our meals You see, I was the of the family And else depended on me Every night I heard my pray Lord, give him the strength to another day
So years have passed and all the kids are The angels took Mama to a new home knows, people, I shedded tears But my voice kept me through the years
Sing, Patches, I'm on you, son To pull the family My son, all left up to you
Oh, I can hear Papa's voice sayin' Patches, I'm on you, son I've tried to do my It's up to you to do the
I can still hear Papa, he said