I was born and raised down in On a way back up in the woods I was so ragged folks used to call me Patches used to tease me about it Cause deep down he was hurt he'd done all he could
My papa was a old man I can see him a shovel in his hands, see Education he had He did wonders the times got bad The little money from the he raised Barely paid the bills we
For, life had kick him to the ground he tried to get up Life would kick him down One day Papa me to his dyin' bed Put his hands on my And in his tears he
He said, I'm on you, son To the family through My son, all left up to you
Two days later passed away, and I became a man day So I told I was gonna quit school, but She said that was Daddy's strictest
So every mornin' 'fore I to school I fed the chickens and I wood too I felt that I couldn't go on I wanted to leave, run away from home But I would remember what my daddy 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 came And all the crops away And at the age of 13 I I was the weight of the Whole world on my And you know, knew What I was goin' through,
Every day I had to the fields Cause the only way we got our meals You see, I was the oldest of the And else depended 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 Mama to a new home Lord knows, people, I shedded But my voice kept me through the years
Sing, Patches, I'm on you, son To pull the through My son, it's all up to you
Oh, I can still hear voice sayin' Patches, I'm on you, son I've to do my best It's up to you to do the
I can still hear Papa, he said