I was born and raised down in On a way back up in the woods I was so ragged that 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 little money the crops he raised Barely paid the 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 hands on my And in his tears he
He said, I'm on you, son To the family through My son, it's all up to you
Two later Papa passed away, and I a man that day So I told I was gonna quit school, but She said that was Daddy's strictest
So every mornin' I went to school I fed the and I chopped wood too Sometimes I that I couldn't go on I wanted to leave, just run away home But I would what my daddy said With tears in his 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 carryin' the of the Whole on my shoulders And you know, knew I was goin' through, 'cause
Every day I had to work the 'Cause that's the way we got our meals You see, I was the of the family And everybody depended on me Every night I heard my pray Lord, give him the strength to make day
So years have passed and all the kids are The angels Mama to a brand 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, all left up to you
Oh, I can still hear Papa's sayin' Patches, I'm on you, son tried to do my best It's up to you to do the
I can hear Papa, what he said Patches, I'm on you, son To pull the family My son, it's all up to you