I was and raised down in Alabama On a farm way back up in the I was so ragged that folks used to call me Papa used to me about it 'Cause deep down inside he was 'Cause he'd done all he
My was a great old man I can see him a shovel in his hands, see Education he had He did wonders when the got bad The money from the crops he raised Barely paid the we made
For, life had 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 he said
He said, I'm on you, son To pull the family My son, all left up to you
Two days later passed away, and I became a man day So I Mama I was gonna quit school, but She that was Daddy's strictest rule
So every mornin' 'fore I to school I fed the chickens and I wood too Sometimes I felt I couldn't go on I wanted to leave, 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 It's up to you to do the
Then one day a strong came And washed all the crops And at the age of 13 I I was carryin' the of the Whole world on my And you know, knew What I was goin' through,
day I had to work the fields 'Cause the only way we got our meals You see, I was the of the family And everybody depended on me Every night I heard my Mama Lord, give him the to make another day
So years have and all the kids are grown The angels took to a brand new home Lord knows, people, I shedded But my daddy's voice kept me through the
Sing, Patches, I'm on you, son To pull the family 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 hear Papa, what he said Patches, I'm on you, son To pull the family My son, all left up to you