I was born and down in Alabama On a way back up in the woods I was so ragged that folks to call me Patches Papa used to tease me it 'Cause deep down inside he was 'Cause done all he could
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 paid the bills we made
For, life had him down to the ground When he to get up Life would him back down One day Papa called me to his bed Put his on my shoulders And in his he said
He said, I'm on you, son To the family through My son, all left up to you
Two days Papa passed away, and I became a man day So I told Mama I was quit school, but She said was Daddy's strictest rule
So mornin' 'fore I went to school I fed the chickens and I chopped too Sometimes I felt that I go on I wanted to leave, just run from home But I would what my daddy said With tears in his eyes on his 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, Mama I was goin' 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 else depended on me night I heard my Mama pray Lord, him the strength to make another day
So years have passed and all the are grown The took Mama to a brand new home Lord knows, people, I shedded But my voice kept me through the years
Sing, Patches, I'm on you, son To the family through My son, it's all up to you
Oh, I can still Papa's 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 Patches, I'm on you, son To the family through My son, it's all up to you