I was and raised down in Alabama On a farm way up in the woods I was so ragged that used to call me Patches Papa used to me about it deep down inside he was hurt 'Cause he'd done all he
My papa was a old man I can see him a shovel in his hands, see he never had He did wonders the times got bad The money from the crops he raised paid the bills we made
For, life had him down to the ground he tried to get up Life would kick him back 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, it's all up to you
Two days later passed away, and I a man that day So I told I was gonna quit school, but She said that was Daddy's rule
So every mornin' I went to school I fed the chickens and I chopped 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 tears in his eyes on his bed
He said, I'm on you, son I to do my best up to you to do the rest
Then one day a rain came And washed all the crops And at the age of 13 I I was the weight of the Whole world on my And you know, knew I was goin' through, 'cause
Every day I had to work the that's 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 pray Lord, give him the strength to another day
So have passed and all the kids are grown The angels took Mama to a brand new Lord knows, people, I shedded 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 still hear voice sayin' Patches, I'm on you, son tried to do my best It's up to you to do the
I can still Papa, what he said Patches, I'm on you, son To pull the through My son, it's all up to you