I was born and down in Alabama On a way back up in the woods I was so ragged that folks used to call me Papa used to me about it 'Cause down inside he was hurt 'Cause he'd all he could
My papa was a old man I can see him a shovel in his hands, see he never had He did when the times got bad The little money from the crops he Barely paid the we made
For, had kick him down 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 he said
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 a man that day So I told Mama I was gonna school, but She that was Daddy's strictest rule
So every 'fore I went to school I fed the chickens and I chopped too Sometimes I felt I couldn't go on I wanted to leave, just run away from But I would remember my daddy said tears 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 rain 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 'Cause the only way we got our meals You see, I was the oldest of the And everybody else on me night I heard my Mama pray Lord, give him the strength to make day
So years have passed and all the kids are The angels took Mama to a new home Lord knows, people, I tears But my daddy's voice kept me through the
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 tried to do my up to you to do the rest
I can hear Papa, what he said Patches, I'm on you, son To pull the through My son, it's all up to you