I was born and raised in Alabama On a way back up in the woods Oh, I was so ragged, folks used me Patches Papa used to me about it But deep down dad was hurtin' 'Cause he done the best he do
My papa was a old man I can see him a shovel in his hand Education never had But he did wonders when the got bad The little money the crops we raised Barely paid the we made
Oh, life put him to the ground When he to get up, life would kick him back down On the day called me to his dying bed Placed his hands on my shoulders and in he said
"Patches, I'm on you son To pull the through, my son, it's all left up to you"
Two days later passed away And I became a man day So, everyday I had to work the 'Cause the only way we got our meals See, I was the of the family And was depending on me
Now, years passed, everybody's grown Mama's been living in a new home Lord it took a lot of sweat and tears And my voice helped that us through the years
He said, "Patches, I'm on you son To pull the through, my son, it's all left up to you"
Daddy had been sick for a time, flat on his back Every evening after we'd finished our and eat our dinner We'd all go into papa's to cheer him up a little And particular day, Dad was in good spirits on the side of the bed telling mama how good she looked When all of a sudden papa had a pain in his
I was too young to understand, talking about a attack here Mama rushed all of us out of the room the hallway About ten minutes she came out with tears in her eyes She out to me "Patches, patches get in here boy you're Daddy to see you" I running to papa's room there papa lay there
Daddy had tears in his eyes, I knew something was 'Cause Daddy was a poor man but all of my life he'd been a man I down on one knee beside the bed Papa put his on my shoulder He said, "Patches, Patches boy, the hammer of life beat Your old papa to the ground and I ain't got nobody To turn to take care of mama and the ones"
"So, I want you to do is promise me son Is that you're gonna do your best to help your As as you can", I said, "Papa I'm gonna do my best" But little did I know then like I know now That to climb life's mountain for a top when there ain't no top
Sometimes you find yourself frustrated, But every time I feel like I live my life like I want to My mind goes to that day When I see those tears in my eyes But of all I remember his words "Patches, I'm on you boy"
Every time I feel like up I hear his voice "Patches, Patches, Patches, Patches"
"I'm on you son I tried to do my best, up you to do the rest"
"Patches, I'm on you son tried to do my best, it's up you to do the rest"
"Patches, I'm on you son To pull the family through, my son, it's all up to you"