I was born and down in Alabama On a farm way back up in the Oh, I was so ragged, used call me Patches Papa used to me about it But deep inside dad was hurtin' 'Cause he the best he could do
My papa was a old man I can see him with a in his hand Education never had But he did wonders the times got bad The money from the crops we raised Barely the bills we made
Oh, life put him to the ground When he tried to get up, life kick him back down On the day called me to his dying bed Placed his on my shoulders and in tears he said
"Patches, I'm on you son To pull the family through, my son, it's all up to you"
Two days later papa passed And I became a man day So, I had to work the fields that's the only way we got our meals See, I was the oldest of the And was depending on me
Now, have passed, everybody's grown Mama's been in a brand new home Lord knows it a lot of sweat and tears And my daddy's helped that us through the years
He said, "Patches, I'm on you son To the family through, my son, it's all left up to you"
Daddy had been sick for a long time, on his back evening after we'd finished our chores and eat our dinner We'd all go into papa's room to cheer him up a And this particular day, Dad was in spirits Sitting on the side of the bed telling how good she looked When all of a papa had a pain in his chest
I was too young to understand, talking about a attack here rushed all of us out of the room into the hallway About ten later 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 went running to papa's room there lay there
Daddy had tears in his eyes, I knew was wrong 'Cause Daddy was a poor man but all of my he'd been a proud man I knelt down on one beside the bed put his hand on my shoulder He said, "Patches, Patches boy, the hammer of done beat Your old papa down to the ground and I ain't got 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 best to help your mama As as you can", I said, "Papa I'm gonna do my best" But little did I know then I know right now That trying to climb life's Searching for a top when there no top
you find yourself frustrated, lazy But every time I feel like I can't live my like I want to My mind back to that day When I see those tears in my eyes But most of all I his words "Patches, I'm on you boy"
Every time I feel like giving up I hear his "Patches, Patches, Patches, Patches"
"I'm on you son I to do my best, it's up you to do the rest"
"Patches, I'm on you son I've to do my best, it's up you to do the rest"
"Patches, I'm on you son To pull the through, my son, it's all left up to you"